DIALOGUEDIALOGUEDialogue should be brief. Dialogue should be brief.

It should show the relationships among people It should show the relationships among people How you talk to one another, helps the listener How you talk to one another, helps the listener (reader) understand your relationship(reader) understand your relationship

It should not repeat what the paragraph is sayingIt should not repeat what the paragraph is sayingEX of what NOT to DO:EX of what NOT to DO: It was a hot rainy day. “It’s It was a hot rainy day. “It’s hot!” said Kelley. hot!” said Kelley.

It should keep the story moving forward. It should keep the story moving forward.

formatformat

“ “You have created a monster!” cried Sheila.You have created a monster!” cried Sheila.

“ “ Yes, but I have awoken science!” Yes, but I have awoken science!”

OROR

“ “You have created a monster!” cried Sheila. Ronald You have created a monster!” cried Sheila. Ronald muttered in response, “Yes, but I have awoken muttered in response, “Yes, but I have awoken science.” science.”

Freytag’s PyramidFreytag’s Pyramid

Freytags Freytags PyramidPyramid1. Exposition1. Exposition:: setting the scene. setting the scene.

The writer introduces the charactersThe writer introduces the characters and setting, providing description and and setting, providing description and background. background.

2. Inciting Incident2. Inciting Incident:: something happens to begin the something happens to begin the action. A single event usually signals the beginning of action. A single event usually signals the beginning of the main conflict.the main conflict.

3. Rising Action3. Rising Action:: the story builds and gets more the story builds and gets more

exciting.exciting.

4. Climax4. Climax:: the moment of greatest tension in a story. the moment of greatest tension in a story. This is often the most exciting event. This is often the most exciting event.

ContinuedContinued…Freytag’s Pyrmaid…Freytag’s Pyrmaid

5. Falling Action5. Falling Action:: events happen events happen as a result of the climax and we knowas a result of the climax and we know that the story will soon end.that the story will soon end.

6. Resolution6. Resolution:: the character solves the main the character solves the main problem/conflict or someone solves it for him or her.problem/conflict or someone solves it for him or her.

7. Dénouement7. Dénouement:: the ending. At this point, any remaining the ending. At this point, any remaining secrets, questions or mysteries which remain after the secrets, questions or mysteries which remain after the resolution are solved by the characters or explained by resolution are solved by the characters or explained by the author. the author.

Narrative LeadsNarrative Leads

The Narrative The Narrative Hook- Hook- The reader is The reader is

driven to keep reading because the writerdriven to keep reading because the writer

begins with an begins with an unexpectedunexpected part of the story part of the story

(the complication instead of the exposition).(the complication instead of the exposition).

adds curiousity and makes him want to keep reading.adds curiousity and makes him want to keep reading.

Ex: Ex: There was blood everywhere when There was blood everywhere when he awoke.he awoke.

Ex: Ex: It was the year 2081, and everyone It was the year 2081, and everyone was finally equal, or almost equal.was finally equal, or almost equal.

Narrative LeadsNarrative Leads

Scene Setting:Scene Setting:The writer uses vivid descriptive detail that appeals The writer uses vivid descriptive detail that appeals to multiple senses and begins with the settingto multiple senses and begins with the setting

It was unusually bright that night outside of Monique’s It was unusually bright that night outside of Monique’s small bedroom window in Choisi-le Roi, just outside of small bedroom window in Choisi-le Roi, just outside of Paris. The moon was so radiant, it seemed almost Paris. The moon was so radiant, it seemed almost festive. As Monique gazed up at it, she thought that the festive. As Monique gazed up at it, she thought that the moon must not know that her village was occupied bymoon must not know that her village was occupied by Nazi troops.Nazi troops. From The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco From The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco

LeadsLeads

Telling Detail…Telling Detail…The writer begins with detail (a fact) The writer begins with detail (a fact) that reveals a writer’s focus or attitude.that reveals a writer’s focus or attitude.

Ex:Ex: There on the pavement was a small There on the pavement was a small child’s tennis shoe.child’s tennis shoe.

LeadsLeads

Character Throwing:Character Throwing:

The writer jumps right into describing a The writer jumps right into describing a major or minor character to call attention to major or minor character to call attention to that character.that character.

Ex:Ex: Teddy Howland was the skinniest, Teddy Howland was the skinniest, ugliest kid in Eurekaugliest kid in Eureka..

… … LeadsLeads

Walking:Walking:

The writer seems to The writer seems to

““beat around the bush” instead beat around the bush” instead

of getting right to the point; the subject of the paper of getting right to the point; the subject of the paper isn’t apparent at first.isn’t apparent at first.

Ex:Ex: Giving credit where credit is due, if it hadn’t been for Giving credit where credit is due, if it hadn’t been for my mother, I would have never gotten him in the first my mother, I would have never gotten him in the first place, mainly because my father doesn’t like dogs. place, mainly because my father doesn’t like dogs. (this (this will be about getting a dog)will be about getting a dog)

……LeadsLeads

Anecdote/Analogy:Anecdote/Analogy:

The writer begins with a brief story that will The writer begins with a brief story that will be the focus of the narrative. This is a “story be the focus of the narrative. This is a “story within a story.”within a story.”

