The following outline is a 'working document' from the 7th ...
The following outline is an example of teaching a character essay from the 7th grade teachers @ West Sylvan Middle School.
Teaching character essay – A Working Document
7th grade curriculum team meeting, September 19, 2005
(Present: Patti Denny; Michelle Lacaden; Melanie Morris; Marilyn Moss; Namita Nag; Brian Quinn; Karen Rouse.)
The essay question:
Two frequent themes in literature are the conflict between the individual and society and the conflict between the individual and him or herself. From a work of literature that you have read, select a character who struggles with society or with him or herself. In a well-developed composition, describe the effects of the on-going struggle on the character. Finally, explain why this character’s conflict conveys an important message to you as a reader or to the world at large.
Begin with essential question:
How do the conflicts of a literary character help one understand and cope with life’s issues?
• Discuss & define the words in the question;
• Discuss what conflict is
• Discuss what life issues are… (theme)
• How do these life issues relate to the characters in the text?
Characterization
1. Define & explore characterization: how do authors reveal character?
♣ describe the character’s physical traits and personality
♣ report the character’s speech and behavior
♣ give the opinions and reactions of other characters toward this individual
♣ reveal the character’s thoughts and feelings
2. Identify character traits & motivations with references to the text. (see Reading & Writing Strategies -- PPS publication, green cover – for numerous strategies or online at: .
Plot
1. Define Plot: rising action, conflict, resolution
2. Types of plot (person vs…)
3. Plot chart – individual or group chart; see “plot line”, page 61-62 in Reading & Writing Strategies.
Summarizing
• While this essay does not require a summary (the student author should assume that the audience has read the book), students must “by establish a context for the discussion of the conflict and the character.”
Book summary includes: title, main character, setting, and plot – rising action, conflict & resolution. 1 paragraph. 5-7 sentences; should include most important details.
A two sentence summary looks like this:
_________(name of book) is about _________(main character’s name) who ________________________________(action taken to resolve conflict) for the purpose of __________. (why struggle?)
In the climax s/he succeeds when _________________.
Teaching Essay writing/Expository writing
♣ Paragraphing
♣ Topic sentences
♣ Specific details; explain how evidence proves thesis
♣ How to write a thesis statement. What is the purpose of the essay?
♣ Write Source black binder has good lessons for paragraphing and for character sketches
Writing the character essay
To be successful with this essay, students must:
♣ Identify character traits and motivations
♣ Identify an external or internal conflict and explain how the character struggles with the conflict
♣ Connect self or world to the conflict and the story’s message.
(KAR note: our essential question seems to focus more on the individual than the world???)
Students can chose whether to focus on internal or external conflicts.
Question: can students choose to write about more than one conflict – one external and one internal, two internal, three external, etc?
Opening paragraph
• Engages the reader by establishing a context for the discussion of the conflict and the character.
• introduces book, conflict & character.
• Provides enough information to put the character & conflict in context.
• A book summary is not necessary.
• Clearly articulated thesis statement. The thesis is the overriding umbrella for the entire essay. It’s the writer’s opinion about the topic: what you (the writer) will demonstrate/prove.
Body: 2nd – 4th paragraphs: characterization & how the character is shaped/changed by the conflict. What caused the character to shift/change? One possible method: choose major events in the story that cause the character to change. For each event use at least two pieces of evidence; explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence & thesis. Use different methods of characterization throughout. Change can be subtle; often happens at the very end.
Conclusion: explain why the character’s conflict conveys an important message (theme) to you as a reader or to the world at large.
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related download
- character analysis essay on to kill a mockingbird
- fourth grade literary essay writing unit
- the following outline is a working document from the 7th
- compare and contrast essay rubric
- citizenship november character trait
- what is a character analysis essay
- possible writing prompts for literary analysis
- beowulf critical analysis questions
- the expertise of moral character
Related searches
- a company had the following purchases a
- a company had the following purchases an
- form a word using the following letters
- make words from the following letters
- what is a medicine ball from starbucks
- words from the following letters
- convert the following fraction to a decimal
- which of the following is a nonmetal
- which of the following statements is normative
- which of the following statements is true
- which of the following statements is always
- which of the following statements is correct