Speaking with Style: Mastering Direct Speech

Speaking with Style: Mastering Direct Speech

Learning Objective

Understand the use of speech marks and punctuation in direct speech.

What do you already know about using speech marks in writing?

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is when we use the exact words spoken by someone. We use speech marks to show the beginning and end of the spoken words.

Using Speech Marks

Speech marks (or quotation marks) are used to enclose the exact words spoken by someone.

Punctuation in Direct Speech

Commas and full stops are used to separate the spoken words from the rest of the sentence.

Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs like 'said', 'shouted', and 'asked' are used to introduce the direct speech.

Task: Punctuate the Speech

Given a passage with direct speech, punctuate the speech using speech marks and appropriate punctuation.

Identifying Direct Speech

Can you identify the direct speech in the following sentences?

Practicing Direct Speech

Write a short story using at least three instances of direct speech. Be sure to use speech marks and appropriate punctuation.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.