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Characterization

Free lesson plans and to teach your students about characterization, how author’s use direct and indirect characterization in their writing, how to use different methods of characterization to analyze characters, and how to create their own characters using what they have learned.

Whole Week Overview

Overview:

This week students will learn about characterization, how author’s use direct and indirect characterization in their writing, how to use different methods of characterization to analyze characters, and create their own characters using what they have learned.

Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3/4.3/5.3

Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).

Resources:

  • Teacher Guide
  • Daily Powerpoints with Teacher Notes
  • Printable Passages, Notes, Activities, Warm Ups, and Exit Tickets
  • Short Standards-Focused Assessment

Day 1 - Introduction

Launch

Students will practice analyzing a character through just a picture.

Core Instruction

Using the guided notes and handouts, teacher will define direct and indirect characterization. Teacher will present the acronym of STEAL and define the five components of indirect characterization.

Guided Practice

Students will write short paragraphs about themselves using direct characterization. Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the PowerPoint as well.

Day 2 - Whole Class Practice

Launch

Students will practice describing a character through direct characterization.

Core Instruction

Using the guided notes and handouts, teacher will review direct and indirect characterization and the STEAL acronym.

Guided Practice

Students will analyze the effect of each component of indirect characterization through multiple passages. Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the PowerPoint as well.

Day 3 - Characterization Statements

Launch

Students will practice describing a character through indirect characterization.

Guided Practice

Students will annotate the provided passage as a class. Students will then craft and share a characterization statement.

Independent Practice

Students will independently read a new passage, annotate, and craft a scaffolded characterization statement. Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the PowerPoint as well.

Day 4 - Characterization Writing

Launch

Students will practice describing a character through indirect characterization.

Group Review

Teacher will review the key components of direct and indirect characterization.

Independent Practice

Students will independently write a short story about a character having a bad day. They will utilize all aspects of the STEAL acronym within their story. Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the PowerPoint as well.

Day 5 - Assessment

The Assessment

Hand out the assessment for students and then go over the directions:

  • Read the passage carefully and circle or highlight details that show S.T.E.A.L.
  • Next, complete the characterization map for the two characters.
  • Finally, write a characterization statement about each character.

Students will be asked to apply what they’ve learned to a fiction text.

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