Dramatic
Scene
Literature through performance . . .
From Reading to Writing In The Rising of the
Moon, Lady Gregory chose to tell her story in
the form of a drama, or play. Plays have many
of the same elements as narratives—
characters, setting, plot, conflict.
Dramatic
Scene
Literature through performance . . .
But in a play, dialogue and stage directions are
used to reveal character traits and setting, and to
move the plot forward. Drama is the format used
for skits, television programs, theater productions,
and movies.
Basics in a Box
Dramatic Scene at a Glance
RUBRIC Standards for Writing
A successful dramatic scene
should
• introduce the setting and
characters in the opening stage
directions
• use the setting and characters to
create a convincing world
• develop a clear and interesting
situation or conflict
• reveal the personalities of the
characters through the dialogue
• use actions as well as dialogue to
advance the story
• include stage directions as
necessary
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
1
Prewriting
The secret of playwriting can be given in
two maxims: stick to the point and
whenever you can, cut.
W. Somerset Maugham,
British novelist and playwright
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
1
Prewriting
Begin by thinking about a character or
situation that interests you and involves a
problem or conflict. Another option is to
adapt material from books, movies,
magazines, or even songs.
Planning Your Dramatic Scene
1. Consider the basic elements of your
scene. Fill out a chart like the one below to
help you identify the elements you need to
include.
Characters
Setting
Plot
Stage Directions
Who are the
characters?
When and where
does the scene
take place?
What events
will happen?
How will the
characters speak?
In what
sequence will
they occur?
What is the pace of
the scene?
How do they
interact?
Planning Your Dramatic Scene
2. Think about your audience. Who will read
or view your dramatic scene? What language
is appropriate for them? What background will
they need to understand the setting,
characters, and action?
3. Decide on a mood. What general emotional
atmosphere do you want to convey? What
basic elements of character, setting, and
action will help contribute to that mood?
Planning Your Dramatic Scene
4. Explore your scene. How will your
characters interact and speak? You might
write an outline of your scene or jot down bits
of dialogue.
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
2
Drafting
As you write a script for your dramatic scene,
keep the following points in mind:
 Introduce the characters and establish
the setting of your scene. You might
begin by putting a character in a situation
and having him or her talk with another
character.
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
2
Drafting
 Use dialogue and action to advance the
plot. You might collaborate with a partner
to think of various actions and situations
you could include.
 Use dialogue to reveal details about the
characters—personalities, interests,
attitudes, and beliefs.
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
2
Drafting
 Use stage directions to describe setting,
costumes, lighting, sound effects, and
props. Stage directions can also indicate
mood through use of gestures, tone of
voice, and characters’ body movements.
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
3
Revising
TARGET SKILL
USING DIALOGUE EFFECTIVELY
Your characters’ words should sound natural
when spoken, so read your dialogue aloud.
Use contractions and sentence fragments to
mimic actual speech. Indicate tone of voice or
emotion with precise stage directions.
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
Editing and Proofreading
4
TARGET SKILL
FORMATS FOR SCRIPTS
Although the format for stage scripts differs
from the format for television and film scripts,
there are some common conventions to follow.

Dialogue does not have quotation marks.

The name of each speaker is set off so
actors can find their lines easily.
Writing Your Dramatic Scene
Editing and Proofreading
4
TARGET SKILL
FORMATS FOR SCRIPTS

Speaking directions follow the name of the
character.

Directions for movements appear in the
script where the action happens.

General directions for props, lighting, or
sound effects for a whole scene appear in
a separate paragraph.