DialogueDialogue

How to properly punctuate How to properly punctuate the words your characters the words your characters speak.speak.

CCSS Writing 8.3b- CCSS Writing 8.3b- Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Why Use Dialogue?

1. By having your character speak, you can give the readers some insight into the character’s personality.

2. Having characters speak makes the story less boring-- helps bring the characters to life.

3. Having your characters speak can help you build suspense.

4. It looks good on an assessment.

Things to remember when Things to remember when writing dialoguewriting dialogue

• Write it as Write it as realisticallyrealistically as possible. as possible.• Make it clear Make it clear who is speaking who is speaking when.when.• Do not give too much information or Do not give too much information or

unrealistic information in dialogue.unrealistic information in dialogue.• Keep the conversation Keep the conversation movingmoving..• Make it as easy to read as possible.Make it as easy to read as possible.• Make it Make it purposefulpurposeful

– Should move story forward or reveal Should move story forward or reveal important informationimportant information

Make it more RealisticMake it more Realistic

• INTERUPTIONSINTERUPTIONS• One character breaks in on One character breaks in on

another, completing the first another, completing the first character’s line.character’s line.

• Character 1: “If only we could get Character 1: “If only we could get enough—”enough—”

• Character 2: “Hard cash?”Character 2: “Hard cash?”

Make it more RealisticMake it more Realistic

• REPETITIONREPETITION• One character picks up on a word One character picks up on a word

that another character has just that another character has just said:said:

• Character 1: “You’re not open to any new Character 1: “You’re not open to any new ideas. You won’t even listen to a word about ideas. You won’t even listen to a word about immigration!”immigration!”

• Character 2: “A word! I’ve listened to Character 2: “A word! I’ve listened to volumes!”volumes!”

Speaker TAGSSpeaker TAGS

• Using tags helps the reader to Using tags helps the reader to know who is speaking.know who is speaking.

• ““I’d really like you to sit down,” I’d really like you to sit down,” she she said.said.

• He whined, “I’m tired of watching this He whined, “I’m tired of watching this movie.”movie.”

• ““What are you doing?” What are you doing?” she askedshe asked..• ““That’s stupid,” That’s stupid,” hissed Julia viciously.hissed Julia viciously.

WordsWordsOther Other than than said…said…

Use ActionUse Action

• Instead of getting in the TAG RUT, Instead of getting in the TAG RUT, try incorporating some action:try incorporating some action:

• She pointed across the room. She pointed across the room. “Get over “Get over there!”there!”

• She slammed her hands down on the She slammed her hands down on the table. table. “NO!”“NO!”

Rules of punctuating Rules of punctuating dialoguedialogue

• Start a Start a new paragraph new paragraph when a new when a new person speaks or a large passage of person speaks or a large passage of action interrupts the speaking.action interrupts the speaking.

• Use Use quotation marks quotation marks to surround all to surround all spoken words on both sides.spoken words on both sides.

• Use Use speaker tags speaker tags to show who is talkingto show who is talking• Use the proper Use the proper end marksend marks..

– Endmarks always go inside the quotes.Endmarks always go inside the quotes.

Endmarks –COMMA.Endmarks –COMMA.

Use a comma if the dialogue is a Use a comma if the dialogue is a statement and there is a speaker tag statement and there is a speaker tag following.following.

Example:Example:

““Welcome homeWelcome home,,” she said, ” she said, stepping forward to take his hand.stepping forward to take his hand.

Use a period...Use a period...

If no speaker tag follows the If no speaker tag follows the quotation:quotation:

““Welcome home.” She stepped Welcome home.” She stepped forward to take his hand.forward to take his hand.

““Thank you.” He offered his own Thank you.” He offered his own hand in return.hand in return.

Speaker tag in middleSpeaker tag in middle

use a comma on either side and do use a comma on either side and do not capitalize second part.not capitalize second part.

““I can’t believe,” she said, “that I can’t believe,” she said, “that you are finally here.”you are finally here.”

When a question mark or When a question mark or exclamation point is used...exclamation point is used...

• Follow with a lowercase letter if a Follow with a lowercase letter if a speaker tag is being used.speaker tag is being used.– ““I will get you!” I will get you!” eexclaimed the witch. xclaimed the witch.

• Use a capital if it goes right into Use a capital if it goes right into action.action.– ““Will you ever give up?” Will you ever give up?” SShe threw he threw

her hands in the air and walked out. her hands in the air and walked out.

.

Practice- Practice- add proper add proper punctuation. punctuation.

I was walking through the mall one day when I I was walking through the mall one day when I met a group of my friends. Hey, what are you met a group of my friends. Hey, what are you doing here? I asked. I thought you guys had to doing here? I asked. I thought you guys had to stay after school today. No, we got out of that stay after school today. No, we got out of that detention, said Mary. Mrs. Jones decided we detention, said Mary. Mrs. Jones decided we really didn’t deserve it. Sue said, Are you here to really didn’t deserve it. Sue said, Are you here to shop or browse? A little bit of both, I replied, shop or browse? A little bit of both, I replied, because I need to find a birthday card for my because I need to find a birthday card for my cousin, but I really want to check out the sales. cousin, but I really want to check out the sales. And the boys! everyone laughedAnd the boys! everyone laughed