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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌3.3‌ ‌
Dialogues‌‌and‌‌Scenes‌ ‌
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Contents‌ ‌
Introduction‌ 1‌ ‌

Learning‌‌Objectives‌ 2‌ ‌

Let’s‌‌Begin‌ 2‌ ‌

Discover‌ 3‌ ‌
Defining‌‌Scenes‌‌and‌‌Dialogues‌ 4‌ ‌
Scenes‌‌and‌‌Dialogues‌‌in‌‌Nonfiction‌ 5‌ ‌
Importance‌‌of‌‌Scenes‌‌and‌‌Dialogues‌ 10‌ ‌

Wrap-Up‌ 11‌ ‌

Try‌‌This!‌ 12‌ ‌

Practice‌‌Your‌‌Writing‌‌Skills‌ 13‌ ‌

Photo‌‌Credit‌ 16‌ ‌

Bibliography‌ 16‌ ‌
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 ‌
Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌3.3‌ ‌

Dialogues‌‌and‌‌Scenes‌ ‌
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Introduction‌ ‌
All‌‌of‌‌us‌‌have‌‌this‌‌one‌‌friend‌‌or‌‌relative‌‌that‌‌we‌‌genuinely‌‌enjoy‌‌hearing‌‌stories‌‌from.‌‌Their‌‌
stories‌‌are‌‌always‌‌exciting,‌‌and‌‌we‌‌cannot‌‌wait‌‌to‌‌hear‌‌more‌‌about‌‌them.‌‌Most‌‌of‌‌the‌‌time,‌‌
what‌ ‌makes‌ ‌them‌ ‌good‌ ‌storytellers‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌just‌ ‌the‌ ‌content‌ ‌of‌ ‌their‌ ‌stories,‌ ‌but‌ ‌also‌‌their‌‌
manner‌ ‌of‌ ‌telling.‌ ‌They‌ ‌make‌ ‌a‌ ‌lot‌ ‌of‌ ‌gestures,‌ ‌make‌ ‌funny‌ ‌faces,‌‌imitate‌‌dialogues,‌‌and‌‌
reenact‌‌scenes—making‌‌us‌‌feel‌‌immersed‌‌in‌‌their‌‌story.‌ ‌
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The‌ ‌same‌ ‌is‌ ‌true‌ ‌whenever‌‌we‌‌read.‌‌We‌‌become‌‌more‌‌interested‌‌in‌‌the‌‌content‌‌of‌‌a‌‌text‌‌
when‌‌we‌‌can‌‌relate‌‌to‌‌what‌‌is‌‌happening‌‌or‌‌feel‌‌what‌‌the‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌feeling.‌‌In‌‌writing‌‌
nonfictional‌‌texts,‌‌there‌‌are‌‌two‌‌elements‌‌that‌‌can‌‌help‌‌a‌‌writer‌‌achieve‌‌these.‌‌You‌‌will‌‌be‌‌
learning‌‌more‌‌about‌‌these‌‌elements‌‌in‌‌this‌‌lesson.‌ ‌

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3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 1‌
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 ‌
Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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Learning‌‌Objectives‌ ‌ DepEd‌‌Learning‌‌Competency‌ ‌
At‌t‌ he‌e
‌ nd‌o
‌ f‌t‌ his‌l‌esson,‌y
‌ ou‌s‌ hould‌b
‌ e‌a
‌ ble‌t‌ o‌‌
In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌you‌‌should‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌do‌‌the‌‌ analyze‌f‌ actual/nonfictional‌e
‌ lements‌(‌ plot,‌‌
following:‌ ‌ characters,‌c‌ haracterizations,‌p
‌ oint‌o
‌ f‌v
‌ iew,‌a
‌ ngle,‌‌
setting‌a
‌ nd‌a
‌ tmosphere,‌s‌ ymbols‌a
‌ nd‌s‌ ymbolisms,‌‌
● Analyze‌‌how‌‌dialogues‌‌and‌‌
irony,‌fi
‌ gure‌o
‌ f‌s‌ peech,‌d
‌ ialogue,‌s‌ cene,‌o
‌ ther‌‌
scenes‌‌make‌‌characterizations‌‌ elements‌a
‌ nd‌d
‌ evices)‌i‌n‌t‌ he‌t‌ exts.‌ ‌
better.‌ ‌ ‌

● Evaluate‌‌how‌‌dialogues‌‌and‌‌
scenes‌‌establish‌‌the‌‌tone‌‌and‌‌
mood‌‌of‌‌the‌‌story.‌ ‌
● Compare‌‌and‌‌contrast‌‌the‌‌
dialogues‌‌and‌‌scenes‌‌between‌‌
fiction‌‌and‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction.‌ ‌

Let’s‌‌Begin‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

‌ Lights,‌‌Camera,‌‌Action!‌ ‌ 30‌‌minutes‌

Test‌‌how‌‌effective‌‌dialogues‌‌are‌‌in‌‌telling‌‌stories‌‌through‌‌this‌‌group‌‌activity.‌ ‌
‌
Instructions‌ ‌
1. Form‌‌a‌‌group‌‌with‌‌five‌‌to‌‌six‌‌members.‌‌ ‌
2. Each‌‌group‌‌will‌‌be‌‌given‌‌a‌‌scenario‌‌that‌‌should‌‌be‌‌acted‌‌out‌‌with‌‌dialogues.‌‌The‌‌goal‌‌
of‌‌each‌‌group‌‌is‌‌to‌‌make‌‌the‌‌class‌‌guess‌‌what‌‌scenario‌‌was‌‌assigned‌‌to‌‌them.‌‌ ‌
3. After‌ ‌getting‌ ‌the‌ ‌assigned‌ ‌scenario,‌‌plan‌‌with‌‌your‌‌groupmates‌‌and‌‌write‌‌the‌‌script‌‌
or‌‌dialogue.‌ ‌
4. Practice‌‌and‌‌be‌‌ready‌‌to‌‌present‌‌this‌‌in‌‌class.‌ ‌
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3.3.‌D
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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Guide‌‌Questions‌ ‌
1. How‌‌did‌‌you‌‌come‌‌up‌‌with‌‌the‌‌dialogue‌‌for‌‌your‌‌given‌‌scenario?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
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2. How‌‌were‌‌you‌‌able‌‌to‌‌guess‌‌the‌‌scenarios‌‌presented‌‌by‌‌your‌‌classmates?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
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3. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌effect‌‌of‌‌the‌‌use‌‌of‌‌dialogues‌‌on‌‌story-telling?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
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Discover‌ ‌
Nonfictional‌‌texts‌‌need‌‌to‌‌be‌‌factual‌‌and‌‌truthful,‌‌but‌‌when‌‌a‌‌text‌‌is‌‌simply‌‌bombarded‌‌with‌‌
facts,‌ ‌it‌ ‌could‌ ‌get‌ ‌uninteresting‌‌for‌‌the‌‌readers.‌‌To‌‌remedy‌‌this,‌‌nonfiction‌‌writers‌‌may‌‌tell‌‌
real-life‌ ‌events‌‌the‌‌way‌‌fictional‌‌writers‌‌tell‌‌their‌‌stories—with‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues.‌‌Using‌‌
these‌ ‌two‌ ‌literary‌ ‌devices‌ ‌allows‌ ‌the‌ ‌writer‌ ‌to‌ ‌capture‌ ‌the‌ ‌essence‌‌of‌‌real-life‌‌happenings‌‌
better,‌‌making‌‌it‌‌more‌‌engaging‌‌for‌‌the‌‌readers.‌ ‌
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In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌you‌‌will‌‌learn‌‌how‌‌nonfiction‌‌writers‌‌use‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌and‌‌how‌‌these‌‌
devices‌‌enhance‌‌their‌‌works.‌ ‌
‌

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How‌ ‌does‌ ‌using‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌in‌ ‌nonfiction‌‌
differ‌‌from‌‌using‌‌them‌‌in‌‌fiction?‌ ‌

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3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
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‌ cenes‌ ‌ 3‌
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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Defining‌‌Scenes‌‌and‌‌Dialogues‌ ‌
Scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌are‌‌important‌‌elements‌‌of‌‌both‌‌fiction‌‌and‌‌nonfiction.‌‌A‌‌‌scene‌‌can‌‌be‌‌
generally‌ ‌defined‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌ ‌particular‌ ‌place‌ ‌or‌ ‌setting.‌ ‌More‌ ‌specifically,‌ ‌in‌ ‌literature,‌ ‌it‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌‌
described‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌‌continuous‌‌sequence‌‌of‌‌actions‌‌(such‌‌as‌‌in‌‌a‌‌play),‌‌or‌‌a‌‌representation‌‌of‌‌a‌‌
specific‌ ‌event‌ ‌or‌ ‌incident‌ ‌happening‌‌in‌‌a‌‌particular‌‌time‌‌and‌‌place.‌‌A‌‌story’s‌‌plot‌‌is‌‌usually‌‌
divided‌ ‌into‌ ‌several‌ ‌scenes,‌ ‌making‌ ‌it‌ ‌easier‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌writer‌ ‌to‌ ‌unfold‌ ‌events‌ ‌and‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌‌
readers‌‌to‌‌follow‌‌the‌‌story.‌ ‌
‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌different‌ ‌types‌ ‌of‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌in‌ ‌literature.‌ ‌A‌ ‌scene‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌a‌ ‌description‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌
surroundings—giving‌ ‌specific‌ ‌details‌ ‌that‌ ‌would‌ ‌emphasize‌ ‌the‌ ‌setting‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌story—or‌ ‌a‌‌
depiction‌ ‌of‌ ‌what‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters‌ ‌are‌ ‌doing.‌ ‌A‌ ‌scene‌ ‌could‌ ‌be‌ ‌as‌ ‌simple‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌ ‌character‌‌
waking‌‌up‌‌from‌‌sleep,‌‌describing‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌morning‌‌routine,‌‌or‌‌it‌‌could‌‌be‌‌action-filled‌‌such‌‌
as‌‌fight‌‌scenes.‌‌Scenes‌‌may‌‌be‌‌used‌‌by‌‌writers‌‌to‌‌move‌‌the‌‌plot‌‌forward‌‌by‌‌telling‌‌readers‌‌
what‌‌happens‌‌next,‌‌to‌‌establish‌‌causes‌‌and‌‌effects‌‌in‌‌the‌‌narrative,‌‌or‌‌to‌‌simply‌‌tell‌‌readers‌‌
more‌‌about‌‌the‌‌characters‌‌in‌‌the‌‌story‌‌by‌‌showing‌‌their‌‌actions‌‌and‌‌reactions.‌‌ ‌
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Scenes‌‌become‌‌all‌‌the‌‌more‌‌interesting‌‌when‌‌paired‌‌with‌‌good‌‌dialogue.‌‌‌Dialogue‌‌refers‌‌to‌‌
a‌‌conversation‌‌or‌‌exchange‌‌of‌‌spoken‌‌words‌‌between‌‌two‌‌or‌‌more‌‌characters.‌‌Like‌‌scenes,‌‌
dialogue‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌useful‌ ‌tool‌ ‌for‌ ‌writers‌ ‌to‌ ‌move‌ ‌the‌ ‌events‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌story‌ ‌forward‌ ‌since‌ ‌more‌‌
information‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌plot‌ ‌could‌ ‌be‌ ‌exposed‌ ‌without‌ ‌the‌ ‌writer‌‌explicitly‌‌stating‌‌it.‌‌At‌‌the‌‌
same‌‌time,‌‌dialogue‌‌adds‌‌life‌‌to‌‌the‌‌characters‌‌since‌‌readers‌‌get‌‌to‌‌know‌‌more‌‌about‌‌their‌‌
personalities‌ ‌and‌ ‌unique‌ ‌characteristics‌ ‌through‌ ‌their‌ ‌speech‌ ‌and,‌ ‌consequently,‌ ‌their‌‌
thoughts‌‌and‌‌emotions.‌‌ ‌
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Dialogues‌‌may‌‌be‌‌written‌‌directly‌‌or‌‌indirectly.‌‌In‌‌an‌‌‌indirect‌‌dialogue‌,‌‌the‌‌conversation‌‌is‌‌
summarized,‌ ‌and‌ ‌direct‌‌quotations‌‌are‌‌not‌‌used‌‌(for‌‌example,‌‌‌I‌‌told‌‌her‌‌not‌‌to‌‌trust‌‌anyone‌‌
but‌‌me‌).‌ ‌Direct‌‌dialogue‌,‌‌on‌‌the‌‌other‌‌hand,‌‌is‌‌when‌‌two‌‌or‌‌more‌‌people‌‌are‌‌shown‌‌to‌‌be‌‌
actually‌‌speaking‌‌and‌‌quotation‌‌marks‌‌are‌‌used‌‌to‌‌signal‌‌their‌‌speech‌‌(for‌‌example,‌‌‌I‌‌looked‌‌
at‌ ‌her‌ ‌and‌ ‌said,‌ ‌“You‌ ‌can’t‌ ‌trust‌ ‌anyone‌ ‌but‌ ‌me.”)‌.‌ ‌Both‌ ‌types‌ ‌of‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌used‌‌
regardless‌‌of‌‌the‌‌point‌‌of‌‌view‌‌used‌‌in‌‌the‌‌text.‌ ‌
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Readers‌‌can‌‌easily‌‌recognize‌‌direct‌‌and‌‌indirect‌‌dialogues‌‌through‌‌the‌‌use‌‌of‌‌punctuations,‌‌

