Using Dialogue
Thank you for being here today!
My keen and clever creators,
Today we will practice writing dialogue. Then we will have some time to work on our narratives.
Have a day of originality.
Thank you for being here today!
Dialogue..who needs that?
Dialogue
Characters talking to each other in writing
Words coming out of the characters mouth or noises
+ a speaker tag = dialogue
What do you notice about this story?
There is a basketball game. He passed the ball. He scored a basket. The game ended.
What do you notice about this story?
What if we told the same story in a comic.
Hmmm...this story is better.
How do we make that happen?
How do I add that to my writing?
You make it happen with:
The Story Could Look Like This:
“Go ahead and take the shot kid! Take it!” yelled the player.
“I will!” growled Andy.
“Boomp! Nab!” the ball hit the floor with a pass to the other player.
“Foof,” the ball made it in the net just as the buzzer went off.
“Changed my mind,” said Andy.
Conventions for Dialogue
"No way!" shouted Henry.
“Ahhhh! “Karen screamed.
“Ummm, I’m not sure,” he whispered his face turning red.
"She's happy," shared Gwen.
Dialogue Example 1
“I’m bored,” said Clara. “Let’s go shopping.”
A period comes after Clara because that’s the end of a complete sentence.
Dialogue Example 2
“Oh yeah,” joked Keith, “I’d just love to get a new dress.”
A comma comes after Keith because what follows completes the sentence.
Dialogue Example 3
“What you really need, Keith, is a new address!” Clara shot back.
The exclamation point is inside the quotation marks because the quotation is an exclamation.
Dialogue: Example 4
Middle School has been good to him, thought Emma. He was smiling and laughing with his friends again. He seemed happy. Had he forgotten?
No quotation marks for thoughts.
Dialogue Example 5
“What are you staring at?” Jordan asked with a grin. “Who is so interesting in that group?”
Punctuation inside quotation marks.
Dialogue: Example 6
Emma paused before she answered, deciding whether or not she could trust her new friend. Turning her head, she replied, “No one. Just someone from my old school. No one really.”
Separate tags with a comma, question mark, or exclamation point.
Practice
My state has the craziest laws said Jessie.
“In California you can’t set a mousetrap without a hunting license she continued.
Practice
Once in Boston you couldn’t own a dog over ten inches high said Sally.
So what? asked Jessie. You can’t peel an orange in a hotel room in California.
Practice
Ha! laughed Sally. I can top that. It’s Illegal to have frog-jumping contests in Boston clubs.
I have saved the best for last said Jessie. There’s a law against swimming on dry land in Santa Ana, California.
You Try
Mr. Johnson went up the twisting stairs into Adam’s room. He said Adam, Adam get ready for school. Do I have to? Adam groaned. Adam wake up, it’s your first day of school this quarter Mr. Johnson said to Adam. You know the tradition. I know dad Adam interrupted.
Mr. Johnson went up the twisting stairs into Adam’s room. He said, “Adam, Adam get ready for school.”
“Do I have to?” Adam groaned.
“Adam, wake up, it’s your first day of school this quarter,” Mr. Johnson said to Adam. “You know the tradition.”
“I know, dad,” Adam interrupted.
Dialogue Review
Dialogue Review
One last question said the student. How long does our personal narrative have to be
Dialogue Review
He's always getting grass stains all over his clothes said Isaac.
Dialogue Review
Brian asked what are you doing over there?
Dialogue Review
All right said the teacher. Let's get out our Chromebooks.
Dialogue Review
What is your favorite color”? asked Isabel.