Virginia SOL 4.LU.2.B
The Standard
Use commas and quotation marks to indicate dialogue in writing.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Mechanics
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students mark a character's exact words with quotation marks. They place commas correctly when a speaker tag comes before or after the spoken words.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can correct an unpunctuated exchange when the speaker tag comes before or after the spoken words. The student separates spoken words from speaker tags and places commas inside closing quotation marks.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may put quotation marks around the speaker tag or place commas outside the closing quotation mark. They may also use a period before a tag or omit the comma after an introductory tag.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Add punctuation to these sentences: Maya said I found the map. I found it Maya said.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs word strips, speaker tags, comma cards, and quotation mark cards to arrange into two correctly punctuated dialogue sentences.
Have students write four lines of dialogue between two characters, using a speaker tag before one line and after another.
Run a punctuation relay where teams correct dialogue sentences posted around the room, earning one point for each accurate correction.
Ask students to turn a two-message text exchange into story dialogue with speaker tags and correct punctuation.
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Printable 4.LU.2.B Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 6.LU.2.B
Use and punctuate dialogue and direct quotations appropriately in writing.
- 8.LU.2.B
Use and punctuate dialogue and direct quotations appropriately in writing.
- 7.LU.2.B
Use and punctuate dialogue and direct quotations appropriately in writing.
- 4.LU.2.A
Use commas in series, dates, addresses, and letters in writing.
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