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Punctuation holds a piece of writing together and guides the reader to read it in a particular way.
This is how the AO6 mark scheme assesses your use of punctuation as it moves up the bands:
Band 1 - there is some attempt to use punctuation
Band 2 - some control of a range of punctuation
Band 3 - a range of punctuation is used, mostly accurately
Band 4 - a range of punctuation is used accurately
Band 5 - a range of punctuation is used confidently and accurately
Punctuation is key
What does ‘a range of punctuation’ mean?
Look at the following examples of punctuation and judge how well you can use each in your writing.
You probably know a great deal more than you think.
Punctuation Examples
Key skills:
You should be able to use capital letters to being sentences and full-stops, question marks or exclamation marks to show the end of a sentence.
All other punctuation has a specific use. You can revise all the punctuation you are not confident about using accurately – needed for the higher bands in AO6.
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There are many features that can make a narrative memorable, for instance:
A powerful opening paragraph that catches the reader’s interest
A plausible and gripping plot with carefully planned events
Strong characters with whom the reader can empathise
Atmospheric places conjured into the reader’s mind
An ending that relieves suspense or creates a new twist
However, an essential element that makes all the above both successful and effective is the careful deployment of stylistic features of language so that the narrative is individual to the writer (YOU).
Which is which?
Look at the following text with highlighted punctuation. Identify which description of punctuation is relevant for each highlight. It is assumed that capital letters and full-stops are understood!
Using the drop down list select the correct description
Fifteen years ago
, when I was only five years old
my parents decided to move house over thirty miles away from my friends. Not long after
my girlfriend
s tears on the phone forced me to go back to where I felt I belonged
not with my parents
. How could I do that to my parents
Well
let
s see
bullied every day
not allowed my own phone
forced to complete homework every night
no chance to go out
what would you have done
When you look at the way I was treated
who would disagree
Parents are meant to make your childhood happy
children are meant to have happy childhood. Leaving all your friends behind is not part of the plan
My parents
choice led me to knock on gran
s door.
Just come in Michael.
was all she said. I felt great already.
Commas in a list
Comma to end a clause within a sentence
Comma after a discourse marker
Comma after a fronted clause
Comma after a fronted adverbial
Apostrophe to show a missing letter
Apostrophe to show single ownership
Apostrophe to show plural ownership
Question marks to signify a question
Colon to start a list
Dash for extra emphasis
Semi-colon to merge two sentences
Inverted commas for direct speech
Exclamation mark for highlighting a dramatic point
Brackets for additional comments
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Using Punctuation to Emphasise Meaning
In this exercise you are given a piece of narrative writing that has had all punctuation removed.
Work with a partner to discuss where punctuation should be added to make the text make complete sense for the reader.
You can check the answers later.
The following text is part of a creative narrative describing the scene after a powerful storm has hit a small town.
Select your changes and select a different colour to make your corrections stand out.
I don't know how we survived (if you can call it ‘survived'). All we have left are the clothes we were wearing, a few children's toys and our gratitude. It doesn't take long to tear away everything from your past, to strip away the buildings that housed this family's possessions; it doesn't take long to lose your hope. Oh, don't get me wrong, we have our lives - that's true - but what about the future? She's playing with Marcie right now. However,Angie's face is not smiling as the game occupies her mind for a while. It's called ‘Hide from the Storm' and poor Marcie is being made to run and run as fast as her plastic-moulded body can manage! I wonder if Marcie will still be here in ten years' time?Will we? "Daddy, I'm hungry. When are we going to eat?" What do I tell her? "Don't worry, it's fine, we'll eat soon Angie." She seems happy with that, so let’s get going, let’s live for the children. So, what do we do now? Where do we go?