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3.3.‌D
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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line‌‌breaks,‌‌and‌‌dialogue‌‌tags.‌‌Quotation‌‌marks‌‌are‌‌generally‌‌used‌‌to‌‌write‌‌direct‌‌dialogue.‌‌
Line‌ ‌breaks,‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌other‌ ‌hand,‌ ‌are‌ ‌used‌ ‌by‌ ‌writers‌ ‌to‌ ‌organize‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌when‌ ‌multiple‌‌
characters‌ ‌are‌ ‌speaking‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌narrative.‌ ‌Dialogue‌ ‌tags,‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ ‌“he‌ ‌said”‌‌or‌‌“she‌‌replied,”‌ ‌
are‌‌also‌‌helpful‌‌as‌‌it‌‌refers‌‌to‌‌the‌‌specific‌‌character‌‌who‌‌said‌‌the‌‌certain‌‌line‌‌in‌‌a‌‌dialogue.‌‌
Being‌‌familiar‌‌with‌‌these‌‌conventions‌‌helps‌‌readers‌‌understand‌‌what‌‌is‌‌going‌‌on‌‌in‌‌the‌‌text‌‌
when‌‌dialogues‌‌are‌‌used.‌ ‌
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There‌ ‌are‌ ‌varied‌ ‌ways‌ ‌to‌ ‌craft‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues‌‌in‌‌different‌‌literary‌‌works.‌‌In‌‌fictional‌‌
works,‌ ‌authors‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌liberty‌‌to‌‌create‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌invent‌‌dialogues‌‌as‌‌creatively‌‌as‌‌they‌‌
want,‌ ‌so‌ ‌long‌ ‌as‌ ‌they‌ ‌match‌‌the‌‌overall‌‌theme‌‌of‌‌their‌‌work.‌‌In‌‌nonfiction,‌‌however,‌‌there‌‌
are‌ ‌some‌‌important‌‌considerations‌‌in‌‌using‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues.‌‌In‌‌the‌‌following‌‌section,‌‌
you‌‌will‌‌learn‌‌more‌‌about‌‌how‌‌these‌‌devices‌‌are‌‌typically‌‌used‌‌in‌‌nonfictional‌‌works.‌ ‌
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Scenes‌‌and‌‌Dialogues‌‌in‌‌Nonfiction‌ ‌
Depicting‌ ‌reality‌ ‌as‌ ‌accurately‌ ‌as‌ ‌possible‌ ‌should‌ ‌not‌ ‌hinder‌ ‌an‌ ‌author‌ ‌from‌ ‌writing‌ ‌a‌‌
compelling‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌work,‌ ‌and‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌greatly‌ ‌help‌ ‌in‌ ‌achieving‌ ‌this‌ ‌goal.‌ ‌Scenes‌ ‌are‌‌
considered‌‌the‌‌building‌‌blocks‌‌of‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction.‌‌Good‌‌writers‌‌integrate‌‌scenes‌‌in‌‌their‌‌
work‌‌in‌‌order‌‌to‌‌build‌‌a‌‌whole‌‌picture‌‌about‌‌the‌‌topic‌‌being‌‌presented—showing‌‌(instead‌‌of‌‌
telling)‌‌the‌‌subjects,‌‌places,‌ ‌or‌‌personalities‌‌in‌‌action.‌‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌first‌ ‌step‌ ‌in‌ ‌writing‌ ‌engaging‌ ‌yet‌ ‌truthful‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌research‌ ‌vigorously‌ ‌about‌ ‌your‌‌
topic‌ ‌or‌ ‌subject.‌ ‌For‌ ‌example,‌ ‌suppose‌ ‌an‌ ‌author‌ ‌is‌ ‌writing‌ ‌a‌ ‌biography.‌ ‌In‌‌that‌‌case,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌
important‌ ‌to‌ ‌know‌ ‌the‌ ‌specifics‌‌of‌‌the‌‌subject’s‌‌time‌‌period‌‌and‌‌society—what‌‌did‌‌houses‌‌
and‌ ‌offices‌ ‌look‌ ‌like,‌ ‌how‌ ‌did‌ ‌people‌ ‌dress‌ ‌up‌ ‌and‌ ‌talk,‌ ‌what‌ ‌did‌ ‌people‌ ‌watch‌ ‌and‌ ‌eat,‌‌
etc.—to‌‌take‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌into‌‌the‌‌life‌‌of‌‌the‌‌subject‌‌accurately.‌‌A‌‌reader‌‌can‌‌then‌‌make‌‌the‌‌
scenes‌ ‌come‌ ‌alive‌ ‌by‌ ‌incorporating‌ ‌these‌ ‌sensory‌ ‌details,‌ ‌describing‌ ‌them‌ ‌carefully‌ ‌and‌‌
vividly,‌ ‌allowing‌ ‌readers‌ ‌to‌ ‌feel‌ ‌as‌ ‌if‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌in‌ ‌that‌ ‌particular‌ ‌time‌ ‌and‌ ‌place‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌‌
subject‌‌of‌‌the‌‌text.‌‌ ‌
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Writers‌ ‌can‌ ‌also‌ ‌make‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌more‌ ‌authentic‌ ‌by‌ ‌describing‌ ‌people’s‌ ‌facial‌ ‌expressions,‌‌
gestures,‌ ‌and‌ ‌other‌ ‌actions‌ ‌that‌ ‌might‌ ‌seem‌ ‌mundane‌ ‌in‌ ‌real‌ ‌life‌ ‌but‌ ‌are‌ ‌actually‌‌
memorable‌ ‌or‌ ‌special‌ ‌in‌ ‌retrospect.‌ ‌A‌ ‌sense‌ ‌of‌ ‌intimacy‌ ‌between‌ ‌the‌ ‌reader‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌‌

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3.3.‌D
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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characters‌‌occurs‌‌when‌‌these‌‌details‌‌are‌‌added‌‌into‌‌the‌‌scenes‌‌as‌‌readers‌‌also‌‌get‌‌to‌‌know‌‌
more‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌personalities‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters.‌ ‌Again,‌ ‌research‌ ‌must‌ ‌be‌ ‌carefully‌ ‌done‌‌
regarding‌‌these‌‌details‌‌to‌‌keep‌‌the‌‌reliability‌‌of‌‌the‌‌text.‌ ‌
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When‌ ‌writing‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌first-person‌ ‌point‌ ‌of‌ ‌view—writing‌ ‌your‌ ‌life‌ ‌account,‌ ‌for‌‌
instance—scenes‌ ‌also‌ ‌help‌ ‌prevent‌‌the‌‌writer‌‌from‌‌falling‌‌prey‌‌to‌‌simply‌‌telling‌‌everything‌‌
instead‌‌of‌‌showing.‌‌Excessive‌‌use‌‌of‌‌“I”‌‌may‌‌make‌‌the‌‌text‌‌monotonous‌‌or,‌‌worse,‌‌make‌‌the‌‌
audience‌ ‌feel‌ ‌like‌‌listening‌‌to‌‌a‌‌narcissist.‌‌Describing‌‌what‌‌is‌‌seen,‌‌heard,‌‌smelled,‌‌and‌‌felt‌‌
in‌‌the‌‌surroundings‌‌by‌‌writing‌‌scenes‌‌helps‌‌prevent‌‌these.‌ ‌
‌
While‌ ‌details‌ ‌in‌‌settings‌‌might‌‌be‌‌a‌‌little‌‌easy‌‌to‌‌research‌‌and‌‌incorporate‌‌in‌‌scenes,‌‌many‌‌
nonfictional‌‌writers‌‌hesitate‌‌to‌‌use‌‌dialogues‌‌because‌‌it‌‌is‌‌usually‌‌challenging‌‌to‌‌find‌‌reliable‌‌
sources‌ ‌of‌ ‌people’s‌ ‌speeches.‌ ‌Although‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌recordings‌ ‌available‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ ‌interviews,‌‌
these‌ ‌are‌ ‌generally‌ ‌limited‌ ‌and,‌ ‌of‌ ‌course,‌ ‌many‌ ‌important‌ ‌dialogues‌‌occur‌‌within‌‌private‌‌
conversations.‌‌Because‌‌of‌‌this,‌‌many‌‌writers‌‌think‌‌that‌‌they‌‌may‌‌be‌‌misrepresenting‌‌facts‌‌if‌‌
they‌ ‌add‌ ‌dialogue‌ ‌that‌ ‌did‌ ‌not‌ ‌come‌ ‌from‌ ‌primary‌ ‌sources.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌certain‌‌
options‌‌writers‌‌can‌‌use‌‌to‌‌incorporate‌‌dialogues‌‌successfully.‌ ‌
‌
As‌ ‌mentioned,‌ ‌actual‌ ‌dialogue‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌ ‌recordings‌ ‌of‌ ‌interviews,‌ ‌press‌‌
conferences,‌‌or‌‌even‌‌personal‌‌videos.‌‌When‌‌opting‌‌to‌‌use‌‌actual‌‌dialogue,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌important‌‌to‌‌
get‌ ‌the‌ ‌exact‌ ‌wording‌ ‌of‌ ‌what‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌said‌ ‌at‌ ‌all‌ ‌times.‌ ‌In‌ ‌the‌ ‌modern‌ ‌age,‌ ‌this‌ ‌has‌‌
become‌ ‌relatively‌ ‌easy‌ ‌to‌ ‌acquire‌ ‌since‌ ‌technological‌ ‌devices‌ ‌allow‌ ‌us‌ ‌to‌ ‌record‌ ‌our‌‌
everyday‌ ‌lives‌ ‌effortlessly.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌when‌ ‌the‌ ‌topic‌ ‌is‌ ‌something‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌past,‌ ‌rigorous‌‌
research‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌expected.‌ ‌Aside‌ ‌from‌ ‌these,‌ ‌people’s‌ ‌dialogue‌ ‌may‌ ‌also‌ ‌be‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌‌
personal‌ ‌letters‌ ‌or‌ ‌electronic‌ ‌mail,‌ ‌text‌ ‌messages,‌ ‌and‌ ‌even‌ ‌social‌ ‌media‌ ‌posts.‌ ‌Just‌‌
remember‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌careful‌ ‌in‌ ‌acquiring‌ ‌consent‌ ‌for‌‌sources‌‌that‌‌are‌‌private‌‌in‌‌nature‌‌and‌‌to‌‌
document‌‌all‌‌source‌‌materials‌‌properly‌‌in‌‌case‌‌someone‌‌asks‌‌for‌‌proof‌‌of‌‌what‌‌was‌‌said.‌ ‌
‌
If‌ ‌recorded‌ ‌sources‌ ‌are‌ ‌not‌ ‌available,‌ ‌there‌ ‌is‌ ‌also‌ ‌an‌ ‌option‌ ‌to‌ ‌use‌ ‌representative‌‌
dialogue‌ ‌wherein‌ ‌what‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌said‌ ‌does‌ ‌not‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌‌written‌‌in‌‌a‌‌verbatim‌‌manner.‌‌
Instead,‌ ‌it‌ ‌could‌‌be‌‌just‌‌a‌‌summary‌‌that‌‌represents‌‌what‌‌the‌‌person‌‌has‌‌said‌‌and‌‌how‌‌the‌‌
person‌‌said‌‌it.‌‌If‌‌the‌‌writer‌‌personally‌‌knows‌‌the‌‌subject,‌‌this‌‌might‌‌be‌‌fairly‌‌easy;‌‌however,‌‌
if‌ ‌this‌‌is‌‌not‌‌the‌‌case,‌‌then‌‌research‌‌must‌‌be‌‌done‌‌by‌‌talking‌‌to‌‌people‌‌who‌‌know‌‌or‌‌knew‌‌
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3.3.‌D
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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the‌‌person‌‌to‌‌keep‌‌the‌‌representation‌‌as‌‌accurate‌‌as‌‌possible.‌‌Note‌‌that‌‌it‌‌is‌‌not‌‌just‌‌what‌‌
has‌ ‌been‌ ‌said‌ ‌is‌ ‌important,‌ ‌but‌ ‌also‌ ‌how‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌said‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌person.‌ ‌Different‌ ‌people‌ ‌talk‌‌
differently‌‌and‌‌the‌‌accuracy‌‌of‌‌the‌‌representation‌‌will‌‌also‌‌rely‌‌on‌‌this.‌‌ ‌
‌
Additionally,‌ ‌writers‌ ‌may‌ ‌add‌‌‌disclaimers‌‌to‌‌the‌‌text‌‌by‌‌using‌‌expressions‌‌that‌‌will‌‌inform‌‌
the‌ ‌reader‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌ ‌dialogue‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌exactly‌ ‌what‌ ‌the‌ ‌subjects‌ ‌said‌ ‌and‌ ‌are‌ ‌only‌‌
representations‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌writer’s‌ ‌research‌ ‌or‌‌personal‌‌memory.‌‌Phrases‌‌like‌‌“He‌‌said‌‌
something‌ ‌like‌‌.‌‌.‌‌.”‌‌or‌‌“I‌‌remember‌‌him‌‌saying‌‌something‌‌along‌‌the‌‌lines‌‌of‌‌.‌‌.‌‌.”‌‌will‌‌signal‌‌
this‌‌disclaimer.‌‌A‌‌writer‌‌may‌‌also‌‌choose‌‌to‌‌explicitly‌‌note‌‌that‌‌the‌‌dialogue‌‌is‌‌non-verbatim‌‌
and‌‌is‌‌only‌‌based‌‌on‌‌recollection‌‌of‌‌the‌‌writer‌‌or‌‌the‌‌people‌‌who‌‌know‌‌or‌‌knew‌‌the‌‌subject.‌ ‌
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Now‌ ‌that‌ ‌you‌ ‌know‌ ‌how‌ ‌you‌ ‌may‌ ‌incorporate‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌in‌ ‌nonfictional‌ ‌texts,‌‌
read‌‌the‌‌following‌‌essay‌‌and‌‌analyze‌‌how‌‌they‌‌were‌‌used‌‌by‌‌the‌‌author‌‌and‌‌their‌‌impact‌‌on‌‌
a‌‌text.‌ ‌
‌

