Dialogue and Transitions

1. Dialogue and Transitions Shirley Ann Ortiz Vélez Astrid Collazo EING 4020 University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras’ Campus

2. Function of Dialogue: Dialogue occurs when two or more characters are speaking to each other in a story. • Dialogue reveals character. • Dialogue gives necessary information. • Dialogue moves the plot along. • Dialogue can show what one character thinks of another character. • Dialogue can reveal conflict and build tension. • Dialogue can show how someone feels.

3. Structure and format Create a new paragraph every time the speaker changes:

4. Structure and format All dialogue goes inside quotation marks:

5. Structure and format All punctuation goes inside the quotation marks: *Important: We have to mention that it is important to identify who said who because in this particular dialogue, it is confusing to decipher who said what.

6. Structure and format If you insert the speaker’s name in the middle of a quote, insert it at the end of the speaker’s first sentence and punctuate appropriately: (example) When a speaker speaks more than one paragraph, do not put end quotation marks at the end of the first paragraph, only put them at the end of the very last paragraph, and put open quotation marks at the beginning of every paragraph: (example)

7. Structure and format If a character is thinking something or saying something to his or herself just use italics to indicate that the speech is internal: While she was waiting for the door to open, she started to think how is this happening? But after finishing the thought, the door started to open.

8. Structure and format When a speaker quotes another speaker, use a single opening and closing quotation mark to indicate the quote. This is done using the apostrophe key: “I can’t believe you didn’t hear him! ‘I will come for you’ were the exact words coming out of his mouth!”

9. Dialogue as a Descriptive tool in short stories Too many writers rely on dialogue for story exposition—that is to say that they relay details about plot or backstory through the things their characters say. The result? Writing that sounds completely fake or is what is often referred to as “on the nose dialogue”.The use of dialogue beats help with story pacing and to convey information or emotion. Dialogue beats are brief depictions of character action inserted in between dialogue that help bring the scene to life.

10. Practice exercise In your notebooks, correct this paragraph using what we just discussed regarding the correct use of dialogue

11. Function of Transitions Transitions are words or phrases that show the relationship between paragraphs or sections of a text or speech. They are meant to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to convert the reader to a way of thinking. Transitions help to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do with the information presented to them.

12. Transitional words and phrases Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper. However, these words all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure that it's the right match for the logic in your paper.

15. Transitional Ideas Transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next. Transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas: It was the wall. There were millions of puzzle pieces revealing a hidden message that read: I FOUND YOU in dark red. In that instant, she heard a noise. Then, she looked to her left. It was Puzzle creeping up on her. At the same time, she felt scared and unsure of what to do so she went back to her room and locked the door. As a result, she went directly to the bed and covered herself with the bed overs. Finally, she forced herself to sleep.

16. Usage in short stories: Transitions are bridges that help keep the reader on the path of the story. They should be short and smooth, and there are many different types that connect different elements of a story:Between times or moments • Between locations or settings • Between characters (POV shifts) • Between stimulus and reaction • Between scenes and sequels • Between moods, tones, emotional shifts, or significant changes of pace

17. Practice exercise Re-write this paragraph adding at least 4 transitional words where needed.

18. Bibliography: • Clemments, Mr. "Writing: Formating Dialogue." 16 March 2013. Mr. Clemments Literature & Comunications Design. 24 November 2013. blog. • http://www.mrclements.com/?p=898 • Francis, Scott. "Writing Dialogue: The 5 Best Ways To Make Your Characters’ Conversations Seem Real." 2012 February 14. Writer's Digest Write Better, Get Published. 24 November 2013. web. • http://www.writersdigest.com/uncategorized/writing-dialogue-the-5-best-ways-to-make-your-characters-conversations-seem-real • Jackson, Ellen. Dialogue. n.d. 24 November 2013. blog. • http://www.ellenjackson.net/dialogue_61473.htm • Kuehn, Stephanie. "Narrative, Transitions & Maintaining Forward Momentum In Your Story." 27 March 2012. Adventures in YA Publishing. 24 November 2013. blog. • http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/narrative-transitions-maintaining.html

19. Bibliography: • Landsberger, Joseph Frank. "Transitional Words and Phrases." n.d.Study Guides and Strategies. 24 November 2013.web. • http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr6.htm • University of Carolina at Chapel Hill. "Transitions." n.d.The Writing Center. 24 November 2013. web. • http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/transitions/ • University of Wisconsin. " The Writer's Handbook Using Transitions." n.d.The Writing Center. 24 November 2013. web. • http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Transitions.html

20. LETS PRACTICE!