Character Development

What character trait is revealed?
After pulling an all-nighter studying, Sarah moved through the dance routine sluggishly.  She was off-beat and missed several moves, but she pushed herself through the routine.

• passionate
• nervous
• tired
• bored

What are character traits?

• physical descriptions
• qualities, such as insecurity or bravery
• places a character has been
• what a character says

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

What is direct characterization?

• Reactions of other characters give us information we need
• We learn about a character through their physical appearance
• We learn about a character through their thoughts
• An author tells you directly about a character

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

Indirect Characterization involves...

• Learning about characters through their thoughts and actions
• An author telling us that a character is shy
• An author's comments
• A listing of a character qualities from the author

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.W.6.9A

How is the character's traits revealed?
Marcy sat in class, drumming her fingers on her desk.  Thinking back to that morning, she felt remorse over the way she had talked to her mom.

• actions
• thoughts
• statements
• interactions with other characters

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.W.6.3B

CCSS.W.6.9A

Which of the following is an example of direct characterization?

• He tapped his foot anxiously.
• "I wouldn't  trust that man," said Ma.
• Frank was a shy, quiet person.
• Every time he earned a high grade, he would hang the test on his wall.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.W.6.9A

Which of the following is an example of indirect characterization?

• Marcia was a good listener and wonderful friend.
• Marcia felt the knot in her stomach grow when she saw the number of questions on the test, and she tugged her hair anxiously. 
• Marcia was a nervous person.
• Marcia was an optimist who always believed the best about people.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.W.4.9B

Mrs. Travers was worried that her students were not understanding what she was teaching in class. She decided she would work late after school every single night trying to create the best lessons for her students. She even started coming in early in the mornings as well. Because of this, she started to see a huge increase in her student's grades, and eventually this led to her earning a "Teacher of the Year" award!

What experience did Mrs. Travers have that helped her develop throughout the story?

• She tried nothing and her students ended up learning better because of it.

• She found that if she worked really hard before and after school to make better lesson plans, her student's performance would improve.

• She asked other teachers to help her figure out why her students weren't learning.

• She curled up into a ball and cried until the school year was over.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.3

Mr. MacKinnon wanted to find a way to seem more "hip" and "cool" so that his friends would like him more. He went and got a fresh new haircut, some cool new clothes, a drone, and a PS4.

He then invited all of his friends over to his house to hang out and try out his new stuff. Everyone came and they had a good time, but they were curious to know why he bought all of the new stuff, and changed his style. He admitted that he wanted them to think he was cool. His friends told him he didn't need to buy new things to be their friend. They liked him for who he was. Mr. MacKinnon was pleased to hear this.

What experience did Mr. MacKinnon have that helped him develop throughout the story?

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of old things to impress everyone.

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of new things to impress everyone.

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of new things to impress everyone, but he found out he just had to be himself.

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of old things to impress everyone, and he found out he was a better person now.

One day Mrs. Bergeson was walking down the 3-5 hallway on her way to lunch. When she walked into teacher's lounge, she found no one else was there yet. She was the first one! This never happened, and this was a big deal because the school had bought all the teachers lunch today and it was pizza! Mrs. Bergeson found herself overcome with hunger and greed and realized what she wanted to do. She wanted ALL of the pizza. She grabbed every pizza box and sneaked out the back door. She ran outside and around the school and made it back to her room and locked the door without anyone noticing. She ate all of the pizza and was so full that she couldn't move. When the other teachers came to the teacher's lounge looking for the pizza, they noticed she was the only one that wasn't there. They made their way to her room and found her sitting sadly (with a stomach ache) surrounded by empty pizza boxes. Mrs. Bergeson was arrested for the theft of the other teacher's happiness and hope and was sentenced to buy each teacher their favorite kind of pizza forever.

What experience did Mrs. Bergeson go through that led to her character development?

• Mrs. Bergeson was excited for lunch, but she found out it was pizza and immediately became disappointed. She then found out it was good and was sad she missed out.

• Mrs. Bergeson was angry for lunch, and when she found out it was pizza, she stole all of it for herself. She was then arrested and glad she committed the crime.

• Mrs. Bergeson was scared for lunch, and when she found out it was pizza, she screamed and ran for her life. She ran so far that she made it to her house.

• Mrs. Bergeson was excited for lunch, and when she found out it was pizza, she stole all of it for herself. She was then arrested and sorry she committed the crime.