Creating Your Character Sketch
Show! Don't Tell! |
NOTE: This
character sketch guide comes in two versions: one for the Multigenre
Project and one for A Person Who Made a
Difference. Make sure you are using the correct version! |
Pre-Writing Questions for the
Character Sketch
Multigenre Version
1. Uniquely identify a person central to your Multigenre topic. A
real person is preferred but fictional is allowable.
2. How will you get to know this person? An interview would be best, an
email exchange is good, research if that is all that is available is OK,
and of course, developing a fictional character is fine, especially with
the research.
3. What do other people think of this person? What might other people say
about him/her?
4. Picture this person. Describe him/her in as much detail as you can.
Include facial features, physical appearance, clothing, manner of speech.
5. How does his/her appearance reflect his/her personality?
6. When you picture this person, what do you think of him/her doing?
Where?
7. Describe something particularly telling or poignant about this person.
This should be an incident that shows how this person is central to your
Multigenre project. |
The Character Sketch Format
Multigenre Version
Partially based on the "Mrs. Bertha Flowers" model as developed
by Don Killgallon, author of Sentence Composing.
First Paragraph (one or two sentences) Use the
answers to your first two pre-writing question to write the first couple
sentences, but do not reveal the person's name or identity. Where would
you meet them? What would you first notice?
Second Paragraph (several sentences) In the first sentence of this
paragraph, name the person, the person's importance in your project, and
include the information from pre-writing question 3. Then support that
topic sentence with selected details from your answers to 4, 5, and 6. Don't
use all your details, just the ones that fit the topic sentence.
Third Paragraph (several sentences) Write another paragraph that
uses other details about your person from pre-writing questions 4, 5, and
6. Be sure to include a simile in the first sentence of this
paragraph.
Fourth Paragraph (several sentences) Write a paragraph about your
answer to question 7.
Fifth Paragraph (one to three sentences) Write a final paragraph
that summarizes why this person is important to you. It should connect
back to your first paragraph.
Remember--Show! Don't Tell! Use
action verbs instead of linking verbs.
TABOO WORDS: has, had, is are, was, were, be been, a lot, really |
Character Sketch Editing Guide
Multigenre Version
Answer yes or no. If no, fix!
Write your title here:________________________________
Paragraph 1
a. Is it written in just a
couple sentences?______
b. Do you say where you met this
person or where you see this person most often?_____
c. Do you tell how this person is
unique?_____
d. You should not use the
character's name!
Paragraph 2
a. Does the first sentence
name the person?_____
b. Does the first sentence tell
the person's importance in your project?_____
c. Do you adequately describe the
character?_____ Physical______ Personality_____
d. Did you use action verbs?_____
List at least two:_________, _________
Paragraph 3
a. Do you have a simile in
your first sentence? Write it here:___________________________
b. Do you continue to describe
the character?________ Physical_____ Personality_____
c. Did you use action verbs?_____
List at least two:_________, _________
Paragraph 4
a. Do you describe one event
that is particularly telling or poignant about your character? _____
b. Do you explain why this event
is so telling or poignant?_____
c. Did you use words or phrases
which appeal to your senses?______ List two:_________, ___________
Paragraph 5
a. Is your final paragraph
concise? _______
b. Did you connect back to your
introduction?_____
Revision help:
-Revise sentences with linking
verbs. Use strong action verbs:
Her long hair is blonde.
Her long blonde hair over slim, rounded shoulders.
-Add words or phrases which appeal to your senses (imagery).
-Spelling? When in doubt, check it out!
-Blah words? Consult a thesaurus? |
Pre-Writing Questions for the
Character Sketch
A Person Who Made a Difference
1. Name a person who has made a difference in your life
and explain what the difference has been.
2. If the person is a family member, where do you see him/her most often?
If the person is not a family member, where did you meet him/her?
3. What do other people think of this person? What might other people say
about him/her?
4. Picture this person. Describe him/her in as much detail as you can.
Include facial features, physical appearance, clothing, manner of speech.
5. How does his/her appearance reflect his/her personality?
6. When you picture this person, what do you think of him/her doing?
7. Describe something special or memorable that happened between you. This
should be an incident that shows how this person has made a difference in
your life. |
The Character Sketch Format
A Person Who Made a Difference
Partially based on the "Mrs. Bertha Flowers" model as developed
by Don Killgallon, author of Sentence Composing.
First Paragraph (one or two sentences) Use the
answers to your first two pre-writing questions to write the first
sentence, but do not reveal the person's name or identity.
Second Paragraph (several sentences) In the first sentence of this
paragraph, name the person, the person's relationship to you, and include
the information from pre-writing question 3. Then support that topic
sentence with selected details from your answers to 4, 5, and 6. Don't use
all your details, just the ones that fit the topic sentence.
Third Paragraph (several sentences) Write another paragraph that
uses other details about your person from pre-writing questions 4, 5, and
6. Be sure to include a simile in the first sentence of this paragraph.
Fourth Paragraph (several sentences) Write a paragraph about your
answer to question 7.
Fifth Paragraph (one to three sentences) Write a final paragraph
that summarizes why this person is important to you. It should connect
back to your first paragraph.
Remember--Show! Don't Tell! Use
action verbs instead of linking verbs.
TABOO WORDS: has, had, is are, was, were, be been, a lot, really |
Character Sketch Editing Guide
A Person Who Made a Difference
Answer yes or no. If no, fix!
Write your title here:________________________________
Paragraph 1
a. Is it written in one
sentence?______
b. Do you say where you met this
person or where you see this person most often?_____
c. Do you tell how this person
has made a difference to you?_____
d. You should not use the
character's name!
Paragraph 2
a. Does the first sentence
name the person?_____
b. Does the first sentence tell
the person's relationship to you?_____
c. Do you adequately describe the
character?_____ Physical______ Personality_____
d. Did you use action verbs?_____
List at least two:_____, _____
Paragraph 3
a. Do you have a simile in
your first sentence? Write it here:___________________________
b. Do you continue to describe
the character?________ Physical_____ Personality_____
c. Did you use action
verbs?_____List at least two:_____, _____
Paragraph 4
a. Do you describe one event
shared by you and the character? _____
b. Do you explain how this event
has shown you the importance of your character?_____
c. Did you use words or phrases
which appeal to your senses?______ List two:_________, ___________
Paragraph 5
a. Is your final paragraph
one sentence? _______
b. Did you restate why this
person is important to you?_____
Revision help: -Revise sentences with linking
verbs. Use strong action verbs:
Her long hair is blonde.
Her long blonde hair over slim, rounded shoulders.
-Add words or phrases which appeal to your senses (imagery).
-Spelling? When in doubt, check it out!
-Blah words? Consult a thesaurus? |
You can find samples of these sorts of writings at the
bottom of the page at this link:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6655/charactersketch.html |
Other than some minor adaptations, this material is taken
from:
Beachy, Carly J. "The Character Sketch." Mrs.
Beachy's Advanced Composition Home Page. May 18, 2002. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6655/index.html |