TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,

2013Writing Dialogue: Day 1

QUICK WRITE: CONVERSATION #1

Think of a conversation you’ve had or overheard recently. Recreate the conversation using dialogue. It must be at least 10 lines long.

OBJECTIVE AND AGENDA Objective: Students will be able to

compose dialogue that is meaningful, shows action, and develops the characters.

Agenda:Quick WriteWriting Center Reminder6 Box Comic StripFocus Lesson: Formative Scale for DialogueWe Do: Primo Levi Example with QuestionsYou Do: Revise QW

Homework: Your 20 line dialogue is due Friday, September 13 (THIS Friday)!

WRITING CENTER REMINDER There is a Writing Center in room 246A.

It’s on the 2nd floor across from the math tutoring center.

You can go there during study hall (or after school during 2nd quarter).

Mr. Poese or a peer tutor can help you with your writing if you cannot make an arrangement to meet with me.

6 BOX COMIC STRIP Create a 6 box comic strip for your

memoir. Use the boxes to plan the sequence of events in your memoir.You may write and/or draw.Do NOT include your introduction and

reflection in your 6 boxes. Identify places to write dialogue and

description.Introduction: 200 words

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

Reflection: lesson learned and effect on your life

EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE SCALE Enhances/extends the storyline, character(s),

and setting in a perceptive manner Is meaningful conversation between characters

and draws the reader in Always avoids using the “dreaded” said Begins a new paragraph with each speaker Avoids needless redundancies Has purpose—moves the story towards its

destination Uses descriptive language and character

movement intuitively Always uses correct punctuation and

formatting

PRIMO LEVI’S DIALOGUE EXAMPLE We will read the 2 pages of text

together. Do NOT write on the text. After we read, you will answer the

following questions in pairs. You will write the answers in your composition notebooks.

When you write the answers, you must restate the question. For example, “In this passage, we learn ________________ about Schlome.”

PRIMO LEVI’S DIALOGUE EXAMPLE What do we learn about Schlome? And

what do we learn about the narrator (Levi)?

Why is this conversation meaningful to the narrator?

What words does the writer use instead of “said”? List as many as you can.

Does the writer generally start a new paragraph with each speaker? If not, when?

List 2 actions the characters do that are associated with their words.

REVISE YOUR DIALOGUE So far we have looked at the scale for

how your dialogue will be assessed and an example.

Now you are going to go back and revise your quick write based on what we learned.Add descriptions that show action. Your

characters should be gesturing, doing something, etc. as they talk, not just talking.

Add a sentence or two to your dialogue that develops one or both characters.

Make sure it’s clear what meaning this conversation has to the character(s).

INDEX CARDS Tomorrow, you will begin drafting your

dialogue. Once you draft, you will spend time sharing your dialogue with a small group (3-4 people).

This small group will become your Writer’s Workshop group for this quarter, maybe longer.

On your index card, write your first and last name and class period.

Write the names of a couple of people you want to work with (no guarantees).

Write the names of people you do not want to work with. You CANNOT write “everyone except _______.”

If you have no preference, say so.

OBJECTIVE AND AGENDA Objective: Students will be able to

compose dialogue that is meaningful, shows action, and develops the characters.

Agenda: Quick Write Writing Center Reminder 6 Box Comic Strip Focus Lesson: Formative Scale for Dialogue We Do: Primo Levi Example with Questions You Do: Revise QW

Homework: Your 20 line dialogue is due Friday, September 13 (THIS Friday)!