Georgia 8.L.GC.1.59
The Standard
Mechanics: Use colons to introduce quotations. (Introduce)
Georgia's K-12 English Language Arts Standards · Language (L) · Grammar Conventions
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students place a colon after a complete sentence that sets up a quotation. They keep quotation marks, capitalization, and end punctuation in the correct places.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can write a complete introductory sentence, add a colon, and present the speaker’s exact words in quotation marks. The student can also explain when a comma fits better after a short signal phrase.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often place a colon after an incomplete lead-in, especially one ending in “that.” They may also use a comma after a full introductory sentence or forget the quotation marks.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Punctuate this sentence to show Ana’s exact words: Ana offered one reminder everyone must submit the form by Friday. Expected answer: Ana offered one reminder: “Everyone must submit the form by Friday.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs clause strips and quotation strips, then have them build correct sentences using colon, quotation marks, and punctuation cards.
Compare “Lena said, ‘Wait here.’” with “Lena gave one warning: ‘Wait here.’” and ask students to explain the punctuation choice.
Play Colon or Comma: teams hold up the correct punctuation card for each projected quotation lead-in and justify one answer.
Students write a school newsletter blurb that introduces a principal’s exact words with a complete sentence and a colon.
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Related Standards
- 7.L.GC.1.56
Mechanics: Use colons to introduce lists, examples, and explanations. (Introduce)
- 5.L.GC.1.47
Mechanics: Use conventional capitalization, quotation marks, commas, end punctuation, and attributions to indicate exact words and lines of dialogue. (Introduce...
- 9.L.GC.1.59
Mechanics: Use colons to introduce quotations. (Master)
- 3.L.GC.1.40
Mechanics: Use commas after introductory phrases or clauses. (Introduce)
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