📚 Part 1: Identifying Correct and Incorrect Dialogue

1. Read each dialogue example below. Circle whether it is CORRECT or INCORRECT.

Example A: "I can't believe we won the match!" Sarah exclaimed.

CORRECT

INCORRECT

Example B: Tom asked "Are you coming to the party tonight.

CORRECT

INCORRECT

Example C: "The weather is perfect for a barbecue," Dad said. "Let's invite the neighbours."

CORRECT

INCORRECT

2. For any INCORRECT examples above, rewrite them correctly below:

3. Which dialogue rules do you know? Check all that apply:

Use quotation marks around spoken words

Start a new paragraph for each new speaker

Use commas to separate dialogue from speaker tags

Capitalise the first word inside quotation marks

✏️ Part 2: Correcting Dialogue Errors

4. The dialogue below contains several punctuation errors. Rewrite it correctly in the space provided:

Original (with errors):
where are you going asked Mum. I'm heading to the shops to buy some ingredients for dinner replied Jake I'll be back in an hour

5. Add the missing punctuation to complete this dialogue correctly:

_____ Can you help me with my homework _____ Emma asked her brother.
_____ Sure _____ he replied _____ What subject is it _____
_____ It's maths _____ she said _____ I'm struggling with fractions _____

6. Explain why we start a new paragraph when the speaker changes:

🎭 Part 3: Writing Your Own Dialogue

7. Write a short dialogue (4-6 lines) between two friends discussing their weekend plans. Use correct punctuation and formatting.

Scaffolded sentence starters (choose one to begin):

• "What are you doing this weekend?" asked _______.
• _______ said, "I heard there's a great movie playing at the cinema."
• "Do you want to come to the beach with me?" _______

8. Extension Challenge: Rewrite your dialogue above, but this time include action beats (descriptions of what characters are doing while speaking) and vary your speaker tags.

Example: "I love this song," whispered Lucy as she turned up the radio.

9. Reflection: How does correct dialogue punctuation help readers understand your story better?