Dialogue in a Monologue How to use dialogue

“Personality goes a long way…” What is the topic of conversation? Is it an interesting topic? Would you talk about it with your friends? What parts of the dialogue kept your attention?

Why use dialogue? Dialogue can be used for many reasons, but the following are some examples: creating a great hook creating characterization condensing long passages for background to show instead of tell

Creating a good hook “Draw no blood, men. Remember, this is to be a wedding party.” - From - My Lord Pirate How could this quote make a reader want to read further?

Characterization - pg. 87 in Joy Luck Club From reading the passage how would you describe the characteristics of the mother? How would you describe the characteristics of the daughter? What point is the author trying to make with the passage?

Condensing long passages for background “Bite back your tongue,” scolded my mother when I cried loudly, yanking her hand toward the store that sold bags of salted plums. At home, she said, “Wise guy, he not go against wind. In Chinese we say, Come from Soth, blow with wind - poom! - North will follow. Strongest wind cannot be seen.” How does this dialogue explain the characteristics of Waverly’s mother without explaining background of the mother?

Dialogue shows instead of telling Dialogue can show how a person acts… “Chinese people do many things,” she said simply. “Chinese people do business, do medicine, do painting. Not lazy like American people. We do torture. Best torture.” Dialogue can show what a place may look like… “I dreamed about Kweilin before I ever saw it,” my mother began, speaking Chinese. “I dreamed of jagged peaks lining a curving river, with magic moss greening the banks…”

Now use dialogue for your monologue! Now think of ways you will use dialogue in your monologue. How could you use dialogue to create a great hook in your monologue? How could you use dialogue to characterize people? How could you use dialogue to create background? How could you use dialogue to show things about people and places?