1. Session 4-Giving Characters Struggles and Motivations that Mirror Real Life
Before we begin our lesson for today, pull out your T- Chart from yesterday.
Draw a line underneath your main characters characteristics (Internal and External).
Begin the process again with any minor characters you will have in your story. Give them a name and their own traits!

2. Today’s Teaching Point:
Good characters in fiction have real life struggles that they need to deal with. They also have things that motivate them to overcome their struggles. This is something we must put in our writing!

3. Identifying Characters Motivations and Obstacles
Soul Surfer
Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Gump
In your writers notebook, jot down their struggles and motivations for each video. Label with the movie title.

4. Explore Your Character’s Motivations and Obstacles
What Esmeralda Wants (Motivations):
Lots of friends
No enemies
To be invited to lunch tables
To make sure no one feels left out and to be friendly to everyone
To have a boyfriend
What gets in the way of Esmeralda (Obstacles):
Her shyness
Her lack of self-esteem
Her nerdy appearance
Her friends who are just like her
Former best friend befriends the school bully and picks on her
Your Turn! In your writers notebook (date your entry)…explain what your character wants and what gets in their way.

5. With a partner…
Discuss your main character and any important minor character(s)!
Begin with a specific compliment.
Then move onto one specific suggestion or tip.
Question one another!
Make necessary changes to your character!

6. For the rest of class today…
Finish developing your main character Use the T-Chart to the right to help you.
Develop any minor characters that will be a part of your story! Use T-Chart to the right to help you.
Use the T-Chart from today to finish giving your main character motivations and obstacles.
Do your minor characters need motivations and obstacles? If so, fill out the T-Chart for them!
Today is the last in-class day to develop your characters!
When you are finished, study your spelling words or SSR!