Punctuation Question marks and exclamation marks
Focus
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• Explain the instructions for Question 1 and allow students to read the text, assisting with unfamiliar vocabulary. Students may wish to use different coloured pencils or markers to highlight the question marks and exclamation marks. When highlighting the exclamation marks, ask them to choose a ‘strong’ colour to represent ‘strong feelings’. • To complete Question 2, students may need to quietly say the sentences aloud to determine which ones indicate strong feeling. Ask the students to look for clue words, such as ‘who’, ‘what’ etc. to help them identify questions. The use of exclamation marks is in some cases subjective, but overuse can reduce their impact.
Question marks and exclamation marks
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Definitions
• Question marks are punctuation marks used to indicate a question. Example: What are you doing? • Exclamation marks are punctuation marks used at the end of a remark to show strong emotion or feeling. Example:
Ideas fora further practice © R . I . C . P u b l i c t i o ns Explanation •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Stop that! Wow!
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• A question is an interrogative statement, addressed to someone in order to find out information. When speakers ask a question, their voice is usually raised at the end rather than going down or remaining the same as it does for a sentence. A question mark looks like an upside down hook and is used after a direct question. Questions often begin with words such as who, what, when, where, how and why. • Exclamation marks usually indicate strong feeling, such as surprise, misery, excitement, disgust, anger or joy. Using an exclamation mark when writing is like raising your voice when speaking. An exclamation mark can be used at the end of an interjection (Oh no!) or a command (Don’t touch!) and to add emphasis.
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Answers
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• Find and read sentences where the ‘questioning’ word such as ‘who’, ‘does’ etc. is not at the beginning of a sentence. • Make a list of the students’ favourite exclamations and write them with the exclamation marks in a bold, strong colour. • Read plays that encourage the expression of strong emotions.
1. Teacher check
2. (a) exclamation mark, full stop (b) full stop (c) question mark (d) exclamation mark (e) question mark (f) full stop
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Worksheet information
• Students will be familiar with full stops and question marks and would have encountered exclamation marks while reading. • Read and discuss the explanation about question marks and exclamation marks with the students. Give examples of each and find some in shared reading books, then ask the students to find others. Emphasise the need for expression to reinforce the fact that exclamation marks are used to indicate strong feelings.
Primary grammar and word study
60
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