11. Chapter 11

Today we are going to practise using dialogue.

to consider the plot of Chapter 11
to look at how to write effective dialogue
to practise writing dialogue

This is what we’ve read in Chapter 11…

Chapter 11: “Little Talk”

Below are five rules for using dialogue effectively:

Let’s look at an example of how to apply each of these rules!

Rule 1

-EXAMPLE-

Rule 2

-EXAMPLE-

Rule 3

-EXAMPLE-

Rule 4

-EXAMPLE-

Rule 5

-EXPLANATION-

It is important that you know how to write dialogue. Copy the rules into your books for study purposes.

Previously we read Chapter 10 (Understanding) and Chapter 11 (Little Talk). You were asked to focus on how dialogue is set out in the book. Now you are going to practise writing your own dialogue…

Look at the comic strip below:

This is a comic strip featuring a conversation between Homer and Moe from the Simpsons. The only information we have is what the characters say. We know their emotions because of the pictures, but in a novel, there are very rarely pictures, which means that it is down to your description to let the reader know that information.

Look back in your books to when we found alternatives to the word ‘said’.

Said…

Turn this comic strip into a written narrative, by writing the speech out into dialogue. Remember to use the five rules that we have looked at today.

In this task the word ‘said’ is banned from your dialogue! Try to use a better range of vocabulary in your work.

ADVICE

So you need to write the dialogue as shown in the cartoon, but with actions and attitudes.

Use the example below as a start (if you need to) and do the same for the rest of the comic strip. Use as much detail as you can to make it entertaining. Remember to NOT use the word ‘said’!

Dialogue Example: