Dialogue Detour

Worksheet Description

This worksheet invites students to craft a scenario in vernacular speech, involving two characters: a girl and a policeman. The situation involves the girl walking down the street, only to be stopped by the policeman who informs her that the sidewalk is closed ahead, requiring a detour. Students must write the scene three times, each time with the dialogue reflecting how they believe each character would speak based on their background and position. This exercise challenges students to think creatively about how people from different walks of life express themselves in conversation.

The objective of this worksheet is to cultivate students’ abilities to write in vernacular, reflecting real-life speech patterns and regional dialects. It teaches them to consider the aspects of a person’s identity, such as their job, age, or cultural background, that influence how they communicate. Students learn to create authentic dialogue that provides insight into the characters’ personalities and social dynamics. The task enhances students’ understanding of sociolinguistic diversity and their capacity to apply it effectively in writing.