Lesson 5

Lesson 6 - Writing Conversation

In written conversation, a new paragraph begins with each change of speaker.

A paragraph tells about one topic. It may be made up of one sentence or a group of sentences. The first word of each paragraph is always indented. Notice how the following conversation is written.

Lina saw Doon immediately - he was reaching up to set a book back on its shelf. He saw her, too, when he turned around, and his dark eyebrows flew up in surprise as she hurried over to him.

"Your father told me you were here," she said. "Doon, I found something. I want to show it to you."

"To me? Why?"

"I think it's important. It has to do with the Pipeworks. Will you come to my house and see it?"

"Now?" Doon asked.

Lina nodded.

Notice:

In conversations, source phrases are sometimes understood and not used.

Each time a new character speaks or acts a new paragraph is used.

Directions: Rewrite the following excerpt from The City of Ember pages 122-123, remembering all you have learned about written conversation.

what are those doon asked

theyre from my imagination lina said feeling slightly embarrassed theyre pictures of . . . another city

oh you made it up

sort of sometimes i dream of it

i draw too said doon but i draw other kinds of things

like what

mostly insects said doon he told her about his collection of drawings and the worm he was currently observing

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Directions: Rewrite the following excerpt from The City of Ember pages 125-126, remembering all you have learned about written conversation. “Go down by the river then go this way then that way . . .” Is a quote inside a quote, therefore the apostrophe is used to show this. Add quotation marks the same as always.

it must be cried lina her heart sped up

it wasnt anywhere near the river doon said doubtfully

that doesnt matter lina said the river goes though the pipeworks thats all its probably something like ‘go down by the river then go this way then that way . . .’

maybe said doon

it must be lina cried i know it is its the door that leads out of ember

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Directions: Return to "Why Should We Learn to Use Quotation Marks?". Rewrite the story excerpt correctly.

----------Key----------

Conversation 1

     “What are those?” Doon asked.
      “They’re from my imagination,” Lina said feeling slightly embarrassed. “They’re pictures of . . . another city.”
     “Oh, you made it up.”
     “Sort of. Sometimes I dream of it.”
     “I draw too,” said Doon, “but I draw other kinds of things.”
     “Like what?”
      “Mostly insects,” said Doon. He told her about his collection of drawings and the worm he was currently observing.

Conversation 2

     “It must be!” cried Lina. Her heart sped up.
     “It wasn’t anywhere near the river,” Doon said doubtfully.
      “That doesn’t matter,” Lina said. “The river goes though the Pipeworks. That’s all. It’s probably something like ‘Go down by the river, then go this way, then that way . . .’”
      “Maybe,” said Doon.
      “It must be!” Lina cried. “I know it is. It’s the door that leads out of Ember.”

Conversation from "Why Should We Learn to Use Quotation Marks?"

     Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, she turned and saw Doon behind her. His thin face looked pale. “Will you trade with me?” he asked.
      “Trade?”
      “Trade jobs. I don't want to waste my time being a messenger. I want to help save the city, not run around carrying gossip.”
     Lina gaped at him. “You'd rather be in the Pipeworks?”
      “Electrician's helper is what I wanted,” Doon said. “But Chet won't trade, of course. Pipeworks is second best.”
     “But why?”
      “Because the generator is in the Pipeworks,” said Doon.