2. Punctuate Dialogue
Students use proper punctuation when integrating quotations or dialogue into sentences
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Basic Sentence Construction - Punctuation
Punctuate Dialogue
Directions: Integrate each direct quotation into a sentence, using proper punctuation. Make sure to include quotation marks, commas, periods, and any other necessary punctuation.
Tip: Periods and commas usually go INSIDE quotation marks, unless the quotation is followed by a citation.
Example:
"Seems like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams."
Mama says, "Seems like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams."
"Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money."
"You run our lives like you want to."
"There ain't no causes—there ain't nothing but taking in this world."
"I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn't enter into it."
"You just name it, son … and I hand you the world!"
"It means ... it means One for Whom Bread—Food—Is Not Enough."
"Well—we are dead now. All the talk about dreams and sunlight that goes on in this house."
"There is always something left to love."
"Because it is life, Mama!"
"Mama, you know it's all divided up. Life is. Sure enough. Between the takers and the tooken."
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Answer Key and Teacher Resources
Answer Key
Walter says, "Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money."
Beneatha accuses, "You run our lives like you want to."
Walter argues, "There ain't no causes—there ain't nothing but taking in this world."
Mr. Lindner claims, "I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn't enter into it."
"You just name it, son … and I hand you the world!" Mama promises.
"It means ... it means One for Whom Bread—Food—Is Not Enough," Asagai explains.
Walter laments, "Well—we are dead now. All the talk about dreams and sunlight that goes on in this house."
"There is always something left to love," says Mama.
Beneatha insists, "Because it is life, Mama!"
Walter reflects, "Mama, you know it's all divided up. Life is. Sure enough. Between the takers and the tooken."
Recommendations for Instruction:
Teacher explains that up until now, students have been writing statements, or sentences that provide information and end with a period. An example of a statement is: A tadpole eventually grows into a frog. However, there are 3 other types of sentences in the English language: (a) A question requests an answer and ends with a question mark. An example of a question is: What caused the dinosaurs to go extinct? (b) An exclamation is a statement with emotion, such as excitement, surprise, or anger, and so ends with an exclamation point. An example of an exclamation is: Snails can hibernate in their shells for up to 3 years! (c) A command tells someone to do something and also ends with a period. However, unlike a statement, there is no subject (it is implied). An example of a command is: Remember to water the plants.
Students practice writing statements, questions, exclamations, and commands in the content they are learning.
As students work, teacher circulates to give feedback. If there are common errors students are making, teacher should pause the class to clarify the misconception.