Oral Exam

XL

Princess in Peril

• For this oral exam, you will:
• Create a 2-3 minute short story dialogue that has a beginning, middle, and end.
• You will be in groups of 2 for this exam
• You will be graded individually
• You will present your dialogues in front of the class.

Princess in Peril

• The story you will be writing will be a princess in peril
• Peril means a serious and immediate danger

​

Prince/Princess in Peril

Imagine a story about a princess or prince being locked in a tower guarded by two soldiers.

• Has s/he been kidnapped?
• Has s/he done something terrible and has been imprisoned?
• Is s/he waiting to be rescued?

​

The dialogue between the characters help show their emotions and plan their escape, or make the danger feel even more real.

What do you think makes a good dialogue in a story?

• How does dialogue change depending on who is speaking?
• Hero, villain, friend, etc.?
• Why is it important for characters to speak in a way that reveals their emotions or motives in a story about danger?

Dialogue

• Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people
• Dialogue shows how characters think and feel
• The dialogue can increase the stress/stakes and help the audience feel the tension
• Good dialogue sounds natural, but it also reflects the urgency of the situation

Beginning, middle, and end

• Beginning: introduce the situation and emotions. What is happening?
• Middle: The characters react and possibly make a plan or talk about their feelings
• End: The dialogue leads to a conclusion, decision, or new idea. It should move the story forward

EXAMPLE 1

PRINCESS: I can’t believe I’m trapped here!

​

PRINCE: We need to stay calm. Let’s think of a plan.

​

PRINCESS: I think I have an idea! Let’s use the rope!

EXAMPLE 1

PRINCESS: I can’t believe I’m trapped here!

​

PRINCE: We need to stay calm. Let’s think of a plan.

​

PRINCESS: I think I have an idea! Let’s use the rope!

The dialogue has a clear beginning (the princess is trapped), middle (they discuss a plan), and end (they come up with an idea.

EXAMPLE 2

PRINCESS: I can’t believe this is happening! We’re stuck in the tower!

​

PRINCE: Don’t panic! Let’s think about how we can escape. Do you see anything?

​

PRINCESS: Look! The window is loose! If we work together, we can break it open!

Analyze together:

• How are the characters feeling in the beginning, middle, and end?
• What is the problem? What is the solution?

EXAMPLE 2

PRINCESS: I can’t believe this is happening! We’re stuck in the tower!

​

PRINCE: Don’t panic! Let’s think about how we can escape. Do you see anything?

​

PRINCESS: Look! The window is loose! If we work together, we can break it open!

Analyze together:

• Beginning: Princess is feeling disbelief and fear.
• Middle: Prince is calm and looks for a solution
• End: Princess finds a way to escape. They’re ready to act.

Prompts

1. The princess/prince discovers they’re trapped. What do they say?
2. The princess/prince tries to comfort a scared companion.
3. A villain appears and threatens the princess/prince.
4. The princess/prince makes a plan to escape.
5. The princess/prince talks to a magical creature or helper who might rescue them.

• Make sure your dialogue has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Use short, urgent, sentences to create tension
• Use exclamation marks or questions to express emotions
• Consider how each character feels and thinks in their conversation. Are they scared? Brave? Angry?

Tips for Writing