1. STEAL Characterization
Analyze (break down) how an author creates a character in a narrative or story.

2. NOTES: Reading Strategies
Characterization is the way a writer reveals a character.
To create a “round” character, authors must develop a character in several ways.
Direct characterization tells
Indirect characterization shows
There are five different ways a character is revealed. Together, they spell the acronym STEAL:
Speech
Thoughts and Emotions
Effect on Others
Actions
Looks

3. STEAL Characterization
Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts/Emotions: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts? How does the character feel about things?
Effect on Others: How does the character cause others to react?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

4. SPEECH
THOUGHTS/
EMOTIONS
EFFECTS ON OTHERS
ACTIONS
LOOKS
Character:
SPEECH
THOUGHTS/
EMOTIONS
EFFECTS ON OTHERS
ACTIONS
LOOKS
Character:

5. STEAL Strategy Think about the narrator, teenager Rick Bragg
Complete the graphic organizer using the parts of the text you identified as STEAL.
For the inside wheel, identify quotes/examples that will support that part of STEAL.
For the outside wheel, explain how each quote reveals that part of Rick’s character.