Writing with Dialogue (Guest Starring Using Semicolons, Writing in Complete Sentences, and Correcting Fragments)

PowerPoint Notes

DIALOGUE

1.Why do we use dialogue?

-Dialogue makes reading more interesting.- Dialogue helps convey theme.

-Dialogue develops characters.- Oftentimes, dialogue livens up a story.

WHEN TO USE DIALOGUE

  1. Use dialogue to show that a character is speaking.

DIALOGUE RULES

  1. A direct quotation always begins with a capital letter.(Dialogue Rule #1)
  2. When a quotation is interrupted with words like “he asked” or “the teacher demanded,” the second piece of dialogue begins with a lower case letter.(Dialogue Rule #2)
  3. Do not put a period at the end of a quotation followed by expressions like “she said,” “Mom asked,” “he explained,” etc. Use commas (in place of periods), questions marks, and exclamation points.(Dialogue Rule #3)
  4. Periods are only used to end a sentence, not dialogue.(Dialogue Rule #3)
  5. When writing dialogue, all punctuation marks at the end of the quotation go inside the quotation marks.(Dialogue Rule #4)
  6. Make a new paragraph (indent) when a different person begins to speak.(Dialogue Rule #5)

SEMICOLON RULES

  1. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses (AKA complete sentences) that are closely related in meaning if they are not joined by a conjunction (and, but, or, yet, so, for, nor).(Semicolon Rule #1)
  2. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression.(Semicolon Rule #2)

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS / Transitional Expressions
Accordingly / Also / As a result
Besides / Consequently / For example
Furthermore / However / For instance
Indeed / Instead / In addition
Meanwhile / Moreover / On the other hand
Nevertheless / Next / In other words
Otherwise / Still / That is
Then / Therefore / In fact
  1. Use a semicolon (in place of a comma) to separate independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction when the clauses contain commas.(Semicolon Rule #3)
  2. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas.(Semicolon Rule #4)

COMPLETE SENTENCES

  1. A sentence is a word group that has a subject, a verb, and expresses a complete thought.
  2. A sentence fragment is missing one of the essential parts of a sentence.
  3. A run-on sentence is two or more sentences run together as one.

Let’s Practice

PRACTICE #1
“let’s go out for dinner,” said Sandy. “Let’s go out for dinner,” said Sandy.
“well, where would you like to go?” asked Sal. “Well, where would you like to go?” asked Sal.

PRACTICE #2

“The zoo was packed today!” exclaimed Bobby. “The zoo was packed today!” exclaimed Bobby.
“Really,” replied Joe, “We were planning on seeing the sea lion show later.”
“Really,” replied Joe, “we were planning on seeing the sea lion show later.”
PRACTICE #3
“I want to be a witch for Halloween.” said Jennifer.
“I want to be a witch for Halloween,” said Jennifer.
“Oooh!” exclaimed her mother, “Are you sure? They’re so scary!”
“Oooh!” exclaimed her mother. “Are you sure? They’re so scary!”
PRACTICE #4
Ronald walked over to Paul and stated, “Your shoe’s untied”!
Ronald walked over to Paul and stated, “Your shoe’s untied!”
“Thanks. Are you going to the movie tonight” inquired Paul?
“Thanks. Are you going to the movie tonight?” inquired Paul.
PRACTICE #5
“Wait!” exclaimed Shelby. “We forgot the dog in the house!”
“Wait!” exclaimed Shelby. “We forgot the dog in the house!”
“Hurry! We’ll be late if we wait much longer!” ordered her father.
“Hurry! We’ll be late if we wait much longer!” ordered her father.

PRACTICE #6

Patty likes to act. Her sister gets stage fright. Patty likes to act; her sister gets stage fright.
Rain soaked the earth, plants became green, and fragrant flowers bloomed.
Rain soaked the earth; plants became green; fragrant flowers bloomed.

PRACTICE #7

That quilt is quite old. In fact, it is filled with cotton, not polyester, batting.
That quilt is quite old; in fact, it is filled with cotton, not polyester, batting.
My grandfather loves the water and is a strong swimmer. Nevertheless, because the currents are strong and tricky, we worried when we saw that he was swimming out farther and farther.
My grandfather loves the water and is a strong swimmer; nevertheless, because the currents are strong and tricky, we worried when we saw that he was swimming out farther and farther.

PRACTICE #8

The Incas planted crops, such as corn, and they developed crafts, such as weaving.
The Incas planted crops, such as corn; and they developed crafts, such as weaving.

PRACTICE #9

Mrs. Gillis said that we could write about Dekanawidah, the Huron founder of the Iroquois League, Mansa Musa, the Muslim emperor of Mali, or Tamerlane, the Mongol conqueror of the Ottoman Turks.
Mrs. Gillis said that we could write about Dekanawidah, the Huron founder of the Iroquois League; Mansa Musa, the Muslim emperor of Mali; or Tamerlane, the Mongol conqueror of the Ottoman Turks.

PRACTICE #10 – Answers may vary

Your revised sentences should contain the following three elements:

1.A subject

2.A verb

3.A complete thought/idea

in a huge spaceship
setting foot on the planet
to explore the carters
as we watched the spaceship land
when they handed me a glowing sphere

PRACTICE #11 – Answers may vary

Movies entertain millions of people every day they are popular all over the world.
Many films take years to make they require the skills of hundreds of workers.
The director of a movie has an important job the cast and crew all follow the director’s instructions.