To illustrate how punctuation shapes meaning, ask students to punctuate the following passage. Mention that this is an old puzzle once used in the film Charly to demonstrate the genius of the main character.

That that is is that that is not is not that that

is not is not that that is that that is is not

that that is not is not that it it is

          After students have tried punctuating this, use it as an illustration of how passages that sometimes sound logical to the writer, can be confusing to readers when pauses are not correctly punctuated. Then give the class the correct solution:

That, that is, is. That, that is not, is not.

That, that is not, is not that that is. That,

that is, is not that, that is not. Is not that

it? It is.