G. Hughes, Virgil MS 2B Unit 3 Writing Project Writing a character sketch that makes the person come alive!

What is descriptive writing ? Descriptive writing is writing that uses sensory details. It lets readers see, smell, hear, taste, and touch things in the story. They can imagine that they are standing right next to the characters.

Example: Ginger for the Heart His daughter’s name was Yenna, and her beauty was beyond compare. She had ivory skin sparkling eyes, and her hair hung long and silken, shining like polished ebony. All day long she and her mother sat by the tower window and sewed with silver needles and silken threads. She sang songs while they worked, and their voices rose in wondrous harmonies.

Yenna Character Map Look at the Character Map on page 204. Read each example of how descriptive words are used to talk about each of her traits.

Using Similes to Compare  When you describe a character, you tell what the character is like. Sometimes an author uses similes - comparisons using like or as – to help you understand the character.  “…her hair hung long and silken, shining like polished ebony.”

A Dream Come True Student Sample p. 205 As you read A Dream Come True, look for the following things: Words and phrases that describe the character Does it introduce the person in an interesting way? Does it use sensory details and colorful words? Does it include it have comparisons (similes)?

Unit 3 Writing Prompt Now you will write a character sketch – a description of someone. You can write about a real or an imaginary person. Make the person come alive with descriptive words and phrases!

Prewriting There will be two steps to prewrite for this project. First, you will complete a chart that helps you think of people you might like to write about. Then, you will pick one person to write about and complete a Character Map for that person.

Prewrite – Step 1 People I Know Today…. People I Remember… People I’d Like To Meet… Imaginary People…

Prewrite – Step 2 You will now complete a Character Map for the ONE person you want to write about. Think of three traits that you think the person has (caring, intelligent, hard working, determined, etc), then give as many examples as you can that show ways the person has that trait. HINT: You should pick someone to write about that you either know very well, or know a lot of facts about. It will be hard to write a good description if you don’t know the person.

Agenda Planner  Tonight you must complete both steps of the prewriting. The chart where you think of people to possibly write about AND the character sketch where you think of one person to write about and list some of their traits and examples of each trait.

Unit 3 Writing Project Rubric The character sketch should: Tell about one person Tell about one person Talk about one of their traits Talk about one of their traits Give three examples of how they demonstrate this trait Give three examples of how they demonstrate this trait You use descriptive words and sensory details to describe the examples (also similes) You use descriptive words and sensory details to describe the examples (also similes) Be written in third person point of view Be written in third person point of view

How To Write Your First Draft Pick one trait that you want to write about from your Character Map. Your character sketch will tell about this person and the trait by describing their behavior during the examples.

The Five Paragraphs Paragraph one: Introduce the person you are writing about, and tell the trait you will describe. Paragraph two, three, and four: Each of these paragraphs should use colorful sensory words to tell each example. Paragraph five: Write a conclusion summarizing what you have said, and talking about how the trait affects the who the person is.

Peer Evaluation Sheet  Does the character sketch talk about one person ?  Can you tell in the first paragraph which character traits the person is going to talk about?  Does the first sentence of paragraph 2, 3, 4 let you know which trait that paragraph will be about?  Do paragraphs two, three, and four talk clearly about examples of the person’s trait?  Do paragraph two, three, and four use sensory words and similes to describe the example?  What else could make this character sketch better?  _____________________________ (Evaluator’s Name)

Peer Evaluation Sheet After copying the Peer Evaluation Sheet, you need to: Trade your first draft and the Evaluation Sheet with your partner. First, read your partner’s entire paper. Then, read it again and make corrections. (spelling, punctuation, missing words, etc.) Finally, answer the questions on the Peer Evaluation Sheet. *Remember, it is your responsibility to help improve your partner’s paper*