How to Write a How to Write a Character AnalysisCharacter Analysis77thth Grade Grade Challenge ELAChallenge ELA

Methods/techniques of characterization.  Methods/techniques of characterization.  Places to look for analysis.  Places to look for analysis.  Before writing a character analysis paper, Before writing a character analysis paper,

you need to list the characteristics that you need to list the characteristics that you will analyze.you will analyze.

1.1.    APPEARANCE AND NAMEAPPEARANCE AND NAME.. A possible place to look for analysis is in A possible place to look for analysis is in

the the names of the charactersnames of the characters. . List the direct characterization of a List the direct characterization of a

character's appearancecharacter's appearance.  Before writing a .  Before writing a character analysis paper, list the qualities character analysis paper, list the qualities of appearance that the author has given of appearance that the author has given you.  Then try to analyze how the you.  Then try to analyze how the appearance develops the character. appearance develops the character.

2.  ACTIONS2.  ACTIONS We know a lot about a person by the way he or We know a lot about a person by the way he or

she behaves. she behaves.  If the person cries a lot, we assume something If the person cries a lot, we assume something

about his or her character.  about his or her character.  If a man is always breaking up with his If a man is always breaking up with his

girlfriends, there is something we can assume girlfriends, there is something we can assume about him. about him.

To begin, list To begin, list actionsactions of each characters.  Then of each characters.  Then analyze how these actions define the analyze how these actions define the characteristics of each characters. characteristics of each characters.

3.  SPEECH3.  SPEECH As with action, we know a lot about a As with action, we know a lot about a

person by what he or she says.  person by what he or she says.  Also, we know a lot about a person by Also, we know a lot about a person by

howhow the person says something.  Is the the person says something.  Is the character extremely sarcastic? character extremely sarcastic?

To begin, list some dialogue that shows To begin, list some dialogue that shows some characteristics of the character. some characteristics of the character.

4.  THOUGHTS AND 4.  THOUGHTS AND FEELINGSFEELINGS

Look for thoughts and feelings of a character Look for thoughts and feelings of a character that demonstrates to you some characteristics that demonstrates to you some characteristics of the character. of the character.       If a character always feels guilty, what does this If a character always feels guilty, what does this

say about the person?  Does he have a low self-say about the person?  Does he have a low self-esteem?  Is he extremely religious?  esteem?  Is he extremely religious?  

To begin, list To begin, list thoughts and feelingsthoughts and feelings of each of each characters.  Then analyze how these thoughts characters.  Then analyze how these thoughts and feelings define the characteristics of each and feelings define the characteristics of each characters. characters.

5. CHOICES5. CHOICES As choices are made, they reveal the As choices are made, they reveal the

character's value and self-concept. character's value and self-concept. If a character decides to help volunteer at the If a character decides to help volunteer at the

shelter, what does this say about her?  If she shelter, what does this say about her?  If she decides to cheat on her husband, what does this decides to cheat on her husband, what does this say about? say about?

List the choices of each characters.  Then List the choices of each characters.  Then analyze what these choices say about the analyze what these choices say about the character.  How do they add to the indirect character.  How do they add to the indirect characterization? characterization?

6.  PAST/BIOGRAPHY6.  PAST/BIOGRAPHY We are often told that we are the products of our early We are often told that we are the products of our early

environment and our past experiences.  If a character environment and our past experiences.  If a character comes from an abusive family, does this make sense comes from an abusive family, does this make sense out of how he is today? out of how he is today?

   Examine Examine family historyfamily history, nationality, education, , nationality, education,

significant life experiences.  Remember that when significant life experiences.  Remember that when writing a character analysis paper you are thinking like writing a character analysis paper you are thinking like a psychiatrist or a detective.  You are trying to figure a psychiatrist or a detective.  You are trying to figure out what makes the character tick. out what makes the character tick.

7.  COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER 7.  COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

We can learn a lot about a character We can learn a lot about a character when another character or the narrator when another character or the narrator says something about him or her. says something about him or her.

*A lot of the above comes from chapter 4 in *A lot of the above comes from chapter 4 in Writing about Literature: Step by StepWriting about Literature: Step by Step by Pat McKeague.by Pat McKeague.

Analysis Paper: Analysis Paper: After you have figured out what After you have figured out what traitstraits you you

are going to use as your focus, or limiting are going to use as your focus, or limiting ideas, it is time to write the paper. ideas, it is time to write the paper.

Step 1Step 1: write your : write your thesisthesis. .  Step 2Step 2: write your : write your topic sentencestopic sentences.. Step 3Step 3: Write your body paragraphs : Write your body paragraphs

using using TIQATIQA Step 4Step 4: Write introduction. : Write introduction. Step 5Step 5: Write conclusion. : Write conclusion.

Thesis:Thesis: Your thesis should consist of a topic and limiting ideas.  Your thesis should consist of a topic and limiting ideas. 

It should never be a question.  The thesis is the answer It should never be a question.  The thesis is the answer to a question that seems important to you. to a question that seems important to you. 

    For example, what characteristic traits make it possible For example, what characteristic traits make it possible

for Viola to be successful with her disguise? for Viola to be successful with her disguise?

ThesisThesis – Viola is successful with her disguise because – Viola is successful with her disguise because of her commitment to the Duke, her similar appearance of her commitment to the Duke, her similar appearance to her brother, and her obviously clever mind. to her brother, and her obviously clever mind.

The thesis is a road map for your readers to follow your The thesis is a road map for your readers to follow your argument.  It should do the organizing for you.   argument.  It should do the organizing for you.  

Topic Sentence:Topic Sentence: Since a paragraph is a group of Since a paragraph is a group of

sentences that share a single idea, the sentences that share a single idea, the topic sentence must have two parts: topic sentence must have two parts:

TopicTopic Limiting IdeaLimiting Idea

TIQA*TIQA*: : Your Your body paragraphsbody paragraphs should provide a topic sentence.  The rest should provide a topic sentence.  The rest

of the paragraph should provide context for a quote or a of the paragraph should provide context for a quote or a paraphrase example.  Then you should provide that example.  paraphrase example.  Then you should provide that example.  After you provide that example, you should explain how it After you provide that example, you should explain how it supports your thesis statement.  supports your thesis statement. 

DO NOT DO NOT merely tell your reader what the quote means; this can merely tell your reader what the quote means; this can lead to summary.  You need to lead to summary.  You need to analyzeanalyze. .

Follow Follow TIQATIQA: : Topic sentenceTopic sentence

Introduce quoteIntroduce quote: put the quote into context.: put the quote into context.QuoteQuote: provide your quote: provide your quoteAnalyzeAnalyze: explain to the reader the importance of the quote and : explain to the reader the importance of the quote and how it supports your topic sentence. how it supports your topic sentence.

Additional Paragraphs:Additional Paragraphs: Transition sentenceTransition sentence: transition from the : transition from the

first example to your second example.first example to your second example.Introduce quoteIntroduce quote: introduce your second : introduce your second piece of evidence.piece of evidence.QuoteQuote: provide your second quote.: provide your second quote.AnalyzeAnalyze: analyze your second quotes, : analyze your second quotes, and if possible, tie the two pieces of and if possible, tie the two pieces of evidence together to make a larger evidence together to make a larger argument. argument.

ExampleExample TTopic Sentence:  opic Sentence:  In her In her school without wallsschool without walls, Miss Moore provides a hands-, Miss Moore provides a hands-

on on                                                                     education that forces the students to discover new knowledge.education that forces the students to discover new knowledge.IIntroduce Quote: ntroduce Quote: After sitting around for a while in the impoverished After sitting around for a while in the impoverished

neighborhood, Miss Moore tells her neighborhood, Miss Moore tells her studentsstudents to get into a to get into a cab, cab, which delivers them to the classroom for the day: FAO which delivers them to the classroom for the day: FAO

Schwarz.  While in the cab, Miss MooreSchwarz.  While in the cab, Miss MooreQQuote:                  uote:                   "hands [Sylvia] a five dollar bill and tells [her] to calculate 10 "hands [Sylvia] a five dollar bill and tells [her] to calculate 10

percent tip for the driver" (2).percent tip for the driver" (2).AAnalysis:              nalysis:              Miss Moore uses the cab ride as a teachable moment.  This Miss Moore uses the cab ride as a teachable moment.  This is a is a sign of a great teacher.  Miss Moore does more for Sylvia in sign of a great teacher.  Miss Moore does more for Sylvia in

those few moments than probably most of Sylvia's math those few moments than probably most of Sylvia's math teachers at school.  Typically American education assumes teachers at school.  Typically American education assumes

that that knowledge can be jammed into a student's mind. Miss knowledge can be jammed into a student's mind. Miss Moore Moore provides a practical basis for the knowledge and allows theprovides a practical basis for the knowledge and allows the                                                                   student to come to it on her own.student to come to it on her own.

TTransition:            ransition:            Using teachable moments and hands-on education works Using teachable moments and hands-on education works for for Miss Moore more effectively when she applies these Miss Moore more effectively when she applies these teaching teaching strategies to greater life lessons, such as the lesson on strategies to greater life lessons, such as the lesson on

dispelling the American dream. dispelling the American dream.

IntroductionIntroduction Your introduction paragraph is the first paragraph for your essay.  It is best to start Your introduction paragraph is the first paragraph for your essay.  It is best to start

with something general.  You want to grab your reader's attention.  Then you want with something general.  You want to grab your reader's attention.  Then you want to inform your reader about what you writing.  You want to finish the introduction to inform your reader about what you writing.  You want to finish the introduction paragraph with the argument for the paper--the thesis. paragraph with the argument for the paper--the thesis.

Follow Follow ANTANT:   :   AAttention-Getterttention-Getter: : First sentence or two should be an attention-getter.  There are First sentence or two should be an attention-getter.  There are

multiple ways to have make up an attention-getter. multiple ways to have make up an attention-getter.

NNecessary information:ecessary information: Necessary information includes: Necessary information includes: Author's full name Author's full name Title of the story Title of the story Brief plot summary Brief plot summary

TThesis: The last sentence of your introduction should be your thesis. hesis: The last sentence of your introduction should be your thesis.

Attention-GettersAttention-Getters Attention-getterAttention-getter: different ways to write an : different ways to write an

attention-getter: attention-getter: rhetorical question (students often misuse this) rhetorical question (students often misuse this) relevant quote from an outside source relevant quote from an outside source relevant quote from the story relevant quote from the story fact or statistic fact or statistic description of initial response to the work description of initial response to the work shocking or amusing generalization. shocking or amusing generalization.

ConclusionConclusion

Your conclusion should not merely be a Your conclusion should not merely be a summary.  Rather, it should restate and summary.  Rather, it should restate and reemphasize your thesis.  reemphasize your thesis. 

It should show the importance of the analysis It should show the importance of the analysis that you have been making in the paper.  that you have been making in the paper. 

You should also try to provide a clincher, which You should also try to provide a clincher, which might come back to your attention-getter.might come back to your attention-getter.