Teaching article

Narration describes the event; character speech happens inside it

Separate describing events from speaking within the scene.

Put the two kinds of line beside the same fictional action. Mark their roles with a key that does not depend on colour alone, allowing one reader or several participants to choose how the script is shared.

To hand: A short original script.

Use a script key that remains clear without colour alone. The distinction concerns narrative function, and participants may choose how many parts to read.

Ask who is speaking and what the line does

  1. Mark narrator lines.
  2. Mark character lines.
  3. Compare their functions.

'The door opened' narrates; 'Who is there?' belongs to a character.

Who is speaking here? Use colour plus text labels.

One person may choose several roles.

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