1. Characterization and Plot

2. Advanced Organizer
Think about a favorite character from a book, movie, or television show.
In your spiral-title the next blank page “Characterization”.
Answer the following questions about the character you have chosen.
How can you describe the character’s appearance?
What kind of personality does the character have?
What types of things does the character like? Dislike?

3. Face Partner Share Turn to face your face partner.
Share your list with your face partner.
Once your face partner shares, think of two additional questions to ask about their character?
Example: How does your character handle conflicts?

4. Character Motivation
Character Motivation, or reason for doing something, can be driven by need, by a feeling, or by a desire.
Three questions to help identify a character’s motivation:
What do characters want?
What do the characters need?
What do the characters do to get what they want or need?

5. Bunnicula
I shall never forget the first time I laid these now tired old eyes on our visitor. I had been left home by the family with the admonition to take care of the house until they returned. That’s something they always say to me when they go out: “Take care of the house, Harold. You’re the watchdog.” I think it’s their way of making up for not taking me with them. As if I wanted to go anyway. You can’t lie down at the movies and still see the screen. And People think you’re being impolite if you fall asleep and start to snore, or scratch yourself in public. No thank you, I’d rather be stretched out on my favorite rug in front of a nice, whistling radiator.

6. Direct and Indirect Characterization
An author makes straightforward statements about a character.
Example: Freddy was very competitive.
Indirect Characterization
An author presents a character’s thoughts, words, and actions and reveals what others think and say about the character

7. Harold Harold Expected to be a watchdog Likes to lie down
Likes to sleep in front of the radiator
Snores when he sleeps
Scratches himself
Likes to stretch out on his favorite rug

8. Sparky
…one thing was important to Sparky-drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the editor of the yearbook. The cartoons were turned down. Despite this particular rejection, Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist. After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky drew the proposed cartoon. He spend a great deal of time on it and on all the other drawings he submitted.
Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected once again. Another loss for the loser.
So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood self-a little boy loser and chronic underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had such lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again, was Charles Schultz. He created the “Peanuts” comic strip and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in kicking a football, Charlie brown.