1. PUNCTUATING DIALOUE
Writing workshop#1

2. DIALOGUE = SPEAKER + TAG
The Three Scenarios
Tag at the begiNninG
Tag at the end
Tag in the middlE

3. Ms. Martin said, “Reading is awesome.”
SCENARIO #1
TAG AT THE BEGINNING
Ms. Martin said, “Reading is awesome.”
Comma BEFORE opening quotation mark AFTER speaker tag
Capitalize beginning of dialogue sentence inside quotation marks
Period at end of dialogue sentence INSIDE quotation marks

4. EXAMPLE #1
mom said do your homework
Mom said, “Do your homework.”

5. EXAMPLE #2 I replied my homework is already done

6. “Reading is awesome,” Ms. Martin said.
SCENARIO #2
TAG AT THE END
“Reading is awesome,” Ms. Martin said.
Capitalize beginning of dialogue sentence inside quotation marks
Comma at end of dialogue sentence INSIDE quotation marks
Period AFTER the tag at the end of the sentence

7. EXAMPLE #1
do your homework mom said
“Do your homework,” mom said.

8. EXAMPLE #2 my homework is already done I replied

9. “Reading is,” Ms. Martin said, “awesome.”
SCENARIO #3
TAG IN THE MIDDLE
“Reading is,” Ms. Martin said, “awesome.”
Capitalize beginning of dialogue sentence inside quotation marks
Comma INSIDE quotation marks before tag
Comma BEFORE quotation marks after tag
Lower case second part of dialogue to indicate same sentence
Period at end of dialogue sentence INSIDE quotation marks

10. EXAMPLE #1
do your mom said homework
“Do your,” mom said, “homework.”

11. EXAMPLE #2 my homework I replied is already done