Dialogue
Paragraph Rules
Tags in the Middle of Dialogue
Capitalization
Punctuation
100

What is a dialogue tag? (Also called a speaker tag or speech tag)

It identifies who is speaking in the conversation. 

(Plus, it shows how they say it.)

100

When a new person speaks in our writing we do this:

Start a new paragraph

100

Yes or No: Can a dialogue tag go in the middle of the dialogue instead of at the beginning or end?

YES!

100

"should we go to the store?" Amelia asked. "we are out of milk."

"Should we go to the store?" Amelia asked. "We are out of milk."

100

What punctuation mark is used to connect dialogue with the dialogue tag?

Comma

200

What is dialogue?

The spoken words between characters in a book.

200

True or False: You should start a new paragraph after you write 5 sentences.

FALSE!

200

Correct this piece of dialogue.

My birthday Dora screamed is in three days!

"My birthday," Dora screamed, "is in three days!"

200

"are we going to the mall today?" She asked. 

"Are we going to the mall today?" she asked.

200

Do exclamation marks go inside or outside of the quotation marks?

Inside

300

Correct this piece of dialogue. 

Mrs. Brown said I don't like tardiness.

Mrs. Brown said, "I don't like tardiness."

300

True or False: You should start a new paragraph if the setting changes in your story.

TRUE!

300

Correct this piece of dialogue. 

Florida is the best place to Marcus paused to look at his map, visit for vacation.

"Florida is the best place to," Marcus paused to look at his map, "visit for vacation."

300

"I am going to the movies," said Tom, "after school."

Nothing is wrong.

300

Name two dialogue tags that tell you to use an exclamation point.

screamed, exclaimed, yelled, etc.

400

Correct this piece of dialogue. 

Oswald asked What is your favorite color?

Oswald asked, "What is your favorite color?"

400

True or false: You should start a new paragraph when you show, don't tell.

FALSE!

400

Correct this piece of dialogue.

I got this for my birthday Mike said, but i got another one for Easter.

"I got this for my birthday," Mike said, "but I got another one for Easter."

400

"I don't want to go home!" Yelled Pat. "this place is awesome!"

"I don't want to go home!" yelled Pat. "This place is awesome!"

400

"The test is tomorrow!" Sam stated calmly. "I'm prepared for it."

Instead of an exclamation point after tomorrow, there needs to be a comma.

500

Correct this piece of dialogue. 

Hey! There's Scott's brother! Phil exclaimed.

"Hey! There's Scott's brother!" Phil exclaimed.

500

List all 4 times you should start a new paragraph:

When a new person speaks.(Person) When the setting changes (Place) When the time changes (Period of Time) When a new plot event happens (Plot event)

500

Correct this piece of dialogue. 

Hurry up Maddie said we can't be late.

"Hurry up," Maddie said, "we can't be late."

500

"Mrs. russell doesn't like to watch TV," said Bob. 

"why not?" wondered Betty.

Bob made a heart with his hands and said, "she likes books instead."

"Mrs. Russell doesn't like to watch TV," said Bob. 

"Why not?" wondered Betty.

Bob made a heart with his hands and said, "She likes books instead."

500

Name 4 other words you can use besides "said" in your dialogue tag.

stated, replied, answered, commented, responded, asked, remarked, explained, added, etc.