This document provides information about punctuation, specifically commas and apostrophes. It discusses the different uses of commas, including separating items in a list and clauses. It also covers when apostrophes are used, such as showing possession and where letters have been dropped in contractions. Exercises are included for the learner to practice commas and apostrophes. The document concludes by having the learner reflect on what they learned and still have questions about.

1. Success with Writing
Online Workshop
Part 8: punctuation
Created by: Jane Mangano

2. Perfect Punctuation
• Spend a few minutes writing down all that you
know about punctuation in the text box
below.
• For each piece of punctuation, write down
what it is called and what does it looks like.

3. Commas
• To mark off an independent clause from a
dependent clause.
• The athlete, who loves to win, crossed the line
in record time.
• To set off transition markers from the
independent clause.
• Consequently, the company’s profits increased
in the second half of the financial year.

4. Commas cont.
• Before conjunctions that join independent
clauses.
• The university has won prizes, but it has not
attracted many students.
• To set off yes and no.
• Yes, I have visited Rottnest.
• To set off words of address.
• Girls and boys, please take your rubbish with you.

5. Commas cont.
• What has been left out?
• Where else would commas be used?

6. To separate items in a list!
• I bought cheese, icing, apples and grapes.
• The athletes visited Australia, Japan, Hong
Kong, Canada, and France.
• It is okay to put a comma before and in a list.
Just be consistent.

7. Where do the commas go?
• Complete the comma exercise in your
workbook.

8. Pesky apostrophes
• When are apostrophes used?
• Write three sentences in which apostrophes
are used.

9. Apostrophes
• Apostrophes are used to show where a letter or
letters have been dropped from a word.
• Cannot – can’t would have – would’ve
• Apostrophes are used to show possession.
• The bag of Michelle. Michelle’s bag.
• The playground of the boys. The boys’
playground.
• The playground of the boy. The boy’s playground.

10. Apostrophe exercise
• Complete the apostrophe exercise in your
workbook.

11. Still a little unsure?
• If you’re still a bit unsure about punctuation,
go to the Delicious page and work through the
interactive exercises and tutorials.
• http://delicious.com/stacks/view/T4QJ9l

12. Final Reflection
• New – write down something that you learnt
today that is new to you.
• Knew – write down something that we
covered today that you already knew.
• Q – write down a question that you are going
to go away and find the answer to after this
workshop.

13. Congratulations!
• Congratulations! You have now completed
the Success with Writing Online Workshop.
• Make sure you email the AESC office when all
sections of the course are complete.
• Once your online submission has been
checked by a lecturer from the AESC, and
deemed to have been fully completed to a
satisfactory standard, we will be delighted to
sign off on your completion of the Workshop.