MODEL SECONDARY SCHOOL, MAITAMA.

DATE: 22nd Sept 2023

CLASS: SS 3

SUBJECT: English Language

THEME: Speech

UNIT TOPIC: Intonation

LESSON TOPIC: More Practice with Intonation Patterns: the WH Questions.

TIME: 8:30 – 9:00

PERIOD: 2nd
DURATION: 30minute

SPECIFIC (BEHAVIOURAL) OBJECTIVES – At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
i. Explain Intonation
ii. Mention the types of Intonation
iii. Identify the functions of intonation.
iv. Use the falling tone appropriately with the falling tone indicator in sentences.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE: A Cardboard sheet with sentences of Falling Tune.

LESSON PRESENTATION:

STEP 1: IDENTIFICATION OF PRIOR IDEAS.

MODE: The entire class.

TEACHER' S ACTIVITIES: The teacher arouses the students’ interest as she asks the students to
define ‘stress’ studied in a previous lesson.

STUDENTS' ACTIVITIES: The students answer the question asked by the teacher.

STEP 2: EXPLORATION.

MODE: The entire students.

TEACHER'S ACTIVITIES: The teacher starts the main lesson as she explains to the students that the
lesson for the day is on “Intonation Patterns”. She goes ahead to say that every language makes use
of variation in the pitch of the voice to achieve meaningful oral communication. It is this variation
that is called ‘intonation’. Intonation therefore refers to the rise’ and fall’ of the PITCH of the voice
when we speak English. This means the up and down movement of the pitch of the voice. English is
one of the languages which make use of intonation. Speech is made up of utterances which can be
in the form of single words such as: Yes, No, When, Now etc. In most cases, utterances are produced
in phrases and sentences. Intonation in English is spread over units of utterances like words, phrases
or whole sentences. For example each of the utterances in the following short dialogue uses an
intonation tune.

A: Who’s there?
B: It’s me.
A: When did you arrive?
B: In the morning.
A: When will you leave?
Most of our languages in Nigeria are different from English language because they do not use
intonation. The rise’ and fall’ in the pitch of the voice in speaking Nigerian languages occur only on
the syllables of individual WORDS. This is known as tone rather than intonation. Most Nigerian
languages are tone languages. The rise’ and fall’ in the pitch of the voice in intonation usage in
English language can result in difference in the types of sentences or phrases we produce and their
meanings as utterances.

Intonation is also important in English that it forms an important part of the spoken utterance and
shows a speaker’s attitude to what he is saying to his listener.

This intonation has both grammatical and attitudinal functions in English. In grammatical functions,
intonation helps a reader to know functions of a given sentence. For example, it is through a
speaker’s voice that one will know whether he or she is asking a question, making a statement or
issuing a command or not. For attitudinal function, intonation helps to convey attitudinal meaning.
This goes to say that a speaker’s attitude towards a listener or to an issue under discussion is that of
doubt, surprise, sarcasm etc. The speaker’s attitude is visible to the listener via the tone of his
spoken words or the tone of his writing (writer’s intonation).

STUDENTS' ACTIVITIES: The students listen attentively; ask questions for clarification and copy
notes.

STEP 3. DISCUSSION:

MODE: The entire class.

TEACHER'S ACTIVITIES: The teacher goes on to inform the students that there are two basic
intonation tunes in English. They are referred to as the “Falling Intonation Tune and Rising
Intonation Tune” or “Low and High” or “Up and Down”. She takes the Falling intonation tune:
The Falling Tune: The falling tune is usually used in declarative sentences (statements),
commands, exclamations and wh-questions (questions which demand some
information). Such sentences always contain both stressed and unstressed
syllables which are not on the same pitch level. The first stressed syllable in
the sentence is the highest in pitch and each succeeding stressed syllable is
spoken on a slightly lower pitch. In this way, the voice pitch gradually
descends until the speaker gets to the last stressed syllable (word) which
carries the final fall. Any unstressed syllables after the last stressed syllable
are said on a low level pitch in order to maintain the fall.
STUDENTS' ACTIVITIES: The students continue to copy the note and listen very well. They ask
questions.

STEPS 4: APPLICATION

MODE: The entire class.

TEACHER'S ACTIVITIES: The teacher now explains to the students the types of sentences mentioned
before and gives examples of sentences that illustrate the point. She tells the students that the
arrow at the end of the sentences indicates the direction of pitch movement. When the arrow is
pointing downwards (↘) it indicates a falling tune, while the rising tune is indicated by the arrow
facing up (↗).
A. Wh-questions: These are questions that demand information/response.
Examples are;
i. Where is the head teacher?↘
ii. Who opened the box?↘
iii. Why did he come late?↘
iv. Which shoes did she buy?↘
v. What does he want?↘
B. Statements (Declarative sentences):
Examples;
i. The man bought a new car.↘
ii. The woman is on her way to the market.↘
iii. She got it right.↘
C. Commands:
Examples;
i. Keep that box locked now.↘
ii. Stand under that canopy immediately. ↘
iii. Go home straight. ↘
D. Exclamation:
Examples;
i. What a beautiful picture! ↘
ii. Ah! That’s a rude approach. ↘
iii. What a pleasant surprise! ↘

STUDENTS' ACTIVITIES: The students give other examples, ask questions and continue with the note
copying as they listen to the explanations.

STEP 5: EVALUATION

MODE: Entire class

TEACHER'S ACTIVITIES: The teacher evaluates the lesson as she asks the students the following
questions.

a. What is intonation?
b. Mention the two types of intonation.
c. Identify the functions of intonation.
d. What are those specific sentences that go for falling tune?
e. Give examples of falling tune.
STUDENTS' ACTIVITIES: The students answer the questions asked by teacher.

ASSIGNNENT: The students are asked to answer the questions below.

Indicate the utterance that has the falling tune in the following and write the kind of sentence that it
is.
1. We are studying English
2. Go to the principal’s office at once
3. How old are you
4. Our parents will provide the food
5. What a great day

REFERENCE BOOKS

 Wale Osisanwo et al Macmillian Briliant English for Senior Secondary Schools.

 Akere, F et al NERD Comprehensive English for Senior Secondary Schools.
 Sam, Onuigbo Oral English for Schools and Colleges.
 Ademola Adeoye, F et al New Concept English for Senior Secondary Schools Book 3.
 Otagburuagu, E. J et al English for the Certificate year.
 Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, 6th Edition.
 Agbada, J. O Udi. A Higher Education Text.