Understanding Ellipses in Dialogue

The video tutorial explains the use of ellipses in writing, particularly in dialogue, to indicate pauses or missing text. It covers the rules for using ellipses, such as spacing between periods, and provides examples to illustrate their correct usage. The tutorial includes practical exercises where students analyze dialogue to determine where ellipses should be placed to reflect pauses in speech. The lesson concludes with a review and encourages students to apply what they've learned to enhance the authenticity of their writing.

What is the primary purpose of using ellipses in dialogue?

• To indicate a pause or missing text

• To emphasize a word

• To show excitement

• To indicate a question

How many periods are used to form an ellipsis?

• Two

• Three

• Four

• Five

What is the correct way to space an ellipsis according to most experts?

• No spaces between periods

• Spaces between each period and before and after the ellipsis

• Spaces only before the ellipsis

• Spaces only after the ellipsis

Why is it important to check how ellipses appear on your computer?

• Because computers might delete them

• Because some programs automatically add spaces

• Because they might appear as commas

• Because computers might change the font

In the example given, where does the speaker Leah pause?

• After 'I wonder'

• Before 'there are'

• Before 'how many stars'

• After 'in the galaxy'

What mood is indicated by the words 'fear', 'midnight', and 'nervousness'?

• Bored

• Excited

• Afraid

• Joyful

Where should an ellipsis be placed in the sentence: 'Do you think that was an animal?'

• After 'was'

• After 'think'

• After 'animal'

• After 'Do you'

What words were circled to indicate the speaker's mood in the last paragraph?

• Calm, peaceful, serene

• Loud, noisy, chaotic

• Dim, horrible, miserably

• Bright, cheerful, happy

What is the main goal of adding ellipses to dialogue?

• To make the text longer

• To confuse the reader

• To make the dialogue sound more authentic

• To remove unnecessary words

What should students do after revising their dialogue with ellipses?

• Submit it immediately

• Re-read and ensure ellipses indicate pauses

• Erase all ellipses

• Add more words to the dialogue