Characterization

August 2016 Please have out the following materials: Interactive notebook Pencil, Highlighter *Update Table of Contents: Characterization In your notebook: 1. Copy the Tree Map 2. Classify the following words: disciplinedconfused tallfreckle-faced prettyrelieved generousfriendly sad Characterization traitsfeelings physical characteristics

Objective Through the study of complex plot elements, the student will be able to explain characterization and demonstrate understanding by creating a visual representation of the types of characterization by completing a STEAL graphic organizer.

Picture this! It’s your first day in school. You are nervous enough as it is when a big kid comes down the hall and slams you with his backpack. “Get out of the way,” the kid screams as if it was your fault. You’re in a hurry to get to class, so you let this slide. After lunch, you are at your locker when the guy from the hallway is headed your way again. “Great,” you think only to realize he is coming to the locker beside you. “What is your problem?” he demands looking at you. You want to tell him to mind his own business or maybe offer him a hug, but before you can get a word out, he slams his locker door open and right into your shoulder. “This is my hall and my school!” he screams. “As soon as you realize where you are and what you’re doing you might make it to the end of the day in one piece. Otherwise, you don’t want to be running in to me again!” Do you like this guy? Why or why not?

Characterization Characterization is the way in which an author reveals the personality and/or traits of a character. We characterize people all the time. Think about a person you would never trust. Why do you not trust him or her?

Characterization There are two ways an author can develop character: ◦ Direct characterization ◦ Indirect characterization

Direct Characterization The writer makes direct statements about a character's personality and tells what the character is like. Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.” Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”

Indirect Characterization The writer reveals information about a character and his personality through: ◦ The character's words ◦ The character’s thoughts ◦ The character’s actions ◦ The character’s appearance, and ◦ How other characters respond to them: what they say or think about them

Characterization Acronym S- speech T- thoughts E- effects on others A- actions L – looks (appearance)

Direct or Indirect? A. John was a kind man who cared a lot for the well-being of others. For example, there was an elderly couple living alone near his house. John used to buy weekly groceries for them and would even check on them everyday just to see how they were doing.

Direct or Indirect? B. An elderly couple living near John's house considered him to be like their own son. On a regular basis, John would shop for them, bring them groceries, and stop by to say hello.

Inferring Character Traits Descriptive SentenceInferred Character Traits Method of Characterization 1. “I hate the idea of having all those people out there watching me,” whispered Violet. Shy-words -thought and feelings

Guided Practice 1. Read each descriptive sentence. 2. Decide on one character trait word that the description reveals about the character. 3. Write the method of characterization being used: words, actions, thoughts/feelings, appearance, comments by other characters, etc.

Ticket Out the Door What are the two primary ways that an author can develop a character? What does STEAL stand for?

“Raymond’s Run” SpeechThoughtsEffectsActionsLooks Squeaky Text Evidence: Pages Text Evidence: Page Text Evidence: Page Text Evidence: Page Text Evidence: Page Inference: Inference: Inference: Inference: Inference:

SpeechThoughtsEffectsActionsLooks John Wilson Text Evidence: Pages 50 “The man came up to Zebra and said in a low, friendly, shy voice, ‘Hello.’” Page 50 “The man asked with a distinct Southern accent, “What’s your name, son?” Text Evidence: Page 59 “The following morning he brought the helicopter to class…But John Wilson didn’t laugh. He held the helicopter in his hand a long moment, turning it this way and that, nodded at Zebra, and placed it on the windowsill, where it shimmered in the sunlight.” Text Evidence: Page 50 “Zebra thought maybe he shouldn’t be talking to him at all. He seemed vaguely menacing in that army jacket….yet there was a kindness in his gray eyes and ruddy features.” Page 59 “Later that day, Zebra sat at his desk at home working on a drawing…He signed it: ‘To John Wilson, with thanks. Zebra.’” Text Evidence: Page 52 “He put the pen back into his pocket and tore the top page from the pad. He rolled up the page and pushed it through the fence….Zebra unrolled the sheet of paper and saw a line drawing, a perfect image of his face.” Text Evidence: Page 49 “He was tall and wiry, and looked to be about 40 years old…he wore a khaki army jacket, a blue denim shirt, blue jeans, and brown cowboy boots. His gaunt face and muscular neck were reddened by the sun exposure.” Inference: Inference: Inference: Inference: Inference: