Mini – Lesson
Reading with Inflection: Punctuation and Other Cues
Lesson Objective: To demonstrate the use of punctuation to create tone, emphasis, and meaning.
Lesson Rationale: By reading and listening to examples of the same text with different punctuation and other cues as to how it should be read, students will develop the skills to make decisions about tone and inflection while reading.
Grade Level: 7-10
Lesson time: ~ 15 min
Materials: Paper copy or overhead of ex. 1 and 2, overhead of full script, The Princess Bride Video/DVD, TV and VCR/DVD player, overhead
Step-By-Step:
Time / Task1 min / Quickly review some common punctuation and usage
-What does a period mean. …a comma, an exclamation point.
1 min / Pass out and have a student volunteer read Ex. 1
2 min / Review result
- What about the second and third sentence were different and varied, if anything? Why were/weren’t they different in the reading.
2 min / Play clip to provide context (20:21)
1 min / Have student re-read the text with this in mind
1 min / Play clip 2 to provide more context (1:22:22, 1:24:30)
- Have student again re-read, noting differences
1 min / Pass out Ex. 2 to student, have student re-read with additional punctuation cues. Note differences.
2 min / Play full clip of fight scene (1:26:20). Display full script on overhead and discuss what punctuation cues help with getting the desired reading.
1 min / One final student reading.
Ex. 1
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Ex. 2
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You Killed my father. Prepare to die!
Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You Killed my father! Prepare to DIE!
Actual Script:
[The scene is back to Inigo and Count Rugen]
[Inigo pulls the dagger from his stomach and tries to stand.]
Count Rugen: Good heavens...are you still trying to win? You've got an over developed sense of vengeance. It's going to get you into trouble someday. [Rugen tries to slash Inigo through the heart, but Inigo blocksthe attack. Rugen only stabs his arms.]
Inigo:Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You Killed my father. Prepare to die. [Inigo still stumbles and holds his stomach. The Count and Inigoexchange attacks.] Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You Killed my father. Prepare to die. [Inigo gains strength. He fiercely lunges atCount Rugen. Yelling] Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya! You Killed my father! Prepare to die!
Count Rugen: [frightened and angry] Stop saying that! [Inigo nips Rugen]
Inigo:[enraged] Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya! You Killed my father! Prepare to die! [Inigo corners Count Rugen and slashes his cheek] Offer me money! [He slashes his other cheek]
Count Rugen: All that I have and more. Please...
Inigo: Offer me anything I ask for.
Count Rugen: Anything you want... [Count Rugen tries a quick move on Inigo]
Inigo:[plunging his sword into Rugen's chest] I want my father back, you son of a