📚 Mini-Lesson Summary: Dialogue Punctuation Rules

Remember these key rules for writing dialogue:

• Use quotation marks (" ") around the exact words someone says

• Start dialogue with a capital letter

• Put punctuation INSIDE the quotation marks

• Use a comma before the dialogue tag (he said, she whispered)

Examples from Wonder:

✓ "I think you should go to school," Mum said gently.

✓ August replied, "But what if everyone stares at me?"

✗ "I'm nervous" said August. (Missing comma before 'said')

✗ Mum whispered "Everything will be okay". (Missing comma after 'whispered')

✏️ Editing Exercise: Fix the Dialogue Punctuation

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence with correct dialogue punctuation.

🔍 Peer Editing Checklist

Use this checklist to edit your partner's dialogue writing: