How to write dialogue in an essay?

                           A dialogue is an oral conversation between people, well it should be noted that we can have conversation with ourselves and other people. We notice that novels, movies, essay especially narrative essays and even video games have dialogues. But the question is why do we use dialogues in literature, it is because you can include diverse feelings of different individuals for the same situations, you do not need a whole new explanation for describing an individual’s viewpoint. Let’s dive deeper for understanding types of dialogues; there are two types of dialogues Inner and Outer dialogues. Many times, characters talk with themselves like they are discussing with their consciousness or heart, this form of dialogues is called Inner Dialogues. On the other hand, there is an outer dialogue, which is about conservation between two persons. Often, we receive assignment for essay writing and we have to include dialogues or quotations it may be written by you or any other author. But to include such quotations first we need to understand the difference between direct and indirect quotations. In direct quotations we use original quote with original words and also include Author’s name and source.

For example: - “One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things.”

(From The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackey)

On the other hand, for indirect quotations we do not use original words, we only use author’s idea by writing in a paragraph. Here also we include source along with author’s name. Let me write a paragraph for above quote by Mackey.

According to Mackey, we do not have control over life’s circumstances as they are not stable. But what we have in control is how we react on things, so Mackey is comparing this control over reactions as the greatest freedom.

Tips associated with dialogues writing for essays:-

Tip 1: - While writing dialogues & quotes it is important to use correct punctuations marks as they help to depict dialogues. Use quotations marks at the beginning and the ending of each quote or dialogue.

For example: - the master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralyzed with wonder; the boys with fear.

“What!” said the master at length, in a faint voice?

“Please, sir,” replied Oliver, “I want some more.”

(Extract from Oliver’s Twist by Charles Dickens)

In the above exact you must have observe that when there is a dialogue there is a quotation marks and it should be noted that in “What!” Dickens had used exclamation marks inside the quotation marks and any reader can understand that how master has used the word with what amount of stress.

Tips 2: - another tip is associated with the way of formatting dialogues, as many writers draft dialogues in same paragraph. Well, it is a mistake as even it is not a drama but still for writing we use the drama format by writing every quote with a new line.

For example: - “How in the world did you deduce that?” I asked.

“Deduce what?” said he, petulantly.

(Extract from A Study in Scarlet: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure, Chapter 3. By Arthur Conan Doyle)

Tips 3: - As we are already aware about direct and indirect quotations, if you are adding an indirect quotations that has no original words or sentence of author except the idea or opinion and you include a written paragraph. Do not add quotations marks.

Let’s take an instance; the above extract from Sherlock Holmes can be converted in paragraph.

Dr Watson was in complete astonishment because Holmes method of deduction was kind of odd and highly intelligent, so he was asking him that how on an earth he was able to understand the fact about a man even without asking him. However, Holmes deliberately further questioned to Dr Watson in a manner that for him it was piece of cake.

 

Tip 4: - Punctuation plays a key role for acknowledging readers that what they are reading is a part of a dialogue and in my opinion we cannot change the tone of our voice without punctuation while reading novel aloud. So writers use MLA (Modern Language Association) format it is style widely used in research paper in language composition. The format provides us basic information related to author’s name, material name and its source. Now let’s understand how MLA format is used for dialogue writing.

MLA consists of line breaks to signify change in speakers.

Lets understand it with an extract from A Study in Scarlet: Sherlock Holmes Adventure (Chapter: 1) by Arthur Canon Doyle.

“Dr. Watson, Mr. Sherlock Holmes” said Stamford introducing us.

“How are you?” he said cordially, gripping my hand with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit. “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”

“How on earth do you know that?” I asked in astonishment.

The extract describes the first meeting between narrator (Dr. Watson) and Sherlock Holmes while meeting was planned by Mister Stamford.

Here you have notice there is a line break and at the same time narrator is a conveying his thoughts about meeting Sherlock Holmes by writing his feelings between dialogues associated with Holmes.

              Thus, dialogue writing in essay can become interesting if we use punctuation with simple and direct language for our characters. Furthermore, for including relevant quotes in our essay, the importance of punctuation marks affects readers as it express feelings.