Activities

1. Define the characterization and dialogue as use in a narrative text.
   
   
2. Understand how and when to write dialogue in a narrative text.

3. Distinguish which events in a first draft of a narrative text could be altered or deleted in order to move the story along at a more interesting pace.

4. Develop a narrative piece in which the writer uses dialogue among characters as a key element in the narrative text.
   
   
5. Analyze the effective use of transitions in order to propel the action appropriately in a narrative text.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student defines:

• Characterization – the way in which the writer lets the reader know what kind of “person” the character is.  This can include details about the physical appearance of the character, what the character says, details about the character’s relationship with other characters, and/or details about the character’s beliefs.
• Dialogue – the “talking” that characters in the narrative text do.  Dialogue helps propel the story and reveals elements about characterization.

2. Students label or understand:

• Quotation marks – used to set off the words spoken by the character from the words in the text
• Proper punctuation within the quotation marks (commas, periods, question marks, exclamation points, etc.)
• Each time a new character speaks, the dialogue should be written (or typed) on a new line.

3. Student determines, based on the first draft of the writing prompt, which events could be deleted or edited to allow for proper pacing and interest in a narrative text.   Student will demonstrate an understanding of editing and rewriting strategies.  Student will demonstrate an understanding of pacing (moving the story along at a logical pace while maintaining interest and including essential details).
   
   
4. Student demonstrates an ability to write a narrative text based on a writing prompt using dialogue as a main component of the text.  The dialogue included will serve to propel the narrative, develop characters and other essential plot features.  Student will demonstrate knowledge of proper punctuation, quotation mark usage, and organization of dialogue within a narrative text.
   
   
5. Student will analyze how different transitions and transition phrases propel the action.  Student can consult a source such as http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/linking-words.pdf to determine which transition best suits the desired meaning of the narrative text.