Narrative ClosingsNarrative ClosingsCircle:Circle: End where you begin by connecting theEnd where you begin by connecting the

beginning with the end. The end states beginning with the end. The end states or hints to something stated or suggested at the or hints to something stated or suggested at the beginning and often uses the same key words.beginning and often uses the same key words.

Example of story beginning-Example of story beginning- Sometimes in life, a person Sometimes in life, a person will realize that will realize that the grass is not always greenerthe grass is not always greener, and that , and that getting everything you think you always wanted may not getting everything you think you always wanted may not be as great as you had once thought.be as great as you had once thought.

Example of same story ending: Example of same story ending: Even though she married Even though she married the man she had hoped, all that she had once believed the man she had hoped, all that she had once believed to be true about him was not as it had once seemed. to be true about him was not as it had once seemed. She realized that She realized that the grass had not been greenerthe grass had not been greener..

Narrative ClosingNarrative Closing

Ah ha! - Ah ha! - This is a theme or message that the writer This is a theme or message that the writer shares with readers. Sadder but wiser, or “gee, look shares with readers. Sadder but wiser, or “gee, look what I learned.”what I learned.”

Ex:Ex: I look at the dark sky closing in, sky getting more and I look at the dark sky closing in, sky getting more and more purple, and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple more purple, and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess—not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not as you guess—not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is I even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is I saved Shiloh and opened my eyes some. Now that ain’t saved Shiloh and opened my eyes some. Now that ain’t bad for eleven. From bad for eleven. From ShilohShiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Narrative ClosingNarrative Closing

Surprise:Surprise:The strange twist at the end. The twist must The strange twist at the end. The twist must tie to the plot and characters, something that tie to the plot and characters, something that might happen or that could happen.might happen or that could happen.

Ex: Ex: But Richards was too late. When the But Richards was too late. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart doctors came they said she had died of heart disease --of the joy that kills. disease --of the joy that kills. From “The Story of an From “The Story of an Hour” by Kate ChopinHour” by Kate Chopin

Show Don’t TellShow Don’t Tell ““Telling Sentences”:Telling Sentences”: Do not leave a sensory imageDo not leave a sensory image Do leave questions in the reader’s mindDo leave questions in the reader’s mind Tend to contain be verbs (am, is, are, was, were, Tend to contain be verbs (am, is, are, was, were,

be, being, been)be, being, been) ““Showing Sentences”:Showing Sentences”: Do leave a sensory imageDo leave a sensory image Do appeal to multiple sensesDo appeal to multiple senses Do not leave unanswered questionsDo not leave unanswered questions Contain strong verbsContain strong verbs

Show Don’t TellShow Don’t Tell

Chugging on the unleaded coffee in Chugging on the unleaded coffee in my travel cup, I stare at the road my travel cup, I stare at the road

through tired eyes, thinking about the long through tired eyes, thinking about the long line at the copy machine that I will face because of the line at the copy machine that I will face because of the turtle in front of me who apparently doesn’t need to worry turtle in front of me who apparently doesn’t need to worry about deadlines and schedules. My headlights illuminate about deadlines and schedules. My headlights illuminate the neon orange traffic cones lining the side of this the neon orange traffic cones lining the side of this bumper to bumper two-lane road, but the blanket of fog bumper to bumper two-lane road, but the blanket of fog makes the dark road even darker. Suddenly the taillights makes the dark road even darker. Suddenly the taillights of the turtle in front of me glare right in front of my eyes. of the turtle in front of me glare right in front of my eyes. My tires squeal and I smell burning rubber as I slam my My tires squeal and I smell burning rubber as I slam my foot on the brake pedal, but it is too late; the combination foot on the brake pedal, but it is too late; the combination of the slick film of oil and water covering the asphalt and of the slick film of oil and water covering the asphalt and my tendency to ride the back bumper my tendency to ride the back bumper

Show Don’t TellShow Don’t Tell Who?Who? I was shocked and scared; my hands were shaking as I I was shocked and scared; my hands were shaking as I

clenched the steering wheel; my mouth dropped open in clenched the steering wheel; my mouth dropped open in astonishment and surpriseastonishment and surprise

What? What? The impact—tired squealed and a heavy thump reverberated The impact—tired squealed and a heavy thump reverberated from my front bumper, along the hood of the car, into my hands as from my front bumper, along the hood of the car, into my hands as they clutched the steering wheel, and into my chestthey clutched the steering wheel, and into my chest

Where? Where? Crowded, busy 2-lane road, heavy construction, orange Crowded, busy 2-lane road, heavy construction, orange traffic cones line the side of the roadtraffic cones line the side of the road

When? When? Dark, foggy, damp morning, slick film of oil and water Dark, foggy, damp morning, slick film of oil and water covering asphaltcovering asphalt

How? How? Riding the back bumper of the car in front of me, trying to Riding the back bumper of the car in front of me, trying to keep anyone from sneaking in line and hoping that I could push the keep anyone from sneaking in line and hoping that I could push the slow car in front of me fasterslow car in front of me faster

Why? Why? Chugging on unleaded coffee in my travel cup hadn’t Chugging on unleaded coffee in my travel cup hadn’t awakened me yet; I need to get in line to make copiesawakened me yet; I need to get in line to make copies