2. Say What???? Rules for Punctuating Dialogue

3. Why Use Dialogue? Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. Dialogue is essential to fiction writing. Dialogue brings characters to life and adds interest. Dialogue must do more than just duplicate real speech.

4. Writing dialogue consists of the most exciting, most interesting, most emotional, and most dramatic words!

5. Brainstorm a Conversation… …between these two people!

6. New Speaker = New Paragraph Indent for each new speaker. Example: I watched Leo and A.J. whisper in the back of the room. “Hey, Leo,” whispered A.J.. “I’m not supposed to be talking to you right now.” “Yeah,” Leo hissed impatiently, “so stop whispering to me!!” = indents!!

7. What goes in quotes?? Only the EXACT words of the speaker go inside the quotation marks. Mrs. Spina yelled, “Do the DO NOW!”

8. Tag Lines The words used to identify the speaker is called the tag line. Words like said, replied, screamed, etc. are NEVER capitalized in a tag line. Examples: “I forgot my planner,” said Lisa. Mary asked, “Do you love soccer?”

9. Three Types of Tag Lines Before the quote: –Jon asked, “Where did everyone go?” After the quote: –“Where did everyone go?” asked Jon. In the middle of the quote: –“I have a dog,” said Alyssa. “His name is scruffy.”

10. Before the Quote Rule: The comma ALWAYS FOLLOWS the tag line and the BEGINNING LETTER OF THE QUOTE is always CAPITALIZED. Example: Tom asked, “ I s there homework today?” commacapitalize!

11. After the Quote Rule: The ENDING PUNCTUATION after the actual quote (before tag line) can NEVER be a period. If the sentence would normally end with a period, substitute a COMMA. Exceptions: –Questions –Exclamations

12. “Everyone is going to the street fair,” declared Abby. “Lunch is very soon,” Jack pointed out. After the Quote: Examples

13. Exceptions “Everyone is going to the street fair!” exclaimed Abby. “Is lunch is soon ? ” Jack asked.

14. In the Middle of the Quote In between two separate sentences: –Rule: A PERIOD follows the tag line and the BEGINNING of the second sentence (quote) is CAPITALIZED. Example: “I have a cat,” said Steve. “Do you have any pets?”

15. In the Middle of the Quote When the tag line splits one sentence (quote) into two parts: Example: “I have cats, ” said Sherry, “that fight all the time. ” “Wow, ” exclaimed Tim, “that’s great ! ”