1. Characterization & Inference

2. Characterization How the author creates characters through actions, dialogue, and movement.

3. Characterization There are two types of characterization Direct Indirect

4. Direct Characterization The method of character development in which the author simply tells you what the character is like. For example, “Miss Alice was the nicest person you would ever want to meet,” is direct characterization.

5. Indirect Characterization The method of characterization that is most similar to the way we learn about people in real life. Using indirect characterization, the author presents the character’s personality through what he/she says, his/her actions, or how other characters relate to him/her. You must then draw your own conclusions about the character.

6. Example of Direct or Indirect Characterization? Read the following example of characterization. Decide whether it is an example of direct or indirect characterization. (A) James was one of those people who was constantly angry. He looked for trouble wherever he went, and he usually found it.

7. Example of Direct or Indirect Characterization? (B)Stanley’s eyes blazed as he surveyed the room. The corners of his mouth pointed in a decidedly southerly direction. Carol moved aside as he stalked past her. “Look out for Stan,” she whispered to Bart. “He’s in another one of his moods. I’d stay far away if I were you!”

8. Description A is an example of direct characterization. The author comes right out and tells you that James was always angry, and that he was looking for a fight almost constantly.

9. Description B is an example of indirect characterization. We can tell from his angry eyes, frowning mouth and the way he walked that he is angry. We can also see that others are somewhat frightened by him by observing their reactions. Carol moves aside and warns Bart to avoid Stanley.

10. Write! Open your journal, title it “Characterization” and answer the following question in a complete sentence: Which method is more effective in developing the character? Why do you think so?

11. Methods of Characterization creating believable characters… INDIRECTDIRECT -physical appearance-the narrator’s direct comments about a character -speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character -speech, thought, feelings, actions of other characters

12. Types of Characters The protagonist (or main character) is the central figure in the work. The antagonist is the character or force pitted against the protagonist.

13. More types of characters… A static character does not change through the course of the action. A dynamic character is one who does change.

14. Round Character A round character is a complex, fully developed character.

15. Flat Character A flat character is a one- dimensional character, typically not central to the story

16. The protagonist is usually… The central character A character the reader can identify with Has a rounded personality (we hear what they say, what others say about them, we know what they think and how they feel) A character with a dynamic personality

17. Secondary characters are usually… Static Flat

18. Character Motivation A motive is a reason that explains or partially explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech. If the motives of a main character are not clear, then the character will not be believable. Characters are often motivated by needs, such as food and shelter. They are also motivated by feelings, such as fear, love, and pride. Motives may be obvious or hidden.

19. Character’s Qualities or Traits The personal traits that make up the character’s personality.

20. Making Inferences

21. Inference Take what you know and make a guess! Draw personal meaning from text (words) or pictures. You use clues to come to your own conclusion. Take what you know and make a guess! Draw personal meaning from text (words) or pictures. You use clues to come to your own conclusion.

22. Inferences Predicting is related to inferring. Readers predict outcomes, events or actions that are confirmed or contradicted by the end of the story. Inferences are often more open-ended and may remain unresolved when the story draws to a close. Readers may need to reread a passage to check for misunderstanding or for clues that were missed during the first reading. Explicitly teaching and reinforcing the skill of making inferences positively impacts readers. Successful inferring leads to better overall comprehension. Successful inferring leads to more engagement with text. Successful inferring make sophisticated readers. Successful inferring helps students be metacognitive (think about their own thinking). Predicting is related to inferring. Readers predict outcomes, events or actions that are confirmed or contradicted by the end of the story. Inferences are often more open-ended and may remain unresolved when the story draws to a close. Readers may need to reread a passage to check for misunderstanding or for clues that were missed during the first reading. Explicitly teaching and reinforcing the skill of making inferences positively impacts readers. Successful inferring leads to better overall comprehension. Successful inferring leads to more engagement with text. Successful inferring make sophisticated readers. Successful inferring helps students be metacognitive (think about their own thinking).

23. Make an Inference! What does this image tell me?

24. Question… What did I already know that helped me make that inference? Did I use picture or written clues? What did I already know that helped me make that inference? Did I use picture or written clues?

25. Help Me Make an Inference!

26. More Questions… Did you use words, graphs, or picture clues to help you make a guess about what that cartoon meant?

27. Try Again! Can he draw more than tigers? Look up words you don’t know! Can he draw more than tigers? Look up words you don’t know!

28. Make 1 more Inference

29. How Do Good Readers Make Inferences? They use: 1.Word/text clues 2.Picture clues 3.Define unknown words 4.Look for emotion (feelings) 5.Use what they already know 6.Look for explanations for events 7.ASK themselves questions! They use: 1.Word/text clues 2.Picture clues 3.Define unknown words 4.Look for emotion (feelings) 5.Use what they already know 6.Look for explanations for events 7.ASK themselves questions!

30. Make Another Inference Miss White has recess duty. Jacob finds a frog, picks it up, and runs over to show it to Miss White. Miss White screams, jumps, and runs as fast as she can into the school. What can you infer from this passage? What are the “clues” in this passage? Miss White has recess duty. Jacob finds a frog, picks it up, and runs over to show it to Miss White. Miss White screams, jumps, and runs as fast as she can into the school. What can you infer from this passage? What are the “clues” in this passage?

31. Game Time! Let’s play a game to find out how good we are at making inferences: What Can You Infer? Let’s play a game to find out how good we are at making inferences: What Can You Infer?

32. Authors vs. Readers Authors Imply, Readers Infer. Authors make implications that readers have to infer. Good Readers are Detectives who are always looking out for clues to help them better understand stories and pictures. Authors Imply, Readers Infer. Authors make implications that readers have to infer. Good Readers are Detectives who are always looking out for clues to help them better understand stories and pictures.