Replace anything in <red with angle brackets> with your own thoughts and language. Pay attention to details like capitalization, centering, and punctuation.
<GIVE YOUR DIALOGUE A TITLE THAT IS DESCRIPTIVE, UNIQUE, CATCHY>
Characters:
<Character 1>, a <age> year-old <student/activist/professor/organizer/writer> who <does/doesn’t> support <a specific issue that will come up in this dialogue>. <He/She/They> believes that <Describe this character’s most important belief related to the topic of your dialogue.>
<Character 2>, a <age> year-old <student/activist/professor/organizer/writer> who <does/doesn’t> support <a specific issue that will come up in this dialogue>. <He/She/They> believes that <Describe this character’s most important belief related to the topic of your dialogue.>
<Character 3>, a <age> year-old <student/activist/professor/organizer/writer> who <does/doesn’t> support <a specific issue that will come up in this dialogue>. <He/She/They> believes that <Describe this character’s most important belief related to the topic of your dialogue.>
<Character 4>, a <age> year-old <student/activist/professor/organizer/writer> who <does/doesn’t> support <a specific issue that will come up in this dialogue>. <He/She/They> believes that <Describe this character’s most important belief related to the topic of your dialogue.>
Setting:
<When does this scene take place?> <Name of Character 1> is <describe his/her mood>. <He/She/They> <sits/stands> at <be specific>, <what is he/she/they doing?>. <Name of Character 2> <verb describing how he/she got to the scene.> from <where?>. <Note: Characters 1 and 2 should have different positions on the topic of this dialogue.>
<CHARACTER 2>
[Notice: Names of characters are in all Caps and centered.]
(<Describe how he/she moves into the scene and next to Character 1.>)
<What does he/she say to kick of the dialogue? Establish the topic right away.>
(<Describe Character 2 doing something.>)
<CHARACTER 1>
(<Describe how Character 1 is feeling by describing his/her facial expression.>)
<Have Character 1 ask a question of Character 2.>
<CHARACTER 2>
<Character 2 should answer in a way that makes clear that he/she disagrees with Character 1 about the topic of your dialogue.>
(<Describe Character 2 doing something.>)
[Notice: Indent all stage directions and put them in parentheses.]
<Character 2 needs to give evidence for his/her opinion. Make sure you are getting this evidence from the text you read by this author/character.>
<CHARACTER 1>
(<Describe Character 1’s mood coming in response to Character 2’s last comments.>)
<Character 1 should be clearly disagreeing and arguing with Character 2.>
[This back and forth between Character 1 and Character 2 should go on for several more pairs of exchanges.]
<CHARACTER 3>
(<Describe Character 3 coming into the scene and listening to Characters 1 and 2 debating.>)
<CHARACTER 1>
What do you think <Character 3>, after all that you have said, “<Quote something that would be typical of Character 3.>” And I think <Show whether Character 1 agrees or disagrees with Character 2.>
(<Describe Character 1 moving away or toward Character 3.>)
<CHARACTER 3>
(<Describe, using facial emotions, what Character 3 thinks about Character 1’s remarks.>)
<Character 3 should explain why he/she believes the way he/she does about the topic. He/she should also give a couple of reasons.>
<CHARACTER 2>
<Have Character 2 explain why he/she either agrees or disagrees with Character 3.>
[This back and forth between Characters 1, 2 and 3 should go on for several more pairs of exchanges.]
<CHARACTER 4>
(<Describe Character 4 coming into the scene and listening to Characters 1, 2, and 3 debating.>)
I’ve been listening for some time now, and I think <you’re all wrong, because…/Character 1, 2 or 3 is right, because… Have character 4 give his/her opinions.>
[Keep going! Be sure that you have each of the characters give their own opinions on all aspects of your topic or question. And be sure that each responds to all of the other characters’ opinions and evidence. For example, Character 1 should make clear why he/she agrees with something that Character 3 says, but disagrees (and gives reasons) with both Characters 2 and 4. And Character 1 should give reasons for his/her own beliefs, and explain why his or her reasons are stronger than the arguments provided by the other Characters.]
This guide is based on the Style Sheet: “Standard American Format” from the City Theater Company in Pittsburgh www.citytheatrecompany.org
Google Doc of this guide.