Laugh‌‌It‌‌Off:‌‌Philippine‌‌Comedy‌‌On‌‌Social‌‌Growth‌ ‌
Ramon‌‌Paolo‌‌Z.‌‌Alfar‌ ‌

Contemporary‌ ‌Filipino‌ ‌comedy‌ ‌has‌ ‌come‌ ‌a‌ ‌long‌ ‌way‌ ‌from‌ ‌

legendary‌ ‌pioneers‌ ‌like‌ ‌Dolphy,‌ ‌Rene‌ ‌Requiestas,‌ ‌Babalu,‌‌ ‌
Redford‌ ‌White,‌ ‌and‌ ‌TVJ‌ ‌(Tito,‌ ‌Vic,‌ ‌and‌ ‌Joey).‌ ‌Their‌ ‌movies‌‌ ‌
have‌ ‌been‌ ‌deep-rooted‌‌‌staples‌‌on‌‌Filipino‌‌households‌‌that‌‌
s‌ taple‌‌
they‌‌usually‌‌fill‌‌afternoon‌‌time‌‌slots‌‌on‌‌daytime‌‌television.‌‌It‌‌
(noun):‌a
‌ ‌‌main‌‌
is‌ ‌just‌ ‌fun‌ ‌to‌ ‌hear‌ ‌some‌ ‌adults‌ ‌who‌ ‌grew‌ ‌up‌ ‌with‌ ‌those‌‌
part‌‌of‌‌something‌ ‌
comedians‌ ‌talk‌ ‌about‌ ‌how‌‌funny‌‌they‌‌and‌‌their‌‌movies‌‌still‌‌
‌
are.‌ ‌But‌ ‌that‌ ‌begs‌ ‌the‌ ‌question‌ ‌if‌ ‌that‌ ‌reception‌ ‌applies‌ ‌to‌‌
‌
comedy‌‌before,‌‌why‌‌does‌‌it‌‌not‌‌apply‌‌to‌‌comedy‌‌now?‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
Like‌ ‌other‌ ‌genres,‌ ‌comedy‌ ‌has‌ ‌evolved‌ ‌throughout‌ ‌the‌‌
‌
years.‌ ‌But‌ ‌for‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌comedy,‌ ‌it‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌glaringly‌‌
‌
stagnant.‌ ‌The‌ ‌masses‌ ‌simply‌ ‌switched‌ ‌their‌‌tastes‌‌from‌‌Vic‌‌
‌
Sotto‌‌to‌‌Vice‌‌Ganda‌‌since‌‌both‌‌pretty‌‌much‌‌follow‌‌the‌‌same‌‌

‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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‌

brand‌ ‌of‌ ‌humor:‌ ‌insult‌ ‌humor,‌ ‌slapstick,‌ ‌and‌ ‌quips.‌ ‌In‌‌ ‌

addition,‌ ‌their‌ ‌shtick‌ ‌has‌ ‌always‌ ‌been‌ ‌a‌ ‌daily‌ ‌serving‌ ‌on‌‌
s‌ htick‌‌
their‌‌noontime‌‌shows,‌‌all‌‌for‌‌the‌‌amusement‌‌of‌‌the‌‌masses.‌‌
(noun):‌t‌ he‌‌type‌‌of‌‌
No‌‌harm‌‌in‌‌such‌‌laugh-riot‌‌entertainment,‌‌but‌‌is‌‌that‌‌all?‌ ‌
humor‌‌typical‌‌of‌‌a‌‌
‌
comedian‌ ‌
Back‌‌in‌‌elementary,‌‌when‌‌my‌‌Grade‌‌4‌‌class‌‌had‌‌to‌‌sit‌‌in‌‌with‌‌
‌
another‌ ‌class,‌ ‌that‌ ‌class’‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌gave‌ ‌us‌ ‌a‌ ‌very‌‌interesting‌‌
‌
sermon.‌‌It‌‌was‌‌a‌‌day‌‌after‌‌the‌‌holiday‌‌break.‌‌So,‌‌she‌‌had‌‌her‌‌
‌
thoughts‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌recent‌ ‌Christmas‌ ‌season‌ ‌and‌ ‌Enteng‌‌
‌
Kabisote‌‌2:‌‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
“Hope‌ ‌you‌ ‌enjoyed‌ ‌your‌ ‌holiday‌ ‌with‌ ‌your‌ ‌families.‌ ‌And‌‌
‌
hope‌‌you‌‌spent‌‌it‌‌well‌‌so‌‌that‌‌you‌‌return‌‌to‌‌school‌‌prepared‌‌
‌
for‌ ‌what‌ ‌we‌ ‌importantly‌ ‌have‌ ‌these‌ ‌coming‌ ‌months.‌ ‌Don’t‌‌
‌
be‌ ‌like‌‌me.‌‌My‌‌family‌‌insisted‌‌that‌‌we‌‌go‌‌to‌‌the‌‌movies‌‌this‌‌
‌
Christmas.‌ ‌They‌ ‌were‌ ‌excited‌ ‌about‌ ‌Enteng‌ ‌Kabisote‌ ‌2.‌‌ ‌I‌‌
‌
didn’t‌ ‌mind‌ ‌that.‌ ‌But‌ ‌boy,‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌wrong.‌‌That‌‌movie‌‌has‌‌the‌‌
‌
same‌ ‌tired‌ ‌humor‌ ‌that‌ ‌we‌ ‌expect‌ ‌from‌ ‌Vic‌ ‌and‌ ‌Philippine‌‌
‌
comedies.‌ ‌Oh,‌ ‌the‌ ‌coffee‌ ‌spit‌ ‌takes.‌ ‌That’s‌ ‌funny!‌ ‌Oh,‌ ‌the‌‌
‌
name-calling.‌ ‌That’s‌ ‌so‌ ‌hilarious!‌ ‌Oh,‌ ‌the‌ ‌landline‌ ‌product‌‌
‌
placement.‌ ‌Nice!‌ ‌I‌ ‌know‌ ‌that!‌ ‌My‌ ‌family‌ ‌is‌ ‌so‌ ‌amused.‌ ‌But‌‌
‌
should‌‌that‌‌be‌‌enough‌‌for‌‌kids?‌‌Just‌‌juvenile‌‌humor?”‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
One‌ ‌classmate‌ ‌of‌ ‌her‌ ‌class,‌ ‌who‌ ‌was‌ ‌usually‌ ‌seen‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌‌
‌
jokester,‌ ‌shared,‌ ‌“But‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌funny.‌ ‌Vic‌ ‌Sotto‌ ‌is‌ ‌funny.‌ ‌The‌‌
‌
movie‌‌is‌‌funny.‌‌I‌‌like‌‌it.”‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
“But‌ ‌did‌ ‌it‌ ‌have‌ ‌value?”‌ ‌she‌ ‌asks‌ ‌back,‌ ‌though‌ ‌rhetorically,‌‌
‌
“Did‌‌it‌‌add‌‌value‌‌to‌‌your‌‌thinking?”‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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‌

