1. DO NOW – 12/14/15 Follow the instructions below: 1)Take the reading from me, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. 2)Read the short excerpt. 3)How would you describe John’s character? 1)Take the reading from me, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. 2)Read the short excerpt. 3)How would you describe John’s character?

2. Topic / Objective & Essential Question Topic / Objective: 1) To create a character sketch for an existing or new character. Essential Question: 1) How can a character sketch help me develop more realistic and/or interesting characters? Topic / Objective: 1) To create a character sketch for an existing or new character. Essential Question: 1) How can a character sketch help me develop more realistic and/or interesting characters?

3. Experimental Short Stories Stories that we might call “experimental” explore different ideas such as: 1) Philosophical Questions 2) Strange, memorable, weird narrators * 3) Unpopular or atypical situations * 4) Are told in ways that complicate the plot pyramid.

4. Examples of Experimental Techniques Free, Indirect Speech He looked at his wife. Yes, she was tiresomely unhappy again, almost sick. What the hell should he say? He looked at his wife. Yes, she was tiresomely unhappy again, almost sick. What the hell should he say? 2 nd Person Narrator You look around the room. You don’t recognize anyone. Suddenly, you feel a strange feeling in your stomach. It starts as butterflies... but quickly it blooms into elephants. You look around the room. You don’t recognize anyone. Suddenly, you feel a strange feeling in your stomach. It starts as butterflies... but quickly it blooms into elephants.

5. Characters Characters are the life-blood of stories. Without realistic and interesting characters, readers will have no one to relate to.

6. Let’s Read As you read “The Yellow Wallpaper,” ask yourself this question: 1) How does Gilman (the author) communicate character details to the reader?

7. Writers Communicate Character Details in the following Ways: 1) By telling or declaring who the character is. 1) By telling or declaring who the character is. 2) By revealing key ideas through actions or thoughts. 2) By revealing key ideas through actions or thoughts. 3) By having characters use dialog. 3) By having characters use dialog.

8. Which way does Gilman reveal John’s character? A: Gilman reveals John’s character through straight, declarative, description. For example, “John is practical in the extreme...” A: Gilman reveals John’s character through straight, declarative, description. For example, “John is practical in the extreme...” “If a physician of high-standing...” “If a physician of high-standing...”

9. Character Sketch This diagram helps us visualize details of a character. Situation or Occupation: Facts/Characteristics. Dialog/SpeakingImages/Symbols/Associations Name

10. Character Sketch This diagram helps us visualize details of a character. Situation or Occupation: 1) Crime fighter 2) Works in Gotham City 3) Lives by day as a rich, playboy. Facts/Characteristics 1) Never uses guns 2) Never kills 3) Is somewhat gloomy, dark, and depressing 4) Dresses up as a bat. In short sentences. In a low, deep voice. Speaks as if to scare people. Dialog/SpeakingImages/Symbols/Associations Batman

11. Your Turn Use the handout to design a character sketch. Use the handout to design a character sketch. You can design a character: You can design a character: A) based on your stories A) based on your stories B) using John from the “Yellow Wallpaper” or one of the other model stories. B) using John from the “Yellow Wallpaper” or one of the other model stories.