Character Analysis Essay Basics 1.Review character analysis 2.Begin our next summative assessment—a character analysis essay. Yay, essays!

Review: Character Analysis Steps to character analysis: 1. Choose a character. 2. Make a fact-based opinion statement about your character. Your opinion which you can back up with facts! 3. Support with textual evidence. Quotes from the text/examples/significance & comments

Review: Little Red Riding Hood Steps to character analysis: 1. Choose a character. Little Red Riding Hood 2. Make a statement about your character. Little Red Riding Hood is the third in three generations of fools. What makes a good statement? Good statement = a fact- based opinion

Do these statements work? Little Red Riding Hood wears red a lot. Nope: the text states that “Whenever she went out, the little girl wore a red riding cloak.” Problem: don’t use generic terms like “a lot”; what is the significance? Grandmother is shaken by her interaction with the wolf. You can’t write an entire essay. *Remember: our ultimate goal is to write a character analysis essay

Character Analysis Overview: Graphic Organizer Each shape represents one paragraph are the introduction and conclusion are the body paragraphs (3 minimum) Introduction Conclusion Body paragraphs

Introduction An introduction paragraph for a literary analysis should include 1-2 Hook—catch your reader’s attention (more than one sentence) 3 Author and “Story Title” 4 Brief objective summary— focusing on your chosen character 5 Thesis statement (last sentence) Begins broad Ends with (narrow) thesis statement Note it!

Thesis Statement A thesis statement. informs your reader what your literary analysis is going to be about. is the last sentence of the introduction paragraph. is an analysis or opinion that you (the writer) are going to support or prove. How does your character develop from the beginning to the end of the story? How does your character interact with other characters? How does your character advance the plot or develop theme?

Thesis Statement Examples Example thesis statements 1. Little Red Riding Hood is reckless. 2. It takes a village to raise Little Red Riding Hood. 3. Little Red Riding Hood is the third of three generations of fools. 4. Little Red Riding Hood shares many characteristics with Gretel. Where does a thesis statement belong in your literary analysis? Thesis Your thesis is an opinion about the personality or purpose of the character within the story.

What’s next? Once you have a thesis statement, the remainder of your character analysis is going to be focused on supporting your thesis statement.

Sample Introductory Paragraph “Little Red Riding Hood” is a fairytale based on fools. Without foolish mistakes, the story would have been very different. “Little Red Riding Hood” was written by the brothers Grimm in the early 1900s. The story tells of a mother who puts her daughter in danger; a daughter who is careless; and a grandmother who is naïve. “Little Red Riding Hood” is the third in a story of three generations of fools.

Topic Sentences Each of your body paragraphs must support your thesis statement and begin with a topic sentence. A topic sentence supports the thesis and includes the main point of the paragraph.

Thesis Statement Little Red Riding Hood is the third of three generations of fools. Topic Sentences 1. Little Red Riding Hood’s mother is foolish to let her go alone into a dangerous place. 2. Little Red Riding Hood makes several careless decisions on her way to Grandma’s. 3. It is easy to see that this generational trait probably began with Grandma. Thesis and Topic Sentences: Examples

Body Paragraphs Using Textual Evidence to Prove It

Supporting Evidence: In order to support your thesis statement and topic sentences, you will use textual evidence or “quotes” from your text. 1. A “quote” can be any written words from the text. 2. A “quote” does not have to be a character speaking (dialogue). 3. A “quote” should support your topic sentence.

“Quotes” When directly “quoting” the text, you must Use “quotation marks” to signify words that are not your own. Include the page number (in parentheses) of where you found the quote: The page number is part of the sentence; therefore, the period is after the parentheses. Example: Her mother sends Little Red Riding Hood off with a cautionary “Don’t talk to strangers” (1). BUT, if you summarize, don’t use quotation marks, just include the page number Example: Little Red Riding Hood asks questions to clarify that the wolf is indeed not her grandmother (3). Note it!

Plopping Quotes No plopping! A “quote” should not just be plopped into a paragraph. A “quote” should be combined with two pieces of background information to form a complete sentence: Who When Quote + who + when = complete quote sentence Note it!

Quotes A quote should fit naturally into your writing and support the topic sentence. Topic Sentence #1: Little RRH ignores warnings about stranger danger. Quote to support: "Don't dawdle along the way and please don't talk to strangers!” (1).

Conclusion A conclusion should include Thesis statement—restated* A connection to the hook—restated* *Restated means to state again using different words A conclusion should not include Any new information Any repeated, word-for-word, sentences Note it!

Organization—Just Do It I.Introduction A.Hook B.Author and Title C.Brief Summary D.Thesis II.Body A.Topic Sentence 1.Commentary 2.Textual Support B.Topic Sentence 1.Commentary 2.Textual Support C.Topic Sentence 1.Commentary 2.Textual Support III.Conclusion A.Restatement of thesis B.Tie back to the hook Introduction Conclusion Body Paragraphs Topic Sentence Commentary Support Topic Sentence Commentary Support Topic Sentence Commentary Support Hook Author/Title Summ. Thesis Restate Thesis Connect to Hook

Title When you give your essay a title, remember There is no punctuation/font funkiness It should be interesting and convey meaning Character Analysis and Barber are bad titles And now, a quiz... Number your paper and do not talk Note it!

Tasks for Today 1. Pay close attention to your MLA formatting Including internal citations (page numbers) Instructions are in my outbox We’ll begin together 2. Type your Character Analysis Save often 3. Once it is typed, reread it to make sure You’ve included all of the parts You’ve developed it You’ve said what you meant to say 4. Next time Editing Finalizing

To change margins: Go to “File” then “Page Setup” and change all margins (top, bottom, right, and left) to 1” then click okay. To change spacing: Go to “Format” then “Paragraph” and change “Line spacing” to “Double.” To insert right-side header: Go to “View” then “Header and Footer” and click the “Align Right” button. Type your last name and press the space bar ONCE. Press “Insert Page Number” to automatically number the pages. Press “Close.” To insert left-side heading: Begin typing: your name (enter), your teacher’s name (enter), the class and period (enter), and the date (enter). You should only have to press enter once to get it to double-space. After you type the date, press enter once then press the “Center” button to center the title: Type your title and press enter once. Press the “Align Left” button. You may now begin typing your essay. Be sure to use the “Tab” key to indent each new paragraph.

Final Editing and Turn In! Edit and Scoring Sheet Carefully edit and complete the student side Rubrics are on the back Print once Reread your final copy If you find errors, mark them on your printed copy Show me to get a check off to print again Staple the assessment sheet to the back of your essay. Make sure you’ve assigned yourself scores Turn it in before you go! Next Time: Back to the classroom