Her‌ ‌words‌ ‌resonated‌ ‌with‌ ‌me‌ ‌to‌ ‌this‌ ‌day‌ ‌since‌ ‌it‌ ‌truly‌‌ ‌
reflects‌‌how‌‌Filipinos‌‌see‌‌comedy.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌a‌‌laugh‌‌factory‌‌where‌‌ ‌
the‌‌masses‌‌only‌‌give‌‌praises‌‌to‌‌how‌‌funny‌‌the‌‌humor‌‌is.‌ ‌ ‌
‌
a
‌ cclaim‌‌
The‌‌cherry‌‌on‌‌top‌‌is‌‌hearing‌‌the‌‌“a
‌ cclaim‌”‌‌of‌‌‌Enteng‌‌‌Kabisote‌‌
(noun):‌‌
2‌‌‌on‌‌TV‌‌advertisements.‌ ‌
enthusiastic‌‌
‌
approval‌‌and‌‌
“Great‌‌to‌‌watch‌‌all‌‌over‌‌again!”‌‌one‌‌viewer‌‌commented.‌ ‌
praise‌ ‌
‌
“Fun‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌whole‌ ‌family,”‌ ‌a‌ ‌mother‌ ‌expressed‌ ‌her‌‌
thoughts.‌ ‌
‌
Then,‌ ‌there‌ ‌was‌ ‌one‌ ‌eager‌ ‌fan‌‌exclaiming,‌‌“Bossing‌‌#1!‌‌#1!‌‌
#1!”‌ ‌
‌
And‌‌another‌‌fan‌‌shouted,‌‌“Again!‌‌Again!‌‌Again!”‌ ‌
‌
Again,‌ ‌no‌ ‌harm‌‌in‌‌liking‌‌that‌‌movie,‌‌but‌‌where‌‌is‌‌the‌‌value?‌‌
Comedies‌ ‌like‌ ‌Enteng‌ ‌Kabisote‌ ‌2‌ ‌remind‌ ‌us‌ ‌that‌ ‌Filipino‌‌
society‌‌is‌‌not‌‌ready‌‌to‌‌move‌‌on‌‌from‌‌comfort‌‌food‌‌humor‌‌to‌‌
more‌ ‌challenging‌ ‌humor,‌ ‌like‌ ‌satire.‌ ‌With‌ ‌more‌ ‌Filipino‌‌
comedy‌‌movies‌‌and‌‌TV‌‌coming‌‌and‌‌going,‌‌Philippine‌‌humor‌‌
feels‌‌safer‌‌and‌‌less‌‌hilarious.‌ ‌

‌
In‌‌this‌‌work,‌‌Alfar‌‌talks‌‌about‌‌the‌‌growth‌‌(or‌‌the‌‌lack‌‌thereof)‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌comedy‌‌through‌‌
a‌‌recollection‌‌of‌‌an‌‌incident‌‌in‌‌one‌‌of‌‌his‌‌classes.‌‌What‌‌point‌‌of‌‌view‌‌was‌‌used‌‌in‌‌writing‌‌the‌‌
text?‌‌How‌‌are‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌incorporated‌‌into‌‌it?‌‌What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌effect‌‌of‌‌using‌‌scenes‌‌
and‌‌dialogue‌‌on‌‌the‌‌message‌‌the‌‌author‌‌is‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌convey?‌ ‌
‌
‌

‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 9‌
‌
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
‌
‌

‌ riting‌‌Tip‌ ‌ ‌
W
Creating‌ ‌tension‌ ‌and‌ ‌anticipation‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌narratives‌ ‌keeps‌‌readers’‌‌
interest.‌ ‌Do‌ ‌this‌ ‌by‌ ‌gradually‌ ‌unfolding‌ ‌details‌ ‌through‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌
dialogues‌ ‌instead‌ ‌of‌ ‌immediately‌ ‌telling‌ ‌the‌ ‌whole‌ ‌picture.‌ ‌This‌‌
leaves‌‌room‌‌for‌‌readers‌‌to‌‌be‌‌curious‌‌and‌‌imaginative‌‌of‌‌what‌‌may‌‌
be‌‌happening‌‌in‌‌the‌‌text,‌‌consequently‌‌making‌‌them‌‌more‌‌engaged‌‌
with‌‌what‌‌they‌‌are‌‌reading.‌ ‌

‌
Importance‌‌of‌‌Scenes‌‌and‌‌Dialogues‌ ‌
The‌‌goal‌‌of‌‌a‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction‌‌writer‌‌is‌‌to‌‌tell‌‌‌real-life‌‌events‌‌in‌‌a‌‌way‌‌that‌‌will‌‌impact‌‌the‌‌
readers—to‌ ‌make‌ ‌them‌ ‌relate‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌text,‌ ‌reflect‌ ‌on‌ ‌it,‌ ‌and‌ ‌apply‌ ‌what‌ ‌they‌ ‌may‌ ‌have‌‌
learned‌‌in‌‌their‌‌own‌‌lives.‌‌A‌‌text‌‌that‌‌is‌‌simply‌‌a‌‌listing‌‌of‌‌facts‌‌will‌‌not‌‌achieve‌‌this‌‌goal,‌‌so‌‌it‌‌
is‌ ‌important‌ ‌to‌ ‌use‌ ‌literary‌ ‌devices‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌as‌‌
compelling‌‌as‌‌fiction.‌ ‌
‌
First,‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌make‌‌effective‌‌storytelling‌‌by‌‌making‌‌‌better‌‌characterizations‌.‌‌
Describing‌ ‌characters‌ ‌by‌ ‌just‌ ‌enumerating‌ ‌characteristics‌ ‌rarely‌ ‌leaves‌ ‌an‌ ‌impression‌ ‌on‌‌
readers.‌‌Instead‌‌of‌‌stating‌‌what‌‌their‌‌attributes‌‌are,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌more‌‌effective‌‌to‌‌show‌‌them‌‌using‌‌
scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues.‌ ‌We‌ ‌get‌ ‌to‌ ‌know‌ ‌characters‌ ‌better‌ ‌through‌ ‌their‌ ‌actions,‌ ‌how‌ ‌they‌‌
treat‌ ‌others,‌ ‌their‌ ‌mannerisms‌ ‌and‌ ‌routines,‌ ‌their‌ ‌way‌ ‌of‌ ‌speaking,‌ ‌and,‌ ‌of‌ ‌course,‌ ‌their‌‌
words.‌‌ ‌
‌
Scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌also‌‌‌set‌‌the‌‌mood‌‌and‌‌tone‌‌of‌‌a‌‌work‌.‌‌When‌‌writing‌‌a‌‌text‌‌about‌‌a‌‌
historical‌ ‌event,‌ ‌for‌ ‌example,‌ ‌simply‌ ‌stating‌ ‌what‌ ‌year‌ ‌and‌ ‌where‌ ‌it‌ ‌happened‌ ‌will‌‌not‌‌be‌‌
memorable‌ ‌for‌ ‌readers.‌ ‌Instead,‌ ‌giving‌ ‌specific‌ ‌details‌ ‌through‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌will‌‌
make‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters‌ ‌feel‌ ‌what‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌actually‌ ‌like‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌in‌ ‌that‌ ‌specific‌ ‌time‌ ‌and‌ ‌place‌ ‌in‌‌
history.‌‌Dialogues‌‌also‌‌set‌‌the‌‌mood‌‌and‌‌tone‌‌because‌‌they‌‌carry‌‌more‌‌emotions‌‌than‌‌just‌‌
simple‌ ‌narrations.‌ ‌When‌ ‌the‌ ‌mood‌ ‌and‌ ‌tone‌ ‌are‌ ‌established,‌ ‌readers‌ ‌become‌ ‌more‌‌
immersed‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌story‌ ‌and,‌ ‌consequently,‌ ‌be‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌empathize‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters‌ ‌and‌‌
draw‌‌more‌‌realizations‌‌and‌‌learnings‌‌from‌‌it.‌ ‌
‌
‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 10‌
‌
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
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‌
Lastly,‌ ‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌effectively‌‌move‌‌the‌‌narrative‌‌forward‌‌while‌‌leaving‌‌a‌‌‌chance‌‌
for‌‌readers‌‌to‌‌anticipate‌‌or‌‌predict‌‌what‌‌will‌‌happen‌‌next.‌‌Through‌‌dialogues‌‌and‌‌scenes,‌‌
the‌ ‌writer‌ ‌could‌ ‌control‌ ‌how‌‌the‌‌narrative‌‌unfolds,‌‌making‌‌it‌‌easier‌‌to‌‌establish‌‌cause‌‌and‌‌
effect‌‌and‌‌reveal‌‌consequences‌‌or‌‌even‌‌backstories.‌‌Scenes‌‌also‌‌make‌‌long‌‌narratives‌‌more‌‌
manageable‌ ‌for‌ ‌both‌ ‌the‌ ‌writer‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌reader.‌ ‌The‌ ‌entire‌ ‌story‌ ‌is‌ ‌divided‌‌into‌‌digestible‌‌
and‌‌varied‌‌units,‌‌preventing‌‌the‌‌text‌‌from‌‌being‌‌dull‌‌and‌‌boring.‌ ‌
‌
‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
How‌‌do‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌give‌‌life‌‌to‌‌nonfictional‌‌texts?‌‌ ‌
‌

