Page 293 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade7_Flipbook

ACTIvITy 4.4
continued
Analyzing and presenting a dramatic monologue
GrAmmAr UsAGe
Punctuation
Monologues, like poetry, use punctuation for dramatic effect. You can use punctuation as a cue to guide your reading and performance of a text. Periods and semicolons mark longer pauses, while commas mark shorter pauses. Exclamation points mark excitement, surprise, or shock, and question marks indicate
a confused, uncertain, or reflective tone.
my Notes
from Teens Have Feelings Too by Deborah Karczewski
OK you little slug, here’s the plan. If I have to be stuck with a little punk brother in my room, then you have to follow the rules. Got it?
It’s bad enough that I’m gonna have to be tortured by
a stinky, whiny, bottle-sucking baby in the house, but to give up half of my room? ... to the brat of the century? ... Arghhh! (Or some noise of frustration) This is worse than being stung by killer wasps! It’s like being eaten by cannibals while I’m still alive! It’s ... it’s ... like having to clean the litter box of a giant Bengal Tiger!
So here’s the rules, Turkey. One: observe the row of sock balls making a line down the middle of the floor. You stay on your side of the sock line. Understand? Well, OK ... you can cross to go to the bathroom ... but only once a night.
Two: my stuff is my stuff. You touch anything and
you’re asking for it. See?
Three: when I want my privacy, I’ll put a sign on the
outside of the door ... something like ... “Anyone Under This Height Stay Out!” If you want to come in, you can knock on the door and say, “Oh Great One, may I enter?” And maybe, just maybe ... if you’re good, I’ll let ya.
Hey, I know ... let’s give it a try. You go outside the
bedroom door. Yeah, that’s good. Now shut the door.
That’s right. OK, now say, “Oh Great One, may I enter?” (Listens.) I can’t hear you. Say it louder ... Hey, pinhead, I can’t hear you! (Pause, followed by a look of shock) What’s that? (Talking sweetly through the door) Dad? Oh, nothing, Dad. We’re just playing a game! Sure, he can come in any time he wants, cute little guy! (Pause) Whew! That was a close one!
266 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 7
Roommate
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