1. Do Now: Look over sample college essays. Which essay has the most effective use of dialogue? Why? How does the writer use dialogue? How is it formatted?

2. Dialogue Format

3. The Format Use quotation marks to indicate words which are spoken by characters. "You don't have to answer that question!" "I'll answer the question. You want answers?" "I think I'm entitled to them." "You want answers?" "I want the truth!" "You can't handle the truth!"

4. Always start a new paragraph when changing speakers. You cannot have two people speaking in the same paragraph. "You don't have to answer that question!" "I'll answer the question. You want answers?" "I think I'm entitled to them." "You want answers?" "I want the truth!" "You can't handle the truth!"

5. Dialogue Tags Make sure the reader knows who is speaking. John said He said She replied They questioned He pried She summoned The old man sneered Ethan shouted Becca whispered The teacher suggested The coach motioned Dr. Thomas instructed She giggled Tina warned He snickered Donna requested

6. Use correct punctuation, spacing, and spelling. "You don't have to answer that question!" said the Judge. "I'll answer the question. You want answers?" said Jessop. "I think I'm entitled to them," said Kaffee. "You want answers?" said Jessop. "I want the truth!" said Kaffee. "You can't handle the truth!" said Jessop.

7. The former was gramatically correct, but BORING! Look at what adding descriptive dialogue tags add to the conversation. The Judge turned swiftly toward the witness and declared, "You don't have to answer that question!" "I'll answer the question," Jessop said coldly, fixing his eyes on Kaffee. He asked the defense attorney, "You want answers?" "I think I'm entitled to them," Kaffee replied. Jessop asked again, more forcefully, as if scolding an errant recruit, "You want answers?" "I want the truth!" Kaffee shouted, banging his fist on the counsel table in defiance of Jessop's intimidating presence. The court members sat in stunned silence. The colonel leaned forward, rising to his feet, and thundered, "You can't handle the truth!"

8. Use narrative sentences to show the character's concurrent acts, thoughts, and/or perceptions. Use clauses and phrases to show what the character is doing while they speak. Jenny put down the pen and closed her diary. "I'll be right there, mom." Miss Dobbs pointed at the directions on the board. "Check and make sure you have followed all directions."

9. Add dialogue to or Correct Dialogue in your Draft… Your college essay needs at least one line of dialogue After you add dialogue, write two sentences explaining why you added dialogue where you added it. You can write this explanation in the margins of your essay.