Fix the Flat Lines

Students take on the role of a “Script Doctor,” revising bland movie dialogue to make it more expressive and authentic. Each original line contains a stated emotion, and learners must rewrite it so that the feeling is shown through subtext, pauses, tone, and natural speech patterns. This activity enhances understanding of character voice, emotional subtext, and dialogue craft, supporting both narrative writing and dramatic expression.

Curriculum Skills Explored

English Language Arts – Dialogue and Subtext Writing

English Language Arts – Emotional Expression in Narrative Form

English Language Arts – Writing with Tone and Word Choice

Drama and Performance – Interpreting Emotion through Dialogue

This worksheet is part of our Describing Emotions collection.