# Lesson 20: Add Dialogue to Make Stories Lively

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

← Back to Level 2

## Objective

I can add dialogue to my story using quotation marks, a comma before the closing quote when a tag follows (e.g., “Let’s go,” said Max.), and simple speaking tags such as said or asked.

## Materials

- Pencil ✏️ and eraser
- Ruled paper or tablet
- Tracing Pad (below)

Tip: Read dialogue aloud to check it sounds natural. Keep each speaker’s words in quotes.

## Mini-lesson — How to write dialogue

1. Use quotation marks around the exact words a character says: “I’m ready.”
2. Speaking tag tells who’s talking: said, asked, shouted.
3. Punctuation goes inside the quotes. If the tag comes after, use a comma: “Let’s skate,” said Bella.
4. New speaker, new line to keep reading easy.
5. Keep it short and use words kids say every day.

Video won’t be included when printing.

## Guided Practice — Trace on the Pad

Trace the dialogue marks and write two short lines of dialogue for a scene at the playground:

- Key marks/words: “ ” , ? ! said, asked
- Model:
  1. “Race you to the slide,” said Max.
  2. “Okay! Ready?” asked Mia.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Letter
Pen

## Drag & Drop — Build Clear Dialogue

Drag the chips into the slots to form correct dialogue sentences. Keep punctuation inside the closing quote and use simple tags.

“Let’s skate,”said Max.
“Okay!”shouted Mia.
“Where should we start?”asked Max.
“Let’s race to the swings,”said Mia.
“I’m ready,”said Max.
“Don’t forget your helmet,”said Mom.
“Thanks,”said Mia.
“Can we time the race?”asked Max.
“Three,two,one—go!”shouted Mia.
“You win,”said Max.
“Let’s play again,”said Mia.
“Great idea,”said Max.

## Quick Check (15 questions)

#### 1) Which sentence correctly uses quotes?

“I like books”. said Ana. “I like books,” said Ana. “I like books, said Ana”.

#### 2) Pick the speaking tag.

slide quickly said

#### 3) Where does the comma go?

Inside the quotes before the tag. After the tag. No comma needed.

#### 4) New speaker means…

keep the same line start a new line remove the quotes

#### 5) Choose the best tag for a question.

yelled said asked

#### 6) Which is correct?

“Hurry up!” shouted Tim. “Hurry up”! shouted Tim. “Hurry up”, shouted Tim!

#### 7) What do quotation marks show?

a list exact words spoken the title of a book only

#### 8) Which line needs a comma?

“We won,” said Lee. “We won!” said Lee. “We won?” said Lee.

#### 9) Which is a natural-sounding line?

“Running fast great,” said Jo. “Run fast,” said Jo he fastly. “Run fast,” said Jo.

#### 10) Where should the question mark go?

outside the quotes inside the quotes both inside and outside

#### 11) Pick the best tag for a loud voice.

shouted whispered asked

#### 12) Which line puts punctuation inside the quotes?

“Come on”, said Max. “Come on”, said Max! “Come on,” said Max.

#### 13) New speaker rule helps readers…

jump around follow who is talking skip tags

#### 14) Choose the correct line.

“Ready?” asked Mia. “Ready”? asked Mia. “Ready”, asked Mia?

#### 15) Best way to make dialogue sound real:

use long, fancy words remove all tags read aloud and keep it short

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Uses quotation marks around spoken words Includes simple speaking tags (said/asked) Punctuation inside quotes is correct New speaker starts a new line

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can add clear dialogue to my story 🙂 I need more practice with commas and quotes 😅 It was tricky to write natural-sounding talk

#### I will practice…

Using “ ” with punctuation inside Adding said/asked tags Reading aloud to check flow
Lesson 21 →