Character Analysis Essay: Everyday Use

Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Objective: Students will be able to write informative texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Vocabulary: MLA Format, Hook, Introduction Purpose: To express ideas articulately in written form

Essay Prompt Select a character from “Everyday Use” and identify a character trait that the character displays. Analyze how the author uses indirect characterization to develop this trait.

Prompt Breakdown Select a character: Mama, Maggie, or Dee Identify a character trait that your chosen character possess Find quotes from the text that illustrate your chosen character trait within the character. Determine which types of indirect characterization the author uses to illustrate this character trait.

Quotes Chart Type of Indirect Characterization Quote Explanation of Quote (context + significance) Page # Effects on others “We sat down to eat and right away he said he didn’t eat collards and pork was unclean.” After Mama and Maggie carefully prepare a meal for their guests, Hakim-a-barber refuses the food offered. * This indicates he feels his doctrines are superior to those of Mama and Maggie’s. 24

What is a thesis statement? In an essay, a thesis statement is an expression, in one sentence of the main idea or purpose of the piece of writing. EXAMPLE: In the short story Everyday Use, Alice Walker portrays the character of Hakim-a-barber through his speech, actions and effects on others to embody the role of a condescending outsider.

Thesis Creation On the provided 3x5 card, write down a working thesis statement for your essay.

Developing the Introduction Effective INTRODUCTIONS include a HOOK, BACKGROUND INFORMATION, and a THESIS. So, what’s a HOOK? A HOOK is the first full sentence a reader reads and its purpose is to capture the reader’s ATTENTION.

Different Types of Hooks: Startling statement Astounding statistic Pertinent Quote (author, politician, authority) A meaningful quote from the text. from another piece of literature, a movie or a song as long as it relates to your thesis. A universal idea that relates to the thesis. This is often a cliché like “True love conquers all.” An analogy or a metaphor. “Just as contained water will always find an outlet, so too will a grounded teenager.” Anecdote (personal story) Open-ended and Targeted Question

Introduction Paragraph Thesis statement: The controlling idea of your essay. What are proving? SAMPLE THESIS: In the short story Everyday Use, Alice Walker portrays the character of Hakim-a- barber through his speech, actions and effects on others to embody the role of a condescending outsider.

Sample Introduction Paragraph (Hook, Introducing the work of literature, Thesis statement) In our society, many people chose to belittle the values and beliefs of those whose ideas and lifestyles differ from their own. They view people who do not share their doctrine as wrong instead of different. In the short story “Everyday Use”, Alice Walker portrays the character of Hakim-a-barber through his speech, actions and effects on others to embody the role of a condescending outsider. Although the turbulent period of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement serves as the backdrop for “Everyday Use”, the story is set at a family’s home in rural Georgia. Mama and her daughter Maggie are confronted with unfamiliar ideas about society and heritage by Mama’s other daughter, Dee. Dee is an educated African-American woman who is coming home to visit her family after a long absence. She brings her new husband, Hakim-a-barber, with her. He seems to view the women with a mixture of amusement and pity.

Building the Body Paragraphs The BODY is where you, the writer, get to layout your evidence and explain it in relation to your topic (character trait). Still, this evidence needs to be presented in a coherent package. This means you must sandwich your evidence and explanation between a topic sentence and a concluding sentence.

GO BACK to the Quotes Chart Type of Indirect Characterization Quote Explanation of Quote (context + significance) Page # Effects on others “We sat down to eat and right away he said he didn’t eat collards and pork was unclean.” After Mama and Maggie carefully prepare a meal for their guests, Hakim-a-barber refuses the food offered. * This indicates he feels his doctrines are superior to those of Mama and Maggie’s. 24

Tips for Adding Context & Significance Tips for Adding Context & Significance * Use the explanation column on your quote sheet to develop the sentences surrounding your quote. Context (use a dependent clause) Significance (use a transition that marks importance) As…,… After…, … Before…,… While…,… When…,… This indicates... This suggests… This implies… This proves… This is evidence of…

Structure of a Body Paragraph (5 sentences) Topic Sentence (1) = Character + character trait + Method of indirect characterization Hakim-a-barber is too caught up in himself to realize the effect he has on others.

Structure of a Body Paragraph (continued) Body Sentences (2-3-4): Context: After Mama and Maggie carefully prepare a meal for their guests, Hakim-a-barber refuses the food offered. Embedded Quote: (She asserts,…; She says,…; She demands,…; She suggests,…) Mama reveals, “We sat down to eat and right away he said he didn’t eat collards and pork was unclean”(24). Significance: This indicates he assumes his doctrines are superior to those of Mama and Maggie’s

Structure of a Body Paragraph (continued) Conclusion Sentence (5): Restate Trait & Method of Indirect Characterization It is through his unintentional insult to the ladies of the house that Walker portrays Hakim-a-barber as a somewhat arrogant young man, seeing the ways of Mama and Maggie as antiquated and unenlightened.

Things good writer’s DO NOT DO in formal writing (p Things good writer’s DO NOT DO in formal writing (p.7 in writing guide) DO NOT… USE 1st or 2nd PERSON (I, we, me, you, yours…); INSTEAD use people, one, the reader, etc. Repeat (vary word choice and sentence structures to help avoid this) NARRATE your essay (“I will now use two examples…” OR “I have now shown…” OR “This quote shows that…”) SUMMARIZE

Conclusion Paragraph STRUCTURE: This is where you get to make your point very clear and leave the reader with a final, lasting thought about why your topic is important. STRUCTURE: Restate the thesis (in different terms) Touch upon the events you mentioned in each body paragraph “So what?” statement: What’s the lesson readers should learn from this character?

Sample Conclusion Hakim-a-barber’s pompous comments, behaviors, and effects on Mama and Maggie reveal that he holds himself in high esteem. From his greeting of the family through his dismissive remarks during the dinner, it becomes clear that he thinks the culture and ways of rural Georgia are beneath him. Perhaps when one is outside his normal environment, one should maintain an open mind rather than judge harshly.