Sixth Grade Language Arts

 What is a dialogue?  A dialogue is a conversation between two people or characters in a narrative piece of literature. Their words are called direct quotes.  In literature, there can be more than two people speaking to each other but there is still an interchange of words between people or characters.

 Dialogues are direct quotes from speakers and are punctuated in the same way.  There are introductory quotation marks that appear BEFORE the first word the speaker says.  There are closed quotation marks at the end of the speaker’s words.  Usually there is an indication of the speaker and a word depicting how the words were spoken. Normally this is separated from the quote by a comma.  If the words spoken are a questions, then a question mark is substituted for the comma; if an exclamation, an exclamation point is substituted.

 “I am going to the store, Mother,” said Tim.  “What are you going to buy?” asked his mother.  “I am buying a cake!” exclaimed Tim. NOTE: Introductory quotation marks before the first word in the quote. Closed quotes after the last word said. Place a comma at the end of the quote and the words indicating the speaker. Place a question mark to substitute for the comma if the speaker asks a question; if an exclamation, an exclamation point is substituted. Vary the verb in front of the word indicating the speaker to show the emotion. Don’t always say said.

 “I am going to the store, Mother,” said Tim. Introductory quotation marks before the first word in the quote. Closed quotes after the last word said. Place a comma at the end of the quote and the words indicating the speaker. Verb in front of the word indicating the speaker

 “What are you going to buy?” asked his mother.  Where are the introductory quotation marks?  Where are the close quotation marks?  What is the first word of the quote?  Is the first word capitalized?  What is the last word of the quotation?  Where does the question mark appear?  What type of punctuation goes at the very end of the statement.  NOTE: The quote is the question. The entire quote plus who said it is a statement. “What are you going to buy?” asked his mother.

Mother asked, “Where are you going, Tim?” What is the first word of the quote? Should the first word of the quote be capitalized? What kind of punctuation separates the quote from the speaker indicator? Where do the introductory quotes appear? What is the first word of the quote? What is the last word of the quote? Where does the question mark go?

Mother asked, “Where are you going, Tim?” The first word of the quote is where. The first word of the quote should be capitalized A comma is the type of punctuation separating the quote from the speaker indicator. The introductory quotes appear before the first word spoken. The first word of the quote is where. The last word of the quote is Tim. The question mark goes inside the closed quotation mark.

“ Where,” Mother asked, “are you going, Tim?” Where and what is the speaker indicator? What is the complete direct quote? What punctuation is used when the quote is divided? How many pairs of quotation marks are there?

“Wow!” exclaimed Tim. “What a huge turkey!”

 What is the speaker doing?  Speaking: Instead of said, use stated, exclaimed, whispered, announced, promoted, affirmed, avowed, confirmed, declared, acknowledged  Questioning: Instead of said, use asked, questioned, queried, inquired  Show emotions: Instead of said, use laughed, snorted, chuckled, giggled, snickered, cackled, hooted, cried, screamed, blubbered, whimpered, howled, shouted, called out, sobbed, wept, bawled, wailed, yelled, shrieked, squealed, yelped, screeched,

Basic rule: New speaker, indent: start a new paragraph. Ryan galloped the black stallion onto the wooden bridge that led into the regeant’s castle. The clattering of the hooves awoke the sleeping guard who had dozed off while on duty. His head jerked in alarm and he staggered to his feet. “Who goes there?” the guard demanded. “I beg your pardon, sire. I am Ryan of Mislakrum. I bear a message for the king.” “A message from whom?” “From the Prince of Beirut, his son.” “The king has retired. Can this wait until morning?” “No. The enemy approaches. I have only hours ago escaped from them and have com to alert my father of their attack. I don’t need your permission to talk to my father. I am the prince and you are to follow my orders, not me yours. Sound the alarm! We are soon under attack! Do you wish to keep that head of yours on your shoulders?” “Beg pardon, sire.” He sounds the alarm. “Draw the bridge! Sound the alarm! We are under attack! Follow me to your father, sire.” Ryan snickered and thought to himself, “My father, indeed. What a fool this guard is.He delivers me to my chance to kill the king.”

 Set up the scene before having characters talk to one another.  Establish in the first statements of each who the speaker is.  Alternate thereafter and no indication of the speaker is necessary.  Indent- a new paragraph- with each change of the speaker.  Still have quotation marks around the words of the speakers and the correct punctuation.

 Sometimes people have an accent. Reflect this.  Sometimes we drop our “g’s” when we speak. Reflect this.  Sometimes we interrupt each other. Reflect this with “word spoken…”  Most of the time, our tone and words are conversational; however, would a god speak like a normal person?

 “Come on in.”  “Welcome to my home.”  “Are ya hungry?”  “Please, join us for dinner.”  “Where ya goin’?”  “Where is your destination?”

 You write the following:  “hi sue said how are you doing? Oh I’m fine How are you. Jill said.  How would you correct this?