What makes Good Dialogue in a Story? (HW)

Dialogue in a story needs to have a purpose.  There is a difference between good dialogue and bad dialogue. Good dialogue in this case effectively informs character development, setting and plot. Good dialogue has a reason to be written, moves the plot along, shows something about the characters and often reveals something about the setting.

Below is dialogue from a story.  Explain what is the prupose of this dialogue.  What does it show about the characters listed below? For Example: It shows that the Mother is pretty strict with her child.

    “Get your room cleaned up,” Mother said, “or you’re

not going to the show!”

    Chris shouted, “That’s not fair! It’s Joe’s room too!”

    “Joe will be home later to take care of his half. Now are

you going to get started?”  Mother scolded.

     “I guess so,” muttered Chris.  “Why doesn’t Joe ever

have to do anything around here?”

     “He does plenty,” Mom said.

     Chris said, “I never see him do much of anything but

study.”

“Well,” answered Mom, “you’re never around very

    much.”

In a new blog post write out what this dialogue tells us about the setting, how it moves the plot along, and what it tells us about the mother, Chris and Joe.

Title your blog post Good Dialogue Response.

This assignement is due on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

***Be sure to edit your work for spelling and punctuation.

Punctuating Dialogue Pre Quiz

Copy and paste the following sentences into your blog post.  Correct the sentences using what you know about punctuating dialogue.  We will be going over dialogue rules. 

 

 

Now you know why I couldn't wait to get here said Esteban.

 

Wouldn't it be wonderful to stay and watch the sunset Peter asked.

 

I'd love to do that said Gilda but we forgot to bring flashlights to guide us back down.

 

Maybe you forgot to bring a flashlight said Carol. I never go hiking without one.

 

Hooray cheered Gilda. Does that mean we can stay?

 

Maybe we should ask Harry said Ray. He's the one who has to carry two backpacks.

 

Oh, right said Harry. You know as well as I do that the race was a tie.

 

Tan said I'm starving! Lets eat first and argue later, okay?

Blurb

Jose knows better than to tell his mother his goals.  She wants hime to be a doctor.  His passion is music.  But his mother wouldn't approve.  She had one son take that route and she wasn't going to go through that again.  But music and his mother ended up being the least of Jose's worries...

Independent Reading Fiction Story Post

Pick the last line from your independent reading book that you read today.  From that last line begin writing a fiction story.  You can decide to go in the same direction as you think your story is going   or you can take the line to a whole new direction.


This will be graded with a fiction story rubric. Your story needs to be at least 500 words.


Make sure to add dialogue, setting, character names, etc.
Edit and proofread your work!


The first draft of this assignment is due on Tuesday, October 12th!


The final draft of this fiction story will be due Tuesday, October 19th.

Sebastian's Voodoo My Story

"I want out of this life" Micky said. "I don't like constantly looking over my shoulder to see if master is going to get me next."

"This is your destiny Micky you have no other choice, what other option do we have?" I replied.

"You watch Jaymes I am go..." Micky started to say.

All of a sudden the door opens to the basement and everyone begins to run,screaming hysterically.  He arrived Sebastian in all of his evilness came in looking for more bodies to sacrifice.  This time he only went for two of us Emily and Sandra.  It had been months of worry and hysteria but luckily Micky and I were still alive.  No one really knew what went on in the other room but we definitely could guess.  Once you went in you never came back out. Whatever it was it wasn't anything any of us wanted to experience.

"Please save me," Emily's voice got weaker and weaker from the other side of the door.  She was a nice girl I thought.  This is so unfair there must be a way out.  We didn't deserve this life. Who would be so mean as to do something so evil to us?

Daylight broke.  Micky and I kept track of the days together.  There was a little crack under the door where the sunlight would play peek a boo with us a few hours at a time.

Footsteps.

The Door creaks.

Here we go again.

Micky and I held our breath and went to our usual hiding spot behind a dusty box in the corner.
More footsteps.

We hear a scream.

"Micky," I whispered.

Micky glanced at me giving me the "not now Jaymes" look.

Another scream.

This time the scream came from the other side of the box.

“Micky, Micky, Micky.”

No response.

“Micky!” I yelled again.

No answer.

“Run Jaymes, run.”

I looked up and there he was in the grasp of Sebastian.  I quickly turned around ready to run full speed in the other direction only to smack right into the dusty box.

As I came to I looked around I felt a shooting pain coming from my back.  We all reached our destiny.  The other room.  Not quite like I pictured it.  It was dark just like the other room.  Only this room had a bunch of hooks and a lamp.  I looked around and my fellow brothers and sisters were all on hooks like I was.  Nya was on the floor lifeless. All I can think is that He got to her.  Yes Sebastian definitely took her life. I turned to my left and Micky was waking up. 

"Jaymes where are we?" he whispered.

"In the other room."

Micky opened his eyes wide indicating that he knew our desitny was coming up.  I have to get us out of here I thought.  I moved around and around and comouldn't get off the hook.

The door begins to open slowly and Sebastian walks in.

Micky yells, "He is not taking me!"

Micky maneuvers his way off the hook meanwhile Sebastian grabs a hold of me.  I didn't know what to do or think.  This is the end of my life as I know it. 

http://www.viddler.com/explore/kerisaj/videos/2/

Sebastian's Voodoo Two Part Assignment

After viewing the video I want you to post on your blog.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/kerisaj/videos/2/

Part 1:
What was your initial reaction to the film?
What was happening in the film?
What do you think is the overall message of the film?
Why do you think the filmmaker chose to use just music and no words?
Do you think that makes it more powerful? Why or Why Not?

This part is an AAA and is due by the end of class. In order to get your Automatic A on this Assignment you must address ALL the questions!


Part 2:
Now view the short film again and write a back story meaning what would be the story leading up to what you are seeing in the film? This should be at least 500 words! Title should be Sebastian's Voodoo My Story.


This assignment is due next Monday at the end of class.