A useful activity for teaching the use of periods and question marks
Can your learner distinguish a statement from a question based on aural cues (i.e. by ear)?
Most of us can identify a question when we hear it because of the speaker's rising intonation.
Here's an activity to teach your learner to distinguish the rising intonation in a question from the falling intonation in a statement.
First, make of a list of ten or so statements and questions.
Reach each sentence aloud, asking your learner to write the correct punctuation - either a period or a question mark. Your learner doesn't have to write out the whole sentence, only the punctuation.
For example:
1) I would like to go to the beach.
2) Where do you live?
3) Is it raining outside?
4) Your dress is very pretty.
5) How do I get to the library?
6) The mall is crowded.
7) I'm thirsty.
8) Where is the restroom?
9) Can you introduce me to your friend?
10) Thank you for all your help today.
Read each sentence aloud in your natural voice. Your rising intonation for a question will provide a cue for your learner to write a question mark. Likewise, your falling intonation for a statement will indicate a period.
Remember, your learner's task is to only write down the correct punctuation. So, your learner's answer sheet for the set of sentences above might look like this:
1) .
2) ?
3) ?
4) .
5) ?
6) .
7) .
8) ?
9) ?
10) .
Then ask your learner to compare their answers to your own written cue sheet as shown above. Do their answers and your cue sheet punctuation marks coincide? Let your learner make the comparison to find out.
This exercise requires your learner to listen carefully to detect the difference between a statement and a question. But the key skill is learning to end a written statement with a period and a question with a question mark in all writing tasks.
Happy Tutoring!
Jiyoung
Jiyoung Song
Programs and Social Media Intern, English At Large
Dartmouth College, Class of 2016
ENGLISH AT LARGE
Literacy and Learning for Life
Join the conversation
Can your learner distinguish a statement from a question based on aural cues (i.e. by ear)?
Most of us can identify a question when we hear it because of the speaker's rising intonation.
Here's an activity to teach your learner to distinguish the rising intonation in a question from the falling intonation in a statement.
First, make of a list of ten or so statements and questions.
Reach each sentence aloud, asking your learner to write the correct punctuation - either a period or a question mark. Your learner doesn't have to write out the whole sentence, only the punctuation.
For example:
1) I would like to go to the beach.
2) Where do you live?
3) Is it raining outside?
4) Your dress is very pretty.
5) How do I get to the library?
6) The mall is crowded.
7) I'm thirsty.
8) Where is the restroom?
9) Can you introduce me to your friend?
10) Thank you for all your help today.
Read each sentence aloud in your natural voice. Your rising intonation for a question will provide a cue for your learner to write a question mark. Likewise, your falling intonation for a statement will indicate a period.
Remember, your learner's task is to only write down the correct punctuation. So, your learner's answer sheet for the set of sentences above might look like this:
1) .
2) ?
3) ?
4) .
5) ?
6) .
7) .
8) ?
9) ?
10) .
Then ask your learner to compare their answers to your own written cue sheet as shown above. Do their answers and your cue sheet punctuation marks coincide? Let your learner make the comparison to find out.
This exercise requires your learner to listen carefully to detect the difference between a statement and a question. But the key skill is learning to end a written statement with a period and a question with a question mark in all writing tasks.
Happy Tutoring!
Jiyoung
Jiyoung Song
Programs and Social Media Intern, English At Large
Dartmouth College, Class of 2016
ENGLISH AT LARGE
Literacy and Learning for Life
Join the conversation
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