This document discusses the principles of prosody when reading aloud. It defines prosody as how meaning is created through changes in pace, stress, loudness, and pitch. It provides examples of applying each prosodic element and learning activities for students to practice using prosody when reading passages. The goal is to help students learn to read with greater expressiveness and convey meaning through their voice.

1. Speaking 101
Principles of Prosody

2. Learning Objectives

To understand how to read aloud with
expressiveness.

To apply principles of prosody to create greater
expressiveness when reading.

3. Introduction

Listen to these two audio samples from two
students reading a simple text.

Student A

Student B

One reads better than the other. Can you
recognise which one is it? What makes her
reading stand out from the other?

4. Introduction

In reading aloud, we need to take care of our
prosody.

Prosody is the meaning created in our speech
by changing our Pace, Stress, Loudness and
Escalation.

We will discuss each of these in detail.

5. Pace

Pace or speed shows a quickening or slowing
down of the reading, to highlight a rising of
tension in the story or to show action.
1)Faster and faster, he ran. But it was too late.
2)I turned. What a sight!
3)The storm sewer ventured and vanished under
the running tracks.

Why do you think there's a difference in the
speed? Can it be seen by just the grammar or
vocabulary without reading aloud?

6. Learning Activity

One way to recognise an increase in speed is
the reading of the text – an escalating action or
escalation stage of the story – is the signal
where you need to increase your pace.

Refer to your Learning Guide and say which
one is needed for pace.

7. Stresses

An emphasis on key words tells the key idea in
a sentence.
1) What has happened?
2) What has happened?
3) Who did this?
4) Who did this?
How has the meaning created by the speaker in
each line of speech change when a different
word is stressed?

8. Learning Activity
Refer to your Learning Guide and explain which
word in the story – 'The Fox and the Grapes' –
needs to be stressed.

9. Loudness

The volume of your intonation creates a sense
of heightened emotion.
1) What have you done?!
2) You don't understand!
3) “Alex Tan!”
Alex shot up in his seat.

What do the highlighted words show?

10. Learning Activity
Refer to your Learning Guide and explain which
word in the story – 'The Fox and the Grapes' –
needs to be louder or softer.

11. Escalation

An escalation of pitch – from low to high-
pitched voice – expresses emotions.
1)Are you ready?
I am ready.

What effect does pitch in 'ready' has on the
listener when spoken in a:
a) high-pitched voice and,
b) low-pitched voice?

12. Learning Activity

The difference in pitch shows emotions. A
rising pitch – heightened emotion – and a
lowering pitch – depressed emotion. Practice
this dialogue with a partner.
1)A: Hello there! How are you?
2)B: On my way to jail.
3)A: Good God, what are you planning to do?
4)B: It's done.

13. Learning Activity

Refer to your Learning Guide.

Combine your knowledge of Prosody – PSLE –
to read the story on the Fox and the Grapes.

Band 1 – Most or all of the PSLE expressed

Band 2 – Some of the PSLE expressed

Band 3 – One of the PSLE expressed

Band 4 – None of the PSLE expressed.

14. Discussion

What is prosody?

When prosody is applied, what is the result of
our reading?

15. In Summary

Prosody is the meaning created in our speech
by changing our Pace, Stress, Loudness and
Escalation when speaking.

By applying prosody in our speech, we read
with expressiveness.