Punctuation
Starter: how would using commas save this writer’s
family?
Learning Objective: to understand and be able to explain the
impact of punctuation used in poetry.
Full stops
Full stops are used to
signal the end of a
sentence.
Remember that each
new sentence will
have a subject (noun)
and a verb.
Full stops
Full stops must always be used where sentences can
stand alone.
e.g.
I love maths, it’s my favourite subject. NO, NO, NO!
I love maths. It’s my favourite subject. That’s better!
The girl stood on the deck of the pirate ship. Fearing
for her life. NO, NO, NO!
The girl stood on the deck of the pirate ship, fearing
for her life. That’s better!
Commas
• Commas are used to mark the parts of sentences
which can’t stand by themselves.
• You can also use them to mark off one-word
items in a list.
• I arrived very late this morning, but only because
my brother stole my iPad, and I had to chase him
around the house until he gave it back.
• I bring my pencil case, iPad, trainers, ruler, books
and snacks into school.
Exclamation marks
• Exclamation marks are used at the end of a
sentence of piece of dialogue to signal that
something is particularly exciting or should be
spoken in an excited or angry way,
• However, you must be careful not to overuse
them...
Question marks
• Question marks are used at
the end of direct questions.
• Like exclamation marks,
they can be used at the end
of a sentence like a full stop,
or at the end of a piece of
dialogue.
Apostrophes
• Are used to show that a letter is missing:
That’s my brother. = That is my brother.
I couldn’t believe it! = I could not believe it!
• Are used to show possession:
– The dog’s bone.
– The children’s sweets.
– The parents’ evening.
• BE CAREFUL with its and it’s.
– The cat licked its paw.
– It’s a beautiful sunny day.
Punctuation is very important in
poetry...
• Caesura = punctuation in the middle of a line
• Enjambement = when a line breaks part way
through a sentence
• Endstopping = when a sentence ends at the
end of a line
The smell of icing sugar wafted through the house
I could feel it on my tongue and up my nose
Like freshly falling snow it silently swept through up the stairs
So that we all knew that Mums biscuits were ready
How would you
punctuate this poem?
But then there was a less pleasant smell
We could tell that the baking had gone wrong
- What mistakes have
I cant remember what had happened
been made?
All I remember is the icing sugar
Isnt that what memory is
The icing sugars scent masks the mistakes
Thank goodness
-Could you use
punctuation marks to
create different effects?
- Could you use
enjambement or
caesura by changing
where the lines break?
Pick three stanzas of Emily Brontë’s
poem ‘Remembrance’.
• In pairs, explore the way in which Brontë has
used punctuation for impact.
• Use these questions to help you:
– Which punctuation marks has Brontë used and
why? (Hint: swap them for others and see what
changes.)
– Has Brontë used enjambement, caesura or
endstopping in your stanza? What impact does it
have? (Hint: try reading the poem aloud.)
Self-assessment
• Read over the initial draft of your ‘Remember’
poem.
• How could you adapt they way you have used
punctuation in your poem, based on what
you’ve learnt this lesson?