Writing Assignment Help - Quotations (IEW)

[SJ.]

My children attend an enrichment program where they use IEW.  My 4th grade son's assignment this week includes quotation marks.  I am confused about the rule that states: Begin a new paragraph when the speaker changes.  

 

The examples where they begin a new paragraph follow this format: "Blah blah blah," the dog said.  I understand that in this case you would start a new paragraph.  

 

My son's paragraph is written this way:  Then so and so said, "Blah blah blah."  An old cow replied, "Blah and blah."

 

Is he supposed to start a new paragraph for each of those sentences?  Doing so doesn't make sense to me but I will fully admit that I am not well versed in these types of nuances in writing.

 

SJ

[5of5]

My children attend an enrichment program where they use IEW.  My 4th grade son's assignment this week includes quotation marks.  I am confused about the rule that states: Begin a new paragraph when the speaker changes.  

 

The examples where they begin a new paragraph follow this format: "Blah blah blah," the dog said.  I understand that in this case you would start a new paragraph.  

 

My son's paragraph is written this way:  Then so and so said, "Blah blah blah."  An old cow replied, "Blah and blah."

 

Is he supposed to start a new paragraph for each of those sentences?  Doing so doesn't make sense to me but I will fully admit that I am not well versed in these types of nuances in writing.

 

SJ

 

Yes, I'd write your example as:

 

Then so and so said, "Blah blah blah."  

An old cow replied, "Blah and blah."

[GrammarGirl]

Yes, even if one speaker says just one word, you are to start a new paragraph each time another character speaks.

[SJ.]

Yes, even if one speaker says just one word, you are to start a new paragraph each time another character speaks.

Thanks!  Do you start a new paragraph the first time anyone speaks?

 

For example, is it like this:

 

     La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.  La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.  La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.  La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.  La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.  La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.   La de da da.  Da da dum.  La la la.

     Then so and so said, "Blah blah blah."  

     An old cow replied, "Blah and blah."

    And this is the last sentence of my story.

[SJ.]

Yes, I'd write your example as:

 

Then so and so said, "Blah blah blah."  

An old cow replied, "Blah and blah."

 

So start a new paragraph with Then so and so said... And again with An old cow replied...   ?

 

Thanks for your help.

SJ

[GrammarGirl]

Thanks! Do you start a new paragraph the first time anyone speaks?

 

For example, is it like this:

 

La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la. La de da da. Da da dum. La la la.

Then so and so said, "Blah blah blah."

An old cow replied, "Blah and blah."

And this is the last sentence of my story.

It depends. If the paragraph describes the character's thoughts or reaction to the dialogue, then no. If the paragraph is describing the character's gestures as he speaks, no. But if the preceding sentences are not related to the quotation, then yes, start a new paragraph. Much of this is intuitive, so don't overthink it.