Checklist for writing a dialogue

After having written your dialogue, please use the checklist to proofread your answer.

Writing a Dialogue

Checklist

Dialogue - checklist Yes/No

Have you read and understood the question?

Have you understood who your audience is?

Have you understood the relationship between your characters and adjusted the level of formality of their speech accordingly?

Have you linked your dialogue to the part 1 reading comprehension? (If the question asks you to do this)

Have you included a character list? (Character name / brief physical description /note form is ok to use here)

Have you set the scene? (This should be a physical description of everything the audience sees as the curtain rises in the theatre, or the images first appear on the screen. Use a mix of Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses here)

Have you included some stage directions? (Don’t overdo this)

Have you let your characters drive the dialogue forward?

Have you linked each character’s lines together naturally?

Have you favoured phrasal verbs over single word verbs?

Have you chosen to use words with fewer syllables if possible?

Have you used popular English? (a lot of, stuff, sort of) etc.

Have you used/ favoured the first and second person points-of-view (e.g., I, you and we) to create a more personal style?

Have you included everyday phrases and conversation fillers like by the way or that reminds me?

Have you made sure NOT to include swearing in your dialogue?

Have you used contractions? (He’s, it’s, we’re) etc.

Have you included some idiomatic expressions?