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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 60 minutes

Punctuating dialogue correctly

Punctuation

CCSS L.7.2CCSS W.7.3.BEngland: KS3 English (punctuation)England: GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q5 (narrative writing)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Punctuating dialogue correctly.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "Can I help"? asked the shopkeeper. • "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper. • "Can I help," asked the shopkeeper? • "Can I help? asked the shopkeeper." ("Can I help"? asked the shopkeeper. / "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper. / "Can I help," asked the shopkeeper? / "Can I help? asked the shopkeeper.") → "Can I help?" asked the shopkeeper.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Watch out! "shouted the guard." • "Watch out!" shouted the guard. • "Watch out"! shouted the guard. • "Watch out! shouted the guard." (Watch out! "shouted the guard." / "Watch out!" shouted the guard. / "Watch out"! shouted the guard. / "Watch out! shouted the guard.") → "Watch out!" shouted the guard.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.
  3. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • "I love this song whispered Priya." • "I love this song", whispered Priya. • "I love this song." whispered Priya. • "I love this song," whispered Priya. ("I love this song whispered Priya." / "I love this song", whispered Priya. / "I love this song." whispered Priya. / "I love this song," whispered Priya.) → "I love this song," whispered Priya.Prompt: Speech marks (quotation marks) go around the exact words spoken, including their punctuation.

Hook · 6 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Punctuating dialogue correctly. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Watch out!," shouted the coach. • "Watch out"! shouted the coach. • "Watch out!" shouted the coach. • "Watch out," shouted the coach!
  • Step 1: Spoken words go inside quotation marks; separate them from the speaker tag with a comma (or ? or !), and start each new speech with a capital letter.
  • Step 2: An exclamation mark goes inside the quotation marks, and no comma is added.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: "Watch out!" shouted the coach.
  • Answer: "Watch out!" shouted the coach.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Where are you going"? asked Leo. • "Where are you going?," asked Leo. • "Where are you going," asked Leo. • "Where are you going?" asked Leo. ("Where are you going"? asked Leo. / "Where are you going?," asked Leo. / "Where are you going," asked Leo. / "Where are you going?" asked Leo.) → "Where are you going?" asked Leo.Prompt: Punctuation at the end of spoken words goes INSIDE the quotation marks.
  2. Read the question and choose. Why do writers often use verbs like 'whispered' or 'snapped' instead of 'said'? (to make sentences shorter / because 'said' is incorrect / to show how the words are spoken / to avoid using quotation marks) → to show how the words are spokenPrompt: Think about how dialogue looks on the page of a novel.

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • Mia said "I'm going to be late." • Mia said, "I'm going to be late". • Mia said, "I'm going to be late." • Mia said, "i'm going to be late." (Mia said "I'm going to be late." / Mia said, "I'm going to be late". / Mia said, "I'm going to be late." / Mia said, "i'm going to be late.") → Mia said, "I'm going to be late."Prompt: Punctuation at the end of spoken words goes INSIDE the quotation marks.
  2. Read the question and choose. What should happen when a speaker's words run over several paragraphs? (open quotation marks at the start of each paragraph, but close them only at the end of the speech / use no quotation marks at all / start a new speaker tag every line / close and reopen the marks in every sentence) → open quotation marks at the start of each paragraph, but close them only at the end of the speechPrompt: Think about how dialogue looks on the page of a novel.

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Speech marks (quotation marks) for dialogue.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Punctuating dialogue correctly

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  1. Question 1

    Read the question and choose. What should happen when a speaker's words run over several paragraphs?

    • A. open quotation marks at the start of each paragraph, but close them only at the end of the speech
    • B. use no quotation marks at all
    • C. close and reopen the marks in every sentence
    • D. start a new speaker tag every line

  2. Question 2

    Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • The sign said "no entry". • The sign said, "no entry". • The sign, said "No entry." • The sign said, "No entry."

    • A. The sign said "no entry".
    • B. The sign said, "no entry".
    • C. The sign, said "No entry."
    • D. The sign said, "No entry."

  3. Question 3

    Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Did you hear that," she whispered? • "Did you hear that?" She whispered. • "Did you hear that"? she whispered. • "Did you hear that?" she whispered.

    • A. "Did you hear that," she whispered?
    • B. "Did you hear that?" She whispered.
    • C. "Did you hear that"? she whispered.
    • D. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.

  4. Question 4

    Read the question and choose. How should you punctuate a quotation inside someone's speech?

    • A. use single quotation marks inside double ones (or the reverse)
    • B. use two sets of double quotation marks
    • C. use capital letters
    • D. use brackets

  5. Question 5

    Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Did you hear that," she whispered? • "Did you hear that?" she whispered. • "Did you hear that?" She whispered. • "Did you hear that"? she whispered.

    • A. "Did you hear that," she whispered?
    • B. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.
    • C. "Did you hear that?" She whispered.
    • D. "Did you hear that"? she whispered.

  6. Question 6

    Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • The sign said, "no entry". • The sign said "no entry". • The sign, said "No entry." • The sign said, "No entry."

    • A. The sign said, "no entry".
    • B. The sign said "no entry".
    • C. The sign, said "No entry."
    • D. The sign said, "No entry."

  7. Question 7

    Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Where are you going?" asked Leo. • "Where are you going"? asked Leo. • "Where are you going?," asked Leo. • "Where are you going," asked Leo.

    • A. "Where are you going?" asked Leo.
    • B. "Where are you going"? asked Leo.
    • C. "Where are you going?," asked Leo.
    • D. "Where are you going," asked Leo.

  8. Question 8

    Read the question and choose. In stories, what should you do each time a NEW person starts speaking?

    • A. leave out the speaker tag
    • B. use single quotation marks instead
    • C. start a new paragraph (new line)
    • D. put the words in capitals

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Answer key: Punctuating dialogue correctly

  1. 1. A. open quotation marks at the start of each paragraph, but close them only at the end of the speech

  2. 2. D. The sign said, "No entry."

  3. 3. D. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.

  4. 4. A. use single quotation marks inside double ones (or the reverse)

  5. 5. B. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.

  6. 6. D. The sign said, "No entry."

  7. 7. A. "Where are you going?" asked Leo.

  8. 8. C. start a new paragraph (new line)