Dialogue

What’s going on in this photo? On a separate sheet of paper, write the dialogue of the three girls talking. Try your best to use correct dialogue punctuation.

Dialogue rules Dialogue is not conversation. Real conversation is dead boring to read. Create the illusion of real conversation.

Intersperse descriptive narration with your dialogue to give it detail and context. In other words, show, don’t tell

Don’t overuse “he said” or “she said” Don’t overuse the alternatives (“he shrieked”)

Don’t overuse dialogue tags “Say, Joe, what is that you’re doing” “Well, Sam, I’m fixing my car.” “I didn’t know it was broken, Joe.” “You know my car is always breaking down, Sam”

Dialogue “Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?” Jamie asked. “Yeah, What’s up?” Samantha asked. “I can’t believe it. I’m going to be the lead in the musical,” Jessica said. “That’s great,” Jamie said. “How in the world are you going to work that into your schedule?” Samantha asked. “I’ll manage,” Jessica said. “Just don’t worry.”

Jessica came bounding down the stairs with a smile on her face. She was going so fast that she practically ran in to Jamie and Samantha. “Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?” Jamie asked, puzzled. Samantha was just as confused as Jamie was. “Yeah. What’s up?” she asked impatiently. Jessica’s heart leapt as she shared the news. “Oh! I just got the best news. I’m going to be the lead in the musical.” “That’s great.” said Jamie, trying to summon up some enthusiasm. Deep down, she felt a stab of jealousy. She had wanted the part so badly, and now her best friend had gotten it. She tried to imagine what Jessica would look like on stage in the lead role, singing the songs she was supposed to have sung. Samantha tapped on Jessica’s books impatiently. “How in the world are you going to work that into your schedule?” she asked. Samantha knew from experience that Jessica had trouble managing her time. She cancelled their plans to study together twice in one week. Jessica took a long look at her friends. Then she mentally reviewed her list of activities. “I’ll manage,” she said, with a casual nod. “Just don’t worry.”

Jessica was so excited that she practically flew down the stairs. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends the news! She was going so fast that she almost ran into Jamie and Samantha. “Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?” Jamie asked. “Yeah, what’s up?” Samantha asked. Jessica’s heart leapt as she shared the news. “I can’t believe it. I’m going to be the lead in the musical.” “That’s great,” Jamie said. Jessica thought that she could hear a ring of jealousy in Jamie’s voice. Jessica knew that she had been up for the role, too, but she’d thought that Jamie would at least be happy for her. Especially after what had happened at the party last week. Was Jamie turning on her too? Samantha tapped on her books. “How in the world are you going to work that into your schedule?” Samantha asked. Jessica thought about that one for a second. She had to admit she had been a bit overbooked lately. She had even had to change her plans to study with her friends. But acting in this play was more important than anything else she had ever done. This was her chance to get out of here. Jessica took a long look at her friends. “I’ll manage,” she said, with a causal nod. She saw the doubtful looks on Samantha and Jamie’s faces. “Just don’t worry.”

What about grammar???

Fix me! Don’t you dare spread vegemite on my toast! Johnny threatened I would never do that replied Mr.K I want to believe you Johnny cried out but you already did! Sorry replied Mr. K I thought you would like it.

Now let’s “trick up” our dialogue

Speak Oz

With a partner or on your own, create a page of dialogue using the techniques we talked about in class. The dialogue can be between a traveler from the US who meets some Ozzies from the Outback. Remember: Dialogue grammar Showing, not telling Don’t overuse tags