1. Character Analysis Paper
Paper Format

2. First Paragraph
Include an attention grabber, lead-in sentence and thesis statement
Introduce the novel and author in your thesis statement

3. Attention Grabber (first sentence)
Ask a question
Have you ever done something you regret?
“Paint a Picture”
It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when everything changed forever.
Startling Statement
X amount of people are killed in bicycle accidents each year.

4. Lead-in
This sentence will connect your attention-grabber to your thesis statement
Let’s see how we can build on each of the attention grabbers we have already written.

5. Example Lead-in Sentences
Have you ever done something you regret? Well, four teenagers did last summer.
It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when everything changed forever. The nightmare will never end for four teenagers.
X amount of people are killed in bicycle accidents each year. This is just one interesting fact four teenagers were unaware of on a dark night.

6. Thesis Statement
The Thesis Statement is one sentence that states the main idea of your essay. It tells what the essay will be about. Following are some examples.
Thesis Statement Format:
Subject+Appositive+action verb+prepositional phrase
Subject: Julie James
Appositive: main character in…
Action verb: experiences many changes
Prepositional phrase: from the secret she carried…

7. Thesis Statement
Have you ever done something you regret? Well, four teenagers did last summer. Julie James, a main character in I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, experiences many changes from the secret she carried about the bike accident.
It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when everything changed forever. This night is all four teenagers can think of. Julie James, a main character in I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, experiences many changes from the secret she carried about the bike accident.
X amount of people are killed in bicycle accidents each year. This is just one interesting fact four teenagers were unaware of on a dark night. Julie James, a main character in I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, experiences many changes from the secret she carried about the bike accident.

8. Second Paragraph
Identify the character that is the subject of your paper by name
Give general information such as physical descriptions, personality traits, and any other background information you think is important, such as academic skills, athletic ability, family background, jobs, etc.

9. Third Paragraph Briefly summarize the facts of the accident
Tell how your character responded to and dealt with the accident at the time it occurred
What was your character’s motivation for reacting in the way he/she did? Did the accident seem to affect your character during the first year after it happened, before Julie received the note? If so, how? Use specific details from the story.

10. Fourth Paragraph
Tell how your character reacts to the various signs that someone knows about the accident and is out for revenge
including the note sent to Julie, the magazine picture on Helen’s door, the newspaper clipping sent to Ray, and finally Barry’s shooting.
Why do you think your character reacts the way he/she does? How does his/her reaction reflect your character’s values?
How does your character’s reaction compare to that of the other characters?

11. Conclusion Paragraph (5th)
This should be a conclusion to your paper
Did your character seem to change due to the events of the story? If so, how? (be specific)
Was your character believable? Why or why not?
Would you like to know this character? Why or why not?

12. Conclusion Paragraph (5th)
Start with a concluding statement
Examples include:
In conclusion,
As you can see,
To close,
All in all,
In summary
Overall,
To sum up,

13. Conclusion Paragraph (5th)
Add a statement
In conclusion, Julie learned…
As you can see, Ray changed from being…to being….
In summary, Barry realized….
Overall, Helen’s character was believable because…
Restate your thesis

14. Conclusion Paragraph (5th)
Original Thesis: A secret about a bicycle accident brought many changes to the life of Julie James.
Re-written for conclusion: Julie James changed throughout the novel due to the guilt she was carrying about the bike accident.

15. Conclusion Paragraph (5th)
Example:
In conclusion, Julie learned an important lesson. She realized that it is okay to follow your instincts and to stand up for what you believe in. Julie James changed throughout the novel due to the guilt she was carrying about the bike accident.