An assignment to write a dialogue differs little from that of writing a traditional essay. Writing a dialogue requires students to combine traditional academic requirements--such as information literacy, writing competency, and critical thinking--with a healthy dose of imagination, creativity, and individuality. In practice, assignments to write dialogues can fit into informal, in-class writing assignments or out-of-class assignments such as a traditional documented essay or research paper. More specifically, assigning dialogues can substitute for the often-dreaded research paper. Survey courses in multiple academic disciplines can incorporate dialogue assignments to the delight of both students and professors. In this essay, the author argues that assigning dialogues in survey courses is a viable alternative to traditional research-based essays.