Basic 5 · Ghanaian Language · Narrative Writing
Punctuation in Narrative Writing
In this topic you will recognise and use punctuation marks appropriately when writing a narrative.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain what a narrative is
- Use punctuation correctly in narrative writing
- Write a short punctuated narrative
What you already know
- Full stop, comma and colon
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Composition Writing
- Sub-strand
- Narrative Writing
- Indicator
- B5.4.1.1.1-3 – Recognize and use punctuations appropriately in narrative writing
Introduction
A narrative tells a story. Good punctuation helps the reader follow who is speaking, what happens and how the characters feel.
1. What Is a Narrative?
Narrative: Writing that tells a story about events in order, real or imagined.
| Part | Content |
|---|---|
| beginning | introduces characters and setting |
| middle | describes events and the problem |
| end | tells how the problem is solved |
2. Punctuation in Narratives
| Mark | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| full stop (.) | end of a statement | The market was busy. |
| comma (,) | pauses and lists | Ama bought onions, pepper and salt. |
| question mark (?) | a question | "Where is my basket?" she asked. |
| exclamation mark (!) | strong feeling | "Thief! Stop him!" |
| quotation marks (" ") | the exact words spoken | Kofi said, "I am hungry." |
| apostrophe (') | ownership or shortened words | Ama's basket; don't |
3. A Sample Narrative (English Version)
"Last Saturday, Ama went to the market with her mother. The market was crowded and noisy. Suddenly, a boy grabbed her mother's purse and ran. 'Thief! Stop him!' Ama shouted. Two traders chased the boy and caught him near the lorry station. 'Why did you steal?' asked one trader. The boy said, 'I was hungry.' Ama's mother forgave him and bought him food. On the way home, Ama said, 'Mother, you are very kind.'"
4. Checking Your Punctuation
- Does every sentence begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark?
- Are the exact spoken words inside quotation marks?
- Is there a comma before the opening quotation mark (e.g. said, "…")?
- Are lists separated with commas?
- Is the apostrophe used correctly for ownership?
Write your narrative in your Ghanaian language, using the same punctuation rules.
New words
- narrative
- A story told in order.
- dialogue
- Words spoken by characters.
- quotation marks
- Marks around spoken words.
- exclamation mark
- A mark showing strong feeling.
- apostrophe
- A mark showing ownership or missing letters.
- setting
- Where and when a story happens.
Summary
- A narrative has a beginning, middle and end.
- Use quotation marks for exact spoken words.
- Use question and exclamation marks to show questions and feelings.
- Check every sentence for correct punctuation.
Class activity: Story Writing
- Write a narrative of 8–10 sentences in your Ghanaian language about a market day.
- Include at least two lines of dialogue.
- Swap with a partner and check each other's punctuation.
You need: Printed photographs of a local market or festival, Locally made story-planning cards, Exercise books, Pencils
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which mark shows strong feeling?
- A. Exclamation mark
- B. Comma
- C. Full stop
- D. Colon
Show answer
Answer: Exclamation marke.g. "Thief!"2. Spoken words are placed inside…
- A. quotation marks
- B. brackets
- C. commas only
- D. full stops
Show answer
Answer: quotation marksThey show exact words.3. "Ama's basket" uses an apostrophe to show…
- A. ownership
- B. a question
- C. a list
- D. a pause
Show answer
Answer: ownershipThe basket belongs to Ama.4. A narrative tells a story.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueEvents in order.5. Questions in dialogue end with a full stop.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseThey end with a question mark.6. The words spoken by characters are called ______.
Show answer
Answer: dialoguePlaced in quotation marks.7. Punctuate: kofi said i am going to school
Show answer
Answer: Kofi said, "I am going to school."Capital, comma, quotation marks, full stop.8. Why is punctuation important in narratives?
Show answer
Answer: It shows who is speaking, separates ideas and shows feelings, so readers understand the story.Clarity.
Homework
- Write a short story in your Ghanaian language about a visit to a relative, using correct punctuation.