Writing dialogues
as part of EFL
directed writing.
By Mr. Huckle & Ms. Meyers
What is involved?
• As part of these questions, you should write a
transcript of an interview or conversation.
• It could be formal (e.g. a business meeting), semiformal (e.g. a TV show interview) or informal (e.g.
friends chatting).
• The transcript should be formatted correctly.
• The speakers must sound different to each other.
Their attitudes, relationships and personalities
must be clear.
• It must sound like spoken English.
How to format a dialogue
Colon
Name
Andrew:
David:
Andrew:
David:
New line
for new
speaker
Space
Hello, David, how are you?
I’m Ok thanks, I have recently
been shopping in the city
centre. It was good fun!
Really? Did you buy anything?
Not really, I was just browsing.
Align all
speech
together
Showing attitudes, relationships and
personalities
• You should show attitudes, relationships and
personalities through the language that the
speakers use.
• Attitudes -> are they angry, sad, confused,
etc?
• Relationships -> are the speakers friends,
lovers, relatives, business colleagues, etc?
• Personalities -> are the speakers kind,
intelligent, lower-class, etc?
Bob – confused by a maths sum
Well…hmm… I’m
uncertain but I
think the answer
is probably…102.
Errrr? Hmm…Is
that…? Is it
101…1…2…102?
Hmmm…
That maths equation
is a little bit difficult,
I’m not so sure what
the answer is to that
one. Is it 102?
That’s a very
difficult equation,
I think the
answer’s … 102.
Isn’t it? 102?
Showing confusion
• hesitation sounds ‘err’, ‘hmm’.
• ellipsis.
Bob: Errrr? Hmm…Is
• questions.
that…? Is it
101…1…2…102?
Hmmm…
Damon – intellectually discussing
climate change
Well, the
temperature is
increasing. It’s
because of climate
change.
The increase in global
temperatures are quite
obviously attributable to a
variety of causes; the
industrialisation of many
societies has led to increased
use of fossil fuels.
Well, the planet’s
getting hotter, ain’t
it? It’s cos of the
weather changing.
There are some clear
explanations for the increase in
temperatures of the planet:
global warming and climate
change.
Showing intelligence
•
•
•
•
no slang,
formal language,
longer sentences,
more complex
vocabulary
Damon: The increase
in global temperatures
are quite obviously
attributable to a
variety of causes, the
industrialisation of
many societies has led
to increased use of
fossil fuels.
Jessie – friendly greeting
Hey, Sandy!
Awesome to see
you. How are ya?
Hello Sandra, how
are you? It’s very
nice to see you
again.
Hey, Sandra. It’s
great to see you.
How are you
doing?
Hey, babe! Awesome to
see you! How are ya?
Last night’s party was so
cool, wasn’t it?
Showing friendliness
•
•
•
•
slang,
terms of endearment
informal language,
references to shared
knowledge.
• (nicknames)
Jessie: Hey, babe!
Awesome to see you!
How are ya? Last
night’s party was so
cool, wasn’t it?
Susie – excited about a birthday
Wow!! My birthday! I
can’t wait! It’s the
happiest day of my
life! I’ve never been
happier.
I’m very happy because
today is my birthday! I
hope I get lots of
presents.
Today it’s my birthday so
I’m pretty happy, I’m
looking forward to
receiving some presents.
I’m really, really happy:
it’s my birthday! I’m
excited to be getting loads
of presents!
Showing excitement
•
•
•
•
•
•
exclamations,
double-exclamations,
Susie: Wow!! My
non-sentences,
birthday! I can’t wait!
It’s the happiest day of
superlatives,
my life! I’ve never
hyperbole,
been happier. I’m
repeated intensifiers
really, really happy!
Michael– angry about an accident
Oh no! You silly man,
you’ve crashed into
my car! There’s lots
of damage, so you
must pay me for this!.
Oh no, look what’s
happened. Why did you
do this? How did this
happen? Please give me
the money to pay for
this immediately.
Crap! You’ve crashed into
my car! You complete idiot!
What do you think you’re
doing?! Are you stupid?!
Idiot! YOU FOOL! Pay me
now!
Oh dear, you seem to have
crashed into my car which is
a bit of a problem. Would
you mind giving me the
money to pay for the
damage you’ve caused?
Showing anger
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
exclamations,
Michael: Crap! You’ve
crashed into my car!
non-sentences,
You complete idiot!
swear words,
What do you think
capital letters,
you’re doing?! Are you
double-exclamations, stupid?! Idiot! YOU
question-exclamation, FOOL! Pay me now!
insults
Grant – being polite
Sorry to be a pain,
would you mind giving
me that book please?
Thank you so much.
I request that you
give that book to
me now. Give it to
me.
Oi! Give that book to
me now! Give it here!
I would really
appreciate it if you
gave me that book
now.
Showing politeness
• questions –
– ‘would you mind…?’
Grant: Sorry to be a
pain, would you mind
giving me that book
please? Thank you so
much.
• apologising
• passive / indirect way of speaking
• please and thank you.
Write a dialogue of 2 ½ -3 sides, single
spaced, on ONE of the following
• Between an angry police officer, a polite
criminal, and an annoyed victim.
• Between a cowardly cowboy and an
argumentative alien.
• Between a militaristic father, his irresponsible
child and the wife/mother that just wants
everyone to be happy.
• Between a wise, old witch, a reckless young
vampire, and an aggressive werewolf.
• Between a mad scientist and his/her doting
student.