Name: ______________________________
Character Analysis Prompt:
Your assignment is to write a character analysis of a major character in the novel, To Kill
a Mockingbird.
Based upon the character you have chosen to analyze, choose one of the adjectives /
character traits to describe that character (or you may evaluate two character traits for
the one character). You will use that adjective / character trait to compose a “perfect
paragraph” regarding that character.
Using the rough draft format below (TIQATIQA) to develop one ‘perfect paragraph’.
This outline must be completed by ____Thursday April 9_. You will then remove the
formatted lines from the outline in order to submit a ‘perfect characterization
paragraph’. This final paragraph should be typed on Google Docs and shared with Ms.
Claytor & Mrs. Sberna by __ Thursday April 9__.
Perfect Paragraph Outline
(T)opic Sentence : (Preview the contents of your body paragraph—what is
this paragraph going to be about?)
Dill is an interesting character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, one of his
character traits that stands out is that he is a story-teller.
(I)ntroduce your textual evidence (this is your lead in to the quote – not
the quote – there should be a comma at the end of this): Provide some
context – who says the words? Where are they said? Are they in
response to someone? Are they describing something? Pretend that your
reader hasn’t read the book in a long time
When Dill is visiting Maycomb during the summer and explaining how he
arrived, he reports to Scout and Jem,
(Q)uote: Provide quote that supports your topic sentence. Provide a line
number in parentheses at the end of the quote – this is called an in-text (or
parenthetical) citation.
“I rode on the train from my home to here. It was on the train line that
my father works for and I was able to help the Conductors” (87).
Name: ______________________________
(A)nalysis: (Provide an analysis of how this quote supports your topic
sentence – Explain how this quote proves what you are saying in the topic
sentence)
Dill’s father does not make an appearance in this story and later it is found
out that his parents tend to ignore him. He makes this story up so that he
can feel ‘normal’ and as if his father includes him in his work, like Atticus
does for Scout and Jem.
(T)ransition into the 2nd example representing the adjective / characteristic:
Dill is also very curious as seen in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird.
(I)ntroduce your textual evidence (this is your lead in to the quote – not
the quote – there should be a comma at the end of this): Provide some
context – who says the words? Where are they said? Are they in
response to someone? Are they describing something? Pretend that your
reader hasn’t read the book in a long time.
In Boo Radley’s backyard when engaging in neighborhood antics, Dill dares
Jem to touch the Radley home when he says,
(Q)uote : Provide a 2nd quote that supports your topic sentence. Provide a
line number in parentheses at the end of the quote – this is called an in-text
(or parenthetical) citation.
“Come on Jem, I dare you to touch the house” (78).
(A)nalysis: (Provide an analysis of how this quote supports your topic
sentence – Explain how this quote proves what you are saying in the topic
sentence)
Dill continuously encourages his friends to be mischievous. He knows that
they should not be antagonizing Boo Radley and his actions even end up
with Nathan Radley firing a shot to warn off the intruders. Dill’s curiosity in
the book led the children into a dangerous situation with the Radley’s.
Add a Conclusion sentence to your paragraph!!
Name: ______________________________
Although he was a static character, Dill displayed two strong character
traits through his curiosity and untruthfulness in the book, To Kill a
Mockingbird.
Name: ______________________________
Final Paragraph:
Dill is an interesting character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, one
of his character traits that stands out is that he is a story-teller. When Dill
is visiting Maycomb during the summer and explaining how he arrived, he
reports to Scout and Jem, “I rode on the train from my home to here. It
was on the train line that my father works for and I was able to help the
Conductors” (87). Dill’s father does not make an appearance in this story
and later it is found out that his parents tend to ignore him. He makes this
story up so that he can feel ‘normal’ and as if his father includes him in his
work, like Atticus does for Scout and Jem. Dill is also very curious as seen
in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. In Boo Radley’s backyard when engaging
in neighborhood antics, Dill dares Jem to touch the Radley home when he
says, “Come on Jem, I dare you to touch the house” (78). Dill
continuously encourages his friends to be mischievous. He knows that they
should not be antagonizing Boo Radley and his actions even end up with
Nathan Radley firing a shot to warn off the intruders. Dill’s curiosity in the
book led the children into a dangerous situation with the Radley’s.
Although he was a static character, Dill displayed two strong character
traits through his curiosity and untruthfulness in the book, To Kill a
Mockingbird.