1. Tuesday, November 18th American Literature
Standards 1, 2, 3
Seating Chart
Clean out folders
Book Talks
Narratives: Dialogue and MLA Formatting
Bring complete first draft on Thursday. This must be PRINTED BEFORE CLASS.
Bring Id for next class
Quiz on Romanticism, Gothic Literature, and Transcendentalism next class. Use your notes to study!!!

2. Devices that will help knit your dialogue together…

3. One character picks up on a word that another character has just said:
Character 1: “You’re not open to any new ideas. You won’t even listen to a word about immigration!”
Character 2: “A word! I’ve listened to volumes!”
Repetition

4. One character breaks in on another, completing the first character’s line.
Character 1: “If only we could get enough—”
Character 2: “Hard cash?”
Interruptions

5. TAGS
In writing dialogue for a story, you start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes. Using tags helps the reader to know who is speaking.
“I’d really like you to sit down,” she said.
He whined, “I’m tired of watching this movie.”
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“That’s stupid,” hissed Julia viciously.

6. Instead of getting in the TAG RUT, try incorporating some action:
She pointed across the room. “Get over there!”
She slammed her hands down on the table. “NO!”
Use Action

7. Don’t create non-parts with your characters in dialogue
Don’t create non-parts with your characters in dialogue. This is the agreeing, nodding, uh-huh-ing character.
Work to reveal information from both sides of the conversation.
More Tips

8. “I understand how you feel, alright?”
“You do?”
“Aw, you know I do.”
“And do you care about me?”
“Of course I do.”
“So you’ll take the truck back?”
“Over my dead body!”
When only two people are talking you do not have to keep using their names.

9. And watch that punctuation…
In his usual rush, Orion tumbled through the door. “Mom, I’m home,” he shouted. “Take your shoes off,” she called.
“Did you take your shoes off?” he sassed back.

10. Keep commas and periods inside the quotation marks
“ I do not know,” yelled Albert.
Albert yelled, “I do not know.”
Which one is correct?
The teacher screamed, “Everyone needs to line up at the door”.
The teacher screamed, “Everyone needs to line up at the door.”
Keep commas and periods inside the quotation marks

11. Start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.
“You can be so cruel some times!” Mary wailed.
“Oh I suppose you’ll go crying to your mother now,” Fred sighed.
“At least she understands me,” sobbed Mary.
Start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.

12. Use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes.
This also includes publications that are set off by quotes.
Example: He said, "Danea said, 'Do not treat me that way.'"
Example: "Everyone will read the short story entitled ‘The Escape' for tomorrow," said the substitute teacher.
Quote inside of a quote

13. Exclamations and Questions
An exclamation point or question mark is placed inside the quotation marks when it punctuates the quotation. It is placed outside when it punctuates the main sentence.
For example:
I almost fell over when he asked, “That won’t be a problem for you, will it?”
Did the teacher really say, “Finish by tomorrow”?
Exclamations and Questions

14. Exclamations and Questions
When using exclamations and questions in your dialogue be sure to properly punctuate the words following the marks. If the sentence continues and the following words are not proper nouns then you DO NOT capitalize the next word.
For example:
“Did you hear Mr. Marcoux?” asked Steve.
“Watch out!” warned John.
“No homework tonight!” Mrs. Tomao asserted.
Exclamations and Questions

15. Use the comic strip on the following slides to help you craft interesting dialogue.
Step 1 = Study the scene
Step 2 = Write their words (the ones you think they’re saying) as they would appear in a comic.
Step 3 = Rewrite this into a paragraph that uses tags and dialogue action. You may add description if needed.
Practice!

16. 1. Think about what is going on in this scene.
Practicing dialogue:
1. Think about what is going on in this scene.

17. 2. Write their lines.

18. 3. Then, re-write this as a conversation with tags and action
(add description where you need it).