ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT

Writing direct speech

Assessment Criteria and What A Good One Looks Like

Below you will find the Skill Check assessment criteria for this skill, and underneath you will find an example of what a good one looks like, with a brief explanation of how it fits the criteria.

Assessment Criteria for Writing direct speech

minus
any of these things

Basic task instructions have not been followed (e.g. not written as direct speech)

Direct speech is not paragraphed at all

The words spoken by the characters in the speech have been changed for no good reason

equals
all of these things

Direct speech is accurately punctuated – it is acceptable if other punctuation is wrong in the piece

Direct speech is mostly accurately paragraphed

Speech declarations are used appropriately throughout

plus
all of these things

Direct speech is accurately punctuated and paragraphed, with speech declarations used appropriately throughout

Speech declarations are embedded in longer pieces of speech (3 sentences or more)

star
all of these things

All the + criteria

Some extra details are added into the speech declarations (thoughts, actions, description) to make the situation around the dialogue clearer and the speech more effective

What a good one looks like

Example task

Read the dialogue below and complete the task underneath.

AALIYA: Can you pass me my phone?

BETHAN: I mean I can, like. But don’t you think you ought to leave it there, given what Krishnan said about the alien invasion? I think it’s safer that way.

AALIYA: Just give it to me.

Rewrite this dialogue as direct speech, with correct spelling, punctuation and grammar, using the standard conventions for direct speech. Don’t change any of the characters’ words but make the writing as sophisticated as you can.

Example response

“Can you pass me my phone?” Aaliya asked.
“I mean I can, like,” Bethan said awkwardly. She didn’t want to upset Aaliya, but she thought she should at least try to be firm. “But don’t you think you ought to leave it there, given what Krishnan said about the alien invasion? I think it’s safer that way.”
Aaliya poked Bethan aggressively with her forefinger and stared her down. “Just give it to me.”

Notes on this response

  • The direct speech is accurately punctuated.

  • It is correctly paragraphed with a new paragraph for each new speaker.

  • There are sensible speech verbs used in the speech declarations for the first two bits of speech.

  • There is no speech declaration for the third bit of speech as it’s not required.

  • The longer piece of speech (Bethan) has an embedded speech declaration after the first sentence.

  • There are thoughts and actions added to make the situation around the dialogue clearer and the speech more effective