Lesson 18: Add dialogue and emotions to characters

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Creative Writing

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Objective

I can write clear dialogue using quotation marks and show emotions with actions, thoughts, and precise feeling words (not just “happy” or “sad”).

Materials

Tip: Use a dialogue tag (said, asked, whispered) and a small action beat (She gripped the railing.) to show emotion.

Mini-lesson — Dialogue & feelings that feel real

  1. Quotation marks go around the words spoken: “We have to hurry!”
  2. Use a tag and comma: “We have to hurry,” she said.
  3. New paragraph for each new speaker.
  4. Show, don’t tell: show feelings with actions (shivered), thoughts (I can do this), and precise words (anxious, thrilled, relieved).
  5. Keep it short: dialogue lines are usually short and natural.

Guided Practice — Trace feelings & tag lines

Trace a few feeling words and tag lines, then write one tiny dialogue scene (2–3 lines) that shows emotion without saying it directly.

  • Feeling words: relieved, anxious, determined, thrilled
  • Tags & beats: she whispered, he said, they shouted, her hands shook
  • Example: “The key fits,” she whispered, hands shaking. “Turn it,” I said.
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: Let actions carry feelings: He tugged his sleeves; she bit her lip.

Drag & Drop — Build Dialogue-Friendly Sentences

Drag the chips into the slots to build clear sentences that support dialogue and feelings. Keep punctuation at the end.

Thefriendswhisperedaplanbeforethegate.
Herhandstrembledbuthervoicestayedcalm.
Heaskedforthemapandwaitedforananswer.
Theyshoutedwithreliefwhenthelockclickedopen.
Pleasepassthelanternhesaidatlast.
IcannotseethepathwhisperedMayatoLeo.
Anxiousbutdeterminedheliftedtheheavybeamtogetherwithus.
Sheaskedifthecliffsweresafeaftertherain.
Thrilledwefinallyspottedthetinylightontheshore.
Hesaidthestormwillpasssoonbuthishandsstillshook.
Weaskedtheguardforhelpandhepointedtothetower.
Atlastheaskedareyoureadytogo.

Quick Check (15 questions)

1) Quotation marks are used to show…

2) Choose the correct placement of the comma:

3) New paragraph when…

4) Which shows emotion without naming it?

5) A dialogue tag is…

6) Best precise feeling word:

7) Which punctuates dialogue correctly?

8) Choose the best action beat to show fear:

9) Which line sounds natural?

10) In “Show, don’t tell,” which helps most?

11) Which is a correct tag placement?

12) Best revision for showing excitement:

13) Choose the best precise word:

14) Which line needs a new paragraph?

15) Action beats are useful because they…

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

I will practice…

Lesson 19 →