Narrative Writing: Adding Dialogue to a Story
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Basics on the topic Narrative Writing: Adding Dialogue to a Story
Join Jane and Ernie and learn about adding dialogue to narratives.
Transcript Narrative Writing: Adding Dialogue to a Story
"Ernie! I finished my own story for the writing competition!" "No one is talking, Jane!" "Oh, how can we make my story more exciting with talking?" Let's join our friends and learn all about narrative writing: adding dialogue to a story. When writing a personal narrative, it is usually a good idea to include dialogue, or a character speaking. Dialogue is usually a conversation between two or more people and is shown by inverted commas, like these! If you see these around words, you know that it was said by someone in the story. When we add dialogue to text, we often include who said it using words like said, told or asked. So, why should you add dialogue to your writing? Well, we already learnt it shows what was said, but it also gives more information about the story, can help sequence the events and adds voices to your story, which can make it more fun and engaging for the reader. Now let's take a look at Jane's story, and help her add some dialogue. So far, Jane has written I told Ernie a pretend bee fact. Ernie was surprised. We laughed that he fell for my trick. Before Jane can add dialogue, she needs to think to herself: 'What was actually said?' If she can't remember, she should then think: 'What would this person have said?' "Oh yes! I remember, I said; bees ride bikes in the hive!" We write 'bees ride bikes in the hive', in inverted commas after 'I told Ernie a pretend bee fact'. Any dialogue always starts on a new line. "Do you remember my response?" "Oh no. I don't. But, I think you would have said: what? Really?" Since Jane knows what Ernie may have said, she can add: 'what? Really?' to her narrative after where it says 'Ernie was surprised'. "And then in the end I told you: 'I can't bee-lieve you fell for that!" before we laughed!" Did you catch the dialogue that we can add to Jane's narrative? Jane said 'I can't bee-lieve you fell for that', before they laughed, so we can put that here, like this. "Thank you Ernie, my personal narrative looks better now and is ready for judging." "Well, let's submit it then!" Whilst Ernie and Jane wait to see if they won, let's review! Today we learnt about adding dialogue to narratives. Dialogue is usually a conversation between two or more people. To add dialogue, we use inverted commas, like these, to show speech. When adding speech to a personal narrative, always think to yourself, 'what was actually said?' If you can't remember, then think, 'what would this person have said?' "I mean, this is a fantastic and beautiful golden pen. But it's kind of too... big?"
Narrative Writing: Adding Dialogue to a Story exercise
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Explain why we use dialogue in narrative texts.
HintsDialogue can help explain what happens first, next and last in a story.
Adding dialogue helps the reader imagine what the characters act and sound like.
There are 3 true choices and 1 false.
SolutionTrue
- Dialogue gives more information about the story.
- Dialogue can help sequence events in a story.
- Dialogue adds voices to a story, which can make it more fun to read.
- Dialogue is easier to read.
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Can you find the dialogue?
HintsDialogue uses quotation marks around the words.
Dialogue usually goes together with words like said, told, answered or asked to show who is speaking but these words are not dialogue themselves.
There are three examples of dialogue in inverted commas.
SolutionThis text is dialogue or the voice of the character. We recognise it from the inverted commas around the words.
- "Bees ride bikes in the hive!"
- "What? Really?"
- "I can't BEE - lieve you fell for that!"
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Complete the conversation.
HintsDialogue needs inverted commas around the words.
Dialogue usually goes together with words like said or asked to show who is speaking.
Asked would follow dialogue with a question.SolutionJane wanted Ernie's attention.
"Hey Ernie!" she called. "Heads up!"
Ernie sat up.
"What is it?" he asked.
Jane picked up her water balloon.
"You'll see soon," Jane answered. -
Can you add dialogue?
HintsDialogue always has inverted commas around the words.
Think carefully about who is speaking. Would Ernie say hello to himself?
Jane lets Ernie know what she has been doing and then asks what Ernie has been doing.
Solution"Hello Jane!" Ernie said.
"Hi Ernie!" Jane replied.
"What have you been doing today?" Ernie asked.
"I've been out roller skating," Jane said, "How about you?"
"Well Jane, I've been writing a story," said Ernie slowly.
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Find examples of dialogue.
HintsDialogue has inverted commas around the words.
Dialogue usually goes together with words like said, told or asked to show who is speaking.
There are two correct choices.
SolutionExamples of dialogue
- "I already know that!" she said.
- "Let's go now," they answered.
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Complete the text.
HintsDialogue always has inverted commas around the words.
Dialogue usually goes together with words like said or asked to show who is speaking.
Asked would follow dialogue with a question.Dialogue can help to sequence a story. Look for words like first and next.
SolutionJane needed help with her story.
"What is missing?" she asked Ernie.
"You still need dialogue," he answered. "First, remember, what was said."
Jane looked frustrated.
"But I can't remember!" she said.
"That's okay," said Ernie. "Next, ask what would this person say."