______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
___________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
‌

‌Wrap-Up‌ ‌
___________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
● A‌ ‌scene‌ ‌refers‌‌to‌‌a‌‌continuous‌‌sequence‌‌of‌‌actions‌‌or‌‌a‌‌representation‌‌of‌‌a‌‌certain‌‌
event‌‌or‌‌incident‌‌happening‌‌in‌‌a‌‌particular‌‌time‌‌and‌‌place.‌ ‌
● Dialogue‌ ‌refers‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌conversation‌ ‌or‌ ‌exchange‌ ‌of‌ ‌spoken‌ ‌words‌ ‌between‌ ‌two‌ ‌or‌
more‌‌characters.‌ ‌
● Dialogues‌‌may‌‌be‌d
‌ irect‌‌‌or‌i‌ ndirect‌‌‌and‌a
‌ ctual‌‌‌or‌r‌ epresentative.‌ ‌
● Scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues‌‌in‌‌nonfictional‌‌texts‌‌are‌‌important‌‌because‌‌they‌‌help:‌ ‌
○ make‌‌characterizations‌‌better‌ ‌
○ set‌‌the‌‌mood‌‌and‌‌tone‌‌of‌‌the‌‌text‌ ‌
○ move‌‌the‌‌narrative‌‌forward‌ ‌
○ maintain‌‌readers’‌‌interest‌ ‌
___________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌

‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 11‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
‌
‌

Try‌‌This!‌ ‌
A. Identification.‌I‌dentify‌‌what‌‌is‌‌being‌‌described‌‌in‌‌each‌‌statement.‌ ‌
‌

______________________‌ ‌1. It‌‌is‌‌a‌‌type‌‌of‌‌dialogue‌‌wherein‌‌what‌‌is‌‌written‌‌in‌‌the‌‌text‌‌is‌‌not‌‌

exactly‌‌what‌‌has‌‌been‌‌said‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life.‌

______________________‌ ‌2. It‌‌is‌‌a‌‌way‌‌of‌‌writing‌‌dialogues‌‌wherein‌‌two‌‌or‌‌more‌‌people‌‌are‌‌

actually‌‌speaking‌‌in‌‌the‌‌text.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌3. It‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌type‌ ‌of‌ ‌dialogue‌ ‌wherein‌ ‌what‌ ‌is‌ ‌written‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌text‌ ‌is‌‌
verbatim‌‌or‌‌accurate‌‌to‌‌what‌‌has‌‌been‌‌said‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌4. It‌‌is‌‌the‌‌most‌‌common‌‌type‌‌of‌‌punctuation‌‌mark‌‌used‌‌to‌‌signal‌‌

dialogues.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌5. It‌‌is‌‌considered‌‌the‌‌building‌‌block‌‌of‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction.‌ ‌

‌
B. True‌‌or‌‌False‌.‌‌Write‌t‌ rue‌‌‌if‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌is‌‌correct‌‌and‌f‌ alse‌‌‌if‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌is‌‌wrong.‌ ‌
‌

______________________‌ ‌ 1. Direct‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌may‌‌only‌‌be‌‌used‌‌when‌‌writing‌‌from‌‌the‌‌first‌‌

person‌‌point‌‌of‌‌view.‌‌

______________________‌ ‌ 2. Scenes‌‌help‌‌readers‌‌visualize‌‌the‌‌setting‌‌of‌‌a‌‌text.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 3. All‌‌scenes‌‌involve‌‌actions‌‌and‌‌dialogues.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 4. Writers‌‌can‌‌signal‌‌dialogues‌‌effectively‌‌using‌‌dialogue‌‌tags.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 5. Representative‌ ‌dialogue‌‌may‌‌not‌‌be‌‌used‌‌in‌‌writing‌‌nonfiction‌‌

because‌‌it‌‌lacks‌‌accuracy.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 6. The‌ ‌subjects‌ ‌or‌ ‌people‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌text‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌better‌‌
characterized‌‌by‌‌using‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues.‌ ‌

‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 12‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
‌
‌

______________________‌ ‌ 7. A‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌author‌ ‌is‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌to‌ ‌write‌ ‌invented‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌to‌‌
make‌‌the‌‌work‌‌more‌‌interesting.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 8. A‌‌nonfiction‌‌text‌‌must‌‌be‌‌composed‌‌of‌‌only‌‌one‌‌scene‌‌to‌‌avoid‌‌
confusion‌‌among‌‌readers.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 9. Quotation‌‌marks‌‌are‌‌not‌‌used‌‌when‌‌using‌‌indirect‌‌dialogue.‌ ‌

______________________‌ ‌ 10. Writing‌ ‌scenes‌ ‌and‌ ‌dialogues‌ ‌in‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌requires‌ ‌thorough‌‌
research.‌ ‌

