LESSON PLAN

(two lessons)
Resources:
 Doctored / laminated one page comic strip story.
(Photocopy BEFORE you start editing! Cover all speech bubbles. Number them. Laminate
the comic story onto A3 card.)
 Laminated, lettered speech bubbles from said comic page placed in envelopes.
(Using your photocopy, reproduce and laminate the story’s speech bubbles. Letter them.)
 OHTs 1-3 on direct speech plus photocopies re the same to differentiate as
appropriate.
 OHP
 Extract from novel that illustrates direct speech.

TASK 1
Pupils to work in small groups. Give them a copy of their doctored comic strip
story. Groups have to establish plot. Question / answer session to confirm
understanding re the same.

TASK 2
Again working in small groups, pupils have to predict the content of the
numbered speech bubbles.

TASK 3
Now give them the strip’s original speech bubbles. Groups have to place them
onto the comic laminate in the correct order. Feedback and record correct
order by matching speech bubble number to a speech bubble letter.

TASK 4
OHTs 1-3. Copies as necessary.

TASK 5
To look at and discuss extract from a novel that uses direct speech.
Recap and revisit OHTs.
Return to comic stories. In pairs, pupils to change the bubble comic strip story into a
piece of dialogue in a narrative. (What was in the speech bubbles should now be in the
speech marks.) They can add descriptive details as necessary but remind them that the
main focus here is to show their understanding of direct speech, the three ways it can be
used and that they know the rules / how to punctuate it.

OHT 1

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TASK 1
Working in small groups, look at and then discuss
the plot of the comic strip story. That is, work
out what happens.

TASK 2
Try to guess the words that are being spoken in
each speech bubble. Feedback your ideas to your
teacher and the rest of the class.

TASK 3
Now look at the correct speech bubbles. How
close were you? Try to put them in the correct
order. You can make a chart like this one. (Scrap
paper is fine.)

1 = bubble d
2 = bubble h
3=
4=

Feedback your ideas to your teacher and the rest

of the class.
TASK 4
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OHTs 2-4 on punctuating speech. Read through
this information with your teacher and the rest
of the class. Do you understand it? Make notes
in your exercise book to help you. Ask other
group members or your teacher if you are unsure.

TASK 5
As you read the novel extract, pay attention to
the rules of punctuating direct speech.

In pairs, re-write the comic strip story as

dialogue (direct speech) in a narrative (story).
Remember the four rules and try to use all three
versions of writing direct speech.

OHT 2

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
 Speech marks (“ ”) OR (‘ ’) are used to enclose
actual words spoken. This is called direct
speech.

 Speech marks are often called inverted

commas or, sixty-six and ninety-nine.

 You can use speech marks as doubles (“ ”) or

singles (‘ ’), but make sure you don’t swap
around.

 There are FOUR rules to learn when

punctuating speech.

 There are THREE ways to write direct speech.

You need to learn them all and how to
punctuate them properly.
OHT 3

THE RULES
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1. Only the words actually spoken go inside the speech
marks. E.g.,
The prince said, “Can you let me into the castle?”

2. Always use a capital letter for the first word that

is spoken. E.g.,
“Pack it in,” said Dad.
The wolf replied, “All the better to hear you with.”

3. Any punctuation ( ? , ! . ) must go inside the

speech marks.
“What are you wearing to the party?” he asked.
“I hope she felt guilty!” Carol exclaimed.
“She’s late again,” said Martin.
Catherine commented, “It was a mean trick to play.”

4. Always start a new line for a new speaker. E.g.

“And what huge teeth you have!” exclaimed Red Riding
hood.
“All the better to EAT you with,” shouted the wolf.

OHT 4

WAYS OF WRITING DIRECT SPEECH

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There are three ways to write direct speech. Look at
the following examples.

1. Spoken words at the beginning of the sentence:

“Who did that?” asked Dennis.
Note that the punctuation Don’t forget the full stop
(the question mark) is at the very end of the
inside the speech marks. sentence.

2.Spoken words at the end of the sentence:

Dennis asked, “Who did that?”

Note that you must use a comma to separate the

words inside the speech marks, from those outside
the speech marks.

3.Spoken words which are interrupted:

“Who,” Dennis asked, “did that?”

Look at example three and examine ALL of

the punctuation. What are the rules for punctuating
‘interrupted’ speech?

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