|
Writing a Dialogue about my School Community
Remember that the dialogue is what the characters say.
- The dialogue should fit the character. Not all characters
talk the same way. Teachers and Moms don't talk the same way that kids
do.
- The dialogue must tell the story. Dialogue and what
the characters do is the only way the audience will know what is happening.
- Stage directions tell the actor what to do. You’ll
need to have stage directions as part of your dialogue.
Here is an example.
| The Principal: (takes Billy's hand) Will you come with
me? |
Do check out some additional examples by clicking on dialogue, improvisation, and stage directions.
Dialogue form
There is a special way to write dialogue for a play. You list the character’s
name. Then put in a semicolon : Then write the dialogue. Like this.
| Joey: Peter, you better not go in there! |
You don’t need quotation marks “ ”
to show dialogue when you use the playwriting form.
Here is an example of a dialogue about a school problem:
Characters:
Billy: a kindergartener
The Principal
Setting: In front of school on the first day of
class.
Billy: (is standing at the door of the school,
crying) This is a stage direction. See that the stage directions
are in ( ), parentheses.
Principal: Hello young man.
Billy: (keeps on crying)
Principal: What's the matter? Can I help.
Billy: I wanna to go home.
Principal: But you haven't seen all the fun things
your teacher is going to do today.
Billy: I don' care. I don' know how to get to my
room! I wanna to go home!!
Principal: Well, if you give me your hand, maybe
we can find your room. Will you come with me? (He takes Billy's
hand and they leave.)
Billy: Maybe.
|
See examples of dialogues written by
other third graders.
Before you begin writing your dialogue, it is a good
idea to use your imagination to see and hear, in your
mind, what will happen. Shut your eyes, see the characters. What are they
doing? Hear what they are saying. Now you are ready to start writing.
After you have written your dialogue, please give it
to your teacher.
  
|
