Starter quiz
- Which of the following verbs would be most effective for showing a character's anger?
- stormed ✓
- walked
- twirled
- sat
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- What is a key purpose of using adverbs in descriptive writing?
- to provide historical context
- to change the setting
- to modify verbs and add detail to actions ✓
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- Which of these is an example of a simile?
- Her smile was like sunshine. ✓
- Her smile was sunshine.
- Her smile brightened the room.
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- In fiction writing, how does juxtaposition help in character development?
- by contrasting characters to highlight their differences ✓
- by summarising the character’s background
- by showing the character's internal thoughts
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- What is the purpose of using strong verbs in dialogue?
- to show who is speaking
- to introduce new characters
- to make the dialogue more engaging ✓
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- What is an essential rule for punctuating dialogue?
- Never use any punctuation in dialogue.
- Always start a new line for each new character speaking. ✓
- Always use a full stop inside the speech marks.
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Exit quiz
- Which of the following is the correct way to punctuate dialogue?
- "I'm not sure." she said
- "I'm not sure", she said.
- "I'm not sure," she said. ✓
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- Which example uses an effective verb to show surprise in dialogue?
- "I can't believe it," she mentioned.
- "I can't believe it," she gasped. ✓
- "I can't believe it," she replied.
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- The overall mood or attitude in a text is the definition of ...
- 'tone' ✓
- What is the impact of using description alongside dialogue?
- It is useful to extend the dialogue.
- It makes the dialogue too confusing and should be avoided.
- It adds depth to characters and makes the dialogue more interesting. ✓
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- Which of the following adverbs would best describe a character who is speaking angrily?
- furiously ✓
- determinedly
- ambitiously
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- In the following dialogue, which sentence best demonstrates effective use of dialogue to reveal the character's emotions and intentions?
- “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. “It’s not important.”
- “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, turning his back, voice trembling. ✓
- “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said quietly. “It’s not important.”
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Dialogue should be punctuated and laid out clearly and accurately to make it clear who is speaking.
- The reporting clause is helpful when crafting character.
- Strong verbs and adverbs are crucial for creating engaging dialogue that conveys characters' emotions.
- It’s important to include description when writing dialogue.
- The tone conveyed when crafting dialogue tells the reader a lot about the characters involved.
Common misconception
The most important part of dialogue is what is inside the speech marks.
What is said through dialogue is really important, but it's also crucial to consider how that dialogue is to be said. Careful selection of verbs and adverbs give the reader a crucial insight into how dialogue should be read.
Keywords
Dialogue - a conversation between two or more people
Tone - the overall mood or attitude in a text
Verb - a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence
Adverb - a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb or even a whole clause; often ends in '-ly'
Reporting clause - comes before or after speech to tell the reader who is talking or thinking
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