Writing Dialogue For Students

2. Tayyab Mujahid
Riphah International University,Islamabad

3. Writing
Dialogue
Presented to:
Sir Ilyas Baber Awan

4. Dialogue
By Ms. Taliaferro
My head feels
extremely
heavy.
Silly! That’s because
our heads are
disproportionate to
our bodies.

5. ∗Dialogue is conversation in a
story (or really anytime
something is said aloud).
∗When you write dialogue, you
stating a person’s exact words.
Definition

6. ∗Dialogue makes a story
more interesting. It can
reveal what a character
thinks or feels. It also
shows what a character’s
Purpose

7. ∗ Start a new paragraph each time a new
person speaks.
∗ Make sure readers know who is talking.
∗ Give a balanced mix of action and talking.
∗ Let all characters have equal say.
∗ Try and resolve the discussion by the end
of the page.
Some basic rules

8. •The speaker’s words should
be set apart from the rest of
the sentence with quotation
marks (“ ”).
•Ex: “How do you do?” asked
ALI.
Rules for the
Spoken Words

9. ∗Begin the first word of the spoken
part with a capital letter.
∗Place end punctuation inside the
quotation marks.
∗Ex: “Look at that!” exclaimed
Peter.
Rules for
Punctuation

10. ∗A comma separates the speaker
(tag) from the spoken words.
∗Ex: The doctor stated, “I think you
will feel better soon.”
∗Ex: “I think you will feel better soon,”
the doctor stated.
More Rules

11. ∗However, if the dialogue ends in a
question mark or an exclamation
point, do not add a comma – when
the spoken part is before the tag.
∗Ex: “I can’t believe I’m going to Hawaii!”
she shouted.
More Rules

12. ∗ The spoken words are sometimes interrupted
in the middle. End the first part of the spoken
words with quotation marks. Begin the second
with quotation marks. Use commas to
separate the spoken words from the tag.
∗ Ex: “It’s too late now,” I said. “We’ll have to
come back later.”
Rules Continued

13. “The phone broke in a month,” said the customer. “I
want a refund.”
“I’m sorry, sir. You are not entitled to—”
“Don’t tell me what I’m entitled to!” yelled the
customer. “Replace it or—”
The clerk ran into the back room. The manager came
out. “If you don’t leave this store right now, sir, I’m
going to call the—”
“I’m a cop,” the customer blurted. “You could call
me, but my phone doesn’t work.”
Customer and clerk argue

14. ∗ Student: May I come in, sir?
∗ Teacher: Yes, stand here. Why do you always come
late?
∗ S: Sir It is the bus which makes me late.
∗ T: What time do you leave home?
∗ S: I always leave home at quarter to eight.
∗ T: How far is your home from here?
∗ S: It is about three kilometers from here.
∗ T: That is why, you get late. You leave your home very
late.
A dialogue between a teacher
and a student who comes late

15. S: Sir, I take my break fast at 7:30 a.m.
T: What time do you get up?
S: I get up at about 7:00 a.m.
T: Don't you offer your prayer?
S: Not regularly.
T: My dear. It is a bad habit. Change your routine.
Always get up early in the morning. Offer your prayers
and go for a morning walk.
S: Sir, there is no park near our home.
T: No problem. You can walk along the street in the
morning time. Take breakfast at right time and then
leave for school.
S: You are right, sir. From tomorrow, I shall never be
late.
T: Good. One thing more keep in mind. Regularity and
punctuality conquer the mountains.
A: Thank you very much for your good advice. Can I sit
now, sir?