PUNCTUATING DIALOGUE Share your response with a Shoulder Partner: 1. What is Dialogue? 2. Why is Dialogue used within a story? 3. How can Dialogue add to the overall affect of a story?

DIALOGUE Denotation: Dialogue: (Noun) A conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie. OR (Verb) To take part in a conversation or discussion with another individual.

Why is DIALOGUE used within a story There are many reasons why strong/effective writers use dialogue in their writing. Some reasons include: We use dialogue to add more detail We use dialogue to re-live a scene We use dialogue to reveal more information to the reader about our character's personality traits. We use dialogue to show our character interactions

The Parts to Dialogue The QUOTE: What the person actually said There are 2 main parts of a piece of dialogue. The QUOTE: What the person actually said Example: “Daddy, I want a pony,” said the little girl. The TAG: an explanation of who spoke the quote and how Example: “Daddy, I want a pony,” demanded the little girl.

“Ali and I are going to Wal-Mart tomorrow morning.” Rule 1: Use quotation marks before and after someone’s exact words. Put your period mark INSIDE the closing quotation marks. “Ali and I are going to Wal-Mart tomorrow morning.”

Ali said, “Hold on, Mom. I need to find my shoes.” Rule 2: When the speaker’s tag (he/she said) comes before a quotation, use a comma outside of the quotation. Ali said, “Hold on, Mom. I need to find my shoes.” When the speaker’s tag comes after a quotation, place the comma inside closing quotation marks. “Let’s go,” I said.

“Don’t let me forget,” I said, “to pick up shampoo.” Rule 3: Sometimes the speaker’s tag comes in the middle of a quote (like an interrupter). Don’t forget to use your commas. “Don’t let me forget,” I said, “to pick up shampoo.”

“Do we have a long list?” Ali asked. Rule 4: Place your question mark or exclamation point inside the quotation marks when it is a part of the quotation. “Do we have a long list?” Ali asked.

Did I hear you say, “Yes mam”? Rule 5: Place your question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks when it is NOT a part of the quotation. Did I hear you say, “Yes mam”?

Rule 6: When the speaker changes, start a new paragraph. “I think I did,” Ali said. “I can’t remember though.” “Well, just remember to use your manners,” I replied.

Rule 7: Dialogue always begins with a capital letter unless it is broken in the middle of a sentence by the speaker identification: “The concert will be so worth it,” Amanda said, “even if I will be broke for the next month.”

“Said” is Dead As young writers, we often use the word “said” too many times to describe who is speaking. In 7th grade, it is time to put “Said” to rest You are challenged with the task to use alternative words instead of “said”

Alternative Words to “Said” added gasped responded admitted giggled roared answered growled sang apologized grumbled scolded argued guessed screamed barked hinted snarled began hissed snickered blabbed howled sobbed blurted implied spoke boasted implored stated boomed informed suggested cackled inquired supposed called interrupted taunted chuckled joked teased commanded lamented threatened complained laughed told concluded lied thought confessed mentioned uttered continued mumbled voiced cried observed wailed decided offered warned declared pestered whispered demanded pleaded wished described pointed out wondered droned pondered yelled elaborated promised encouraged questioned exclaimed rambled explained ranted expressed reasoned fumed remarked gabbed remembered

Practice With a shoulder partner, add the correct dialogue needed to understand this excerpt: I told him Papa was fine and handed him the slip my grandpa had given me. They sure are some fine looking pups he said. You’ll have to go around to the door. I’m sure my feet never touched the ground as I flew around the building. He unlocked the door, and I stepped in, looking for my dogs. I couldn’t see anything but boxes, barrels, old trunks, and some rolls of barbed wire. The kindly stationmaster walked over to one of the boxes. Do you want box and all he asked. I told him I didn’t want the box. All I wanted was the dogs. How are you going to carry them he asked I think they’re a little too young to follow.

Check Yourself I told him Papa was fine and handed him the slip my grandpa had given me. “They sure are some fine looking pups,” he said. “You’ll have to go around to the door.” I’m sure my feet never touched the ground as I flew around the building. He unlocked the door, and I stepped in, looking for my dogs. I couldn’t see anything but boxes, barrels, old trunks, and some rolls of barbed wire. The kindly stationmaster walked over to one of the boxes. “Do you want box and all?” he asked. I told him I didn’t want the box. All I wanted was the dogs. “How are you going to carry them? He asked. “I think they’re a little too young to follow.”