Mini Lesson Plan

Shannon Ritchie

General Education, Los Angeles Pacific University

English 420, Principles of Language

Professor Gentry

March 20, 2023

Direct Speech
 Direct speech is when the exact words spoken or written by the
speaker are repeated. Direct speech, also known as quoted
speech, means the words written are enclosed between quotation
marks conveying directed quoted remarks. It is a common
technique used in writing and speech to convey what was said by
someone, including their tone and mannerisms. The use of direct
speech can serve two purposes: to communicate something that
is currently being said or to inform someone about a future
event. It is often used in fiction writing, journalism, and in
everyday conversations. It is important to remember that when
using direct speech, the speaker's exact words should be written
accurately without any additions or alterations.
Using direct speech can be a useful technique for writers to give
their characters a sense of individuality, but it can lead to
mistakes if not used properly. One common error is forgetting to
use quotation marks to indicate where the direct speech begins
and ends. This can cause confusion for the reader, who may have
a hard time understanding between the character's words and
the narrative. Using incorrect punctuation inside quotation
marks is another error that may occur while using direct speech.
For example, the use a period instead of a comma when the
speaker continues the sentence after the dialogue. If children
comprehend these rules for using direct speech, it will aid them
in comprehending the appearance of direct speech accurately.
 There are several effective strategies that can be used to teach
direct speech to students. One common approach is to provide
students with examples of direct speech in literature or real-life
situations and help them identify the specific elements that make
it direct speech. This can be followed by guided practice, where
students are given opportunities to create their own direct
speech sentences with help from the teacher. Additionally,
incorporating interactive activities such as role-playing or
speech cards can help students practice using direct speech in a
real-world way, making this concept more engaging for them. By
using a combination of these strategies, teachers can help their
students develop a strong understanding of using direct speech
correctly.
Indirect Speech
Indirect speech, also known as paraphrasing, refers to conveying
someone else's statements, thoughts, or beliefs indirectly rather
than quoting them verbatim. In indirect speech, the words are
written or said what another person has said or thought but do
not use their exact words. Instead, the speaker uses their own
words to summarize the meaning of the original statement or
idea. Indirect speech is an important skill to have in order to
accurately relay information to others.
 There are certain common errors that people make when using
indirect speech. One of the most common errors is changing the
tense of the reported verb. For example, if someone said, “I am
going to the gym,” the indirect speech should be, “She said she
was going to the gym.” Although some people may say, “She said
she is going to the gym,” which is incorrect due to the change in
the tense of the reported verb. Another common error is
changing the pronoun in the sentence. An example of this could
be someone saying, “I love pizza” the correct indirect speech
would be, “He said he loves pizza.” Although people may say, “He
said I love pizza,” which would be incorrect due to the change of
pronoun in the sentence. It is important to be aware of these
common errors in order to use indirect speech correctly.
 Teaching indirect speech can be difficult for some children to
understand correctly. Using numerous strategies while teaching
indirect speech will make understanding easier for the children.
Starting off with teaching direct speech and then gradually
transitioning to indirect speech will show the children the
difference between the two. This can be done by providing
examples of direct speech and then asking students to change
them into indirect speech. Another strategy is to use real-life
situations to teach indirect speech. Providing children with
real-life scenarios where this type of speech would be used, then
asking the children to practice using indirect speech in their
replies. In addition, the use of visual aids will help the children
physically see how direct and indirect speech differs from each
other.
 Developmental
Aspects of
Grammar, and
how it Pertains to
ELA
When it comes to understanding the English language, grammar
is an important element. As children grow in their ELA efficiency,
they are introduced to many different grammatical concepts.
Children will start off with basic sentence structure, eventually
expanding to more complex topics such as verb tense and tone.
Ensuring that children can understand and communicate
successfully in both written and spoken English highly depends
on the developmental elements of grammar. Children having a
clear and concise knowledge of grammar will leave them better
equipped to express themselves with clarity and successfully, not
only in their academics but in their personal lives as well.
References
Admin, K. S. W. (2023c, January 5). Using Grammar - Kid Sense Child Development. Kid Sense

Child Development.

https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/using-speech/using-grammar/

direct speech. (2023). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/direct-speech

Direct Speech | Promova Grammar. (n.d.).

https://promova.com/english-grammar/direct-speech-in-english

How to Teach Direct and Indirect Speech. (2021, November 5). The Classroom | Empowering

Students in Their College Journey.

https://www.theclassroom.com/teach-direct-indirect-speech-8482676.html

Learning Pundits. (2018, March 21). Tips on Direct & Indirect Speech - Learning Pundits - Medium.

Medium.

https://medium.com/@LearningPundits/tips-on-direct-indirect-speech-d9c0db7bb360
Nordquist, R. (2019). Indirect Speech Definition and Examples. ThoughtCo.

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-indirect-speech-1691058#:~:text=Indirect%20speech

%20is%20paraphrasing%20what%20someone%20said%20or,speaker%20because%20the

y%20come%20directly%20from%20a%20source.

The Importance of Grammar. (n.d.). Nool.

https://nool.ontariotechu.ca/writing/english-language-resources/grammar/index.php