Practice‌‌Your‌‌Writing‌‌Skills‌ ‌
Think‌‌of‌‌three‌‌people‌‌who‌‌have‌‌greatly‌‌influenced‌‌you‌‌or‌‌made‌‌an‌‌impact‌‌on‌‌your‌‌life.‌‌Write‌‌
a‌ ‌paragraph‌ ‌to‌ ‌describe‌ ‌them‌‌and‌‌how‌‌they‌‌affected‌‌you‌‌using‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌dialogues.‌‌The‌‌
dialogue‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌from‌ ‌a‌ ‌conversation‌ ‌you‌ ‌had‌ ‌with‌ ‌them‌‌or‌‌a‌‌conversation‌‌they‌‌had‌‌with‌‌
other‌‌people.‌‌ ‌
‌
1. Person‌‌1:‌‌‌______________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 13‌
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
‌
‌
2. Person‌‌2:‌‌‌______________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌
3. Person‌‌3:‌‌‌______________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 14‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
‌
‌
Suggested‌‌Rubric‌‌for‌‌Grading‌ ‌
The‌ ‌rubric‌ ‌below‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌suggested‌ ‌one.‌ ‌Your‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌may‌ ‌modify‌ ‌the‌ ‌rubric‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌‌
needs.‌‌Consult‌‌your‌‌teacher‌‌for‌‌the‌‌final‌‌rubric.‌ ‌
‌
‌

Performance‌‌Levels‌ ‌

1‌ ‌ 2‌ ‌ 3‌ ‌ Suggested‌‌
Criteria‌ ‌ Score‌ ‌
Beginning‌‌ Proficient‌ ‌ Advanced‌‌ Weight‌ ‌
Proficiency‌ ‌ Proficiency‌ ‌

The‌‌student‌b
‌ arely‌‌
Use‌‌of‌‌Scenes‌‌
uses‌‌‌scenes‌‌and‌‌
and‌‌Dialogues‌ ‌
dialogues‌‌in‌‌the‌‌
paragraphs.‌ ‌
The‌‌student‌u
‌ ses‌‌ The‌‌student‌‌
‌
some‌s‌ cenes‌‌and‌‌ effectively‌‌uses‌‌
dialogues‌‌t‌ hat‌‌ scenes‌‌and‌‌
enhance‌t‌ he‌‌ dialogue‌s‌t‌ hat‌‌
×‌‌3‌ ‌
characterization‌‌‌of‌‌ enhance‌‌
chosen‌‌subjects‌‌in‌‌the‌‌ characterization‌‌
paragraphs.‌‌ ‌ and‌‌‌create‌‌impact‌‌
in‌‌the‌‌paragraphs.‌ ‌

The‌‌ideas‌‌in‌‌the‌‌ The‌‌ideas‌‌in‌‌the‌‌ The‌‌ideas‌‌in‌‌the‌‌

Content‌ ‌ ‌
paragraph‌b
‌ arely‌‌ paragraph‌s‌ omehow‌‌ paragraph‌r‌ elate‌‌
×‌‌2‌ ‌
relate‌‌‌to‌‌the‌‌given‌‌ relate‌‌‌to‌‌the‌‌given‌‌ well‌t‌ o‌‌the‌‌given‌‌
prompt.‌ ‌ prompt.‌ ‌ ‌ prompt.‌ ‌ ‌

The‌‌text‌‌contains‌fi
‌ ve‌‌
Mechanics‌ ‌
or‌‌more‌‌errors‌‌‌in‌‌
grammar,‌‌spelling,‌‌
punctuation,‌‌and‌‌
capitalization‌‌that‌‌
hinder‌‌the‌‌readers’‌‌
understanding‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
text.‌ ‌
The‌‌text‌c
‌ ontains‌‌ The‌‌text‌c
‌ ontains‌‌
‌
two‌‌to‌‌four‌‌errors‌‌‌in‌‌ one‌‌or‌‌no‌‌errors‌‌‌in‌‌
grammar,‌‌spelling,‌‌ grammar,‌‌spelling,‌‌
punctuation,‌‌and‌‌ punctuation,‌‌and‌‌
×‌‌1‌ ‌
capitalization.‌ ‌ capitalization.‌ ‌

Total‌‌Possible‌‌Score‌ ‌ 18‌ ‌ ‌

‌
Teacher’s‌‌Feedback‌ ‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 15‌
‌
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Unit‌‌3:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌II‌ ‌
‌
‌

Photo‌‌Credit‌ ‌
Group‌‌therapy‌‌illustration‌‌concept‌‌Free‌‌Vector‌‌b
‌ y‌p
‌ ikisuperstar‌‌‌is‌‌licensed‌‌under‌F
‌ reepik‌‌ ‌
License‌‌‌via‌F
‌ reepik‌.‌ ‌
‌

Bibliography‌ ‌
Bergman,‌‌Bennet.‌‌"Dialogue."‌‌LitCharts‌‌LLC,‌‌May‌ ‌5,‌‌2017.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌21,‌‌2021.‌‌
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/dialogue‌.‌ ‌
‌
‌
Gutkind,‌‌Lee.‌‌"Scenes:‌‌The‌‌Building‌‌Blocks‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Non-Fiction."‌‌In‌T‌ he‌‌Art‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌
Nonfiction:‌‌Writing‌‌and‌‌Selling‌‌the‌‌Literature‌‌of‌‌Reality‌.‌‌Chichester:‌‌Wiley,‌‌1997.‌‌
Accessed‌‌April‌‌21,‌‌2021.‌h ‌ ttps://web.stanford.edu/~jonahw/PWR2-F07/Gutkind.pdf‌.‌ ‌
‌
‌
Jaksch,‌‌Mary.‌‌"How‌‌To‌‌Use‌‌The‌‌Power‌‌Of‌‌Dialogue‌‌In‌‌Non-Fiction."‌‌WritetoDone‌‌(WTD).‌‌April‌‌
19,‌‌2019.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌21,‌‌2021.‌‌
https://writetodone.com/3-things-you-need-to-know-about-using-dialogue-in-non-fict‌
ion/‌.‌‌ ‌
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Jordan.‌‌"How‌‌to‌‌Write‌‌a‌‌Scene:‌‌Nailing‌‌Purpose‌‌and‌‌Structure."‌‌Now‌‌Novel.‌‌February‌‌25,‌‌
2021.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌21,‌‌2021.‌‌
https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-a-novel-scene/‌.‌ ‌
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Wagner-Stafford,‌‌Boni.‌‌"The‌‌Terrible‌‌&‌‌Terrific‌‌Truth‌‌About‌‌Using‌‌Dialogue‌‌in‌‌Nonfiction."‌‌
Ingenium‌‌Books.‌‌March‌‌23,‌‌2021.‌‌Accessed‌‌April‌‌21,‌‌2021.‌
https://ingeniumbooks.com/terrible-terrific-truth-dialogue-nonfiction/‌.‌‌ ‌
‌
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3.3.‌D
‌ ialogues‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ cenes‌ ‌ 16‌
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