EMBEDDED ASSESSMENT #2
UNIT 3
WRITING A CHARACTER ANALYSIS of
A HERO
This will be completed as a TIMED writing TEST. After
directions are given, you will plan on the back of the
directions page, and write a rough draft. You will have 60
minutes to complete your rough draft. Revise and Edit. Write
a final copy. You will be given 60 minutes during the next class
period to complete the essay.
• Persuasive Writing
• Expository writing
character
Developing Character via courage
PAGE
161
PG.
STEP 1:
• Go back to the charts you created about the changes in
Stanley’s character and the changes in Zero’s character.
LOOK ON PAGES 146-151 IN SPRING BOARD AND LINK
• Also look at the generalizations about Zero’s change
and Stanley’s change you have written. Look at the
details about the character when you first meet him.
What does he look like? How does he act? What do
others say about him? Where does he come from?
Refer also to the chart you created tracing Stanley and
Zero’s growing friendship.
STEP 2:
• Refer to the details about the
character when you leave him at
the end of the novel. What does he
look like? How does he act? What
do others say about him? Where is
he going now?
THESIS: PARAGRAPH 1
Begin your essay with a thesis statement. Use
the following as a model:
• In the beginning of the novel Holes, by Louis
Sachar, Stanley Yelnats is ______________ ,
but by the end of the novel, partly because of
his friendship with Hector Zeroni, Stanley is
___________________,
__________________ and
____________________.
PARAGRAPH 2
• Begin the first body paragraph with a sentence
describing Stanley at the beginning of the
novel. Use the lists and the generalizations
you have made to write this paragraph
describing Stanley’s character at the beginning
of the story. Use at least three details and
examples from the beginning and explain how
the details support your opinion.
PARAGRAPH 3
• Write a topic sentence stating your opinion
about how Zero affects Stanley’s change.
• In the rest of this paragraph, prove your
opinion about how Zero affects Stanley’s
change, using at least three details you have
noted in your graphic organizers about the
relationship between the boys. Be sure to
explain the importance of the details with
commentary.
PARAGRAPH 4
• Write a topic sentence stating your opinion
about Stanley’s character and how it has
changed by the end of the book.
• Then write the rest of the paragragh using at
least three details (quotes) from your graphic
organizers and include commentary that
explains the importance of the details to your
opinion.
PARAGRAPH 5
o CONCLUSION
o Restate the subject of your essay.
o Summarize how these traits support your point
of view.
o Conclude with a summary of your opinion.
o Concluding sentence goes beyond a simple
summary.
STEPS- USER FRIENDLY!
On hand out
1. Introduction paragraph. You may begin with an
attention getter, than write a topic sentence.
2. Second paragraph- Tell what Stanley was like at
the beginning of the story. What did he look
like? How did he act? What did others say about
him? USE AT LEAST 3 DETAILS and ONE example
(quote- line from story) from the novel to
support your opinion. *page, paragraph, quote,
commentary.
STEPS 3 and 4
3. Third paragraph. Tell how Zero affects Stanley’s
change. Prove it by using AT LEAST 3 DETAILS and
ONE example (quote- line from story) from the
novel to support your opinion. *page, paragraph,
quote, commentary.
4. Fourth paragraph. Describe Stanley’s change at the
end of the novel. USE AT LEAST 3 DETAILS and ONE
example (quote- line from story) from the novel to
support your opinion. *page, paragraph, quote,
commentary. (yes ,again!)
STEP 5 +
5. Conclusion
o Restate the subject of your essay.
o Summarize how these traits support your point
of view.
o Conclude with a summary of your opinion.
*****Concluding sentence goes beyond a simple
summary.
o
REVISE
GO BACK AND READ/REREAD YOUR
ESSAY BEFORE WRITING FINAL
ADDING OR ELABORATING
o Make sure you have your quotations, page,
paragraph, commentary and details.
o Find a key (important) sentence- Add 2 more
sentences of elaboration. (more details)
o Add similes, metaphors and other descriptive
language.
Revising is different from editing.
o
REPLACING
o Look for overused words like “then”, “and”, “I”
etc. Try replacing them with synonyms. (a
thesaurus can help)
o Look for inaccurate facts or quotations/dialogue
and replace with accurate information.
o
DELETING
o Look for any statements that are off topic or not
necessary and take them out of the story.
When you revise your job is to make
sure all your information is written in
a clear and interesting way.
Revising video
EDIT
EDITING CHECKLIST
• Did I use words that are capitalized correctly?
• Did I check that ALL my words are spelled
correctly?
• Have I indented all my paragraphs?
• Have I put quotation marks around any lines
from the story?
• Have I written complete sentences?
• Is my name on all my papers?
SAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCE 1:
• Throughout the book Holes, by Louis Sachar,
the main character Stanley goes through many
changes. At the beginning of the story, he is
_______________, ______________ and
__________________but by the end of the
story with the help of his friend Zero, Stanley
is _______________, _________________
and ___________________.
SAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCE 2:
• “As long as Zero could keep going, he could
keep going too.” (page 162, paragraph 15) In
the book Holes, Stanley made dramatic
changes with the help of his friend Zero. He
went from being ______________,
____________ and ____________at the
beginning of the story to ______________,
_________________ and ________________.
SAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCE 3:
•
“Higher and higher they climbed. His strength came
from somewhere deep inside himself…” (page 170,
paragraph ____) Stanley found that in the face of near
death, he discovered things about himself that turned
his life around. At the beginning of the novel Holes, he
was _________________, _____________________
and ________________. With the help of his
friendship with Zero, by the end of the story he was
____________________, ___________________ and
______________________.
SAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCE 4:
•
No friends and always being made fun of. Stanley had
been miserable for many years. On page 7, paragraph
___, “He didn’t have any friends at home. He was
overweight…” At the beginning of the novel Holes, he
was _________________, _____________________
and ________________. With the help of his
friendship with Zero, by the end of the story he was
____________________, ___________________ and
______________________.
YOUR TURN!
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ORGANIZE QUOTES
PLAN
WRITE ROUGH DRAFT
REVISE
EDIT
WRITE FINAL DRAFT
CHARACTER
TRAITS
CHOOSE AT LEAST 3 TRAITS ABOUT
STANLEY FROM THE BEGINNING OF
THE STORY.
CHOOSE 3 TRAITS THAT DESCRIBES
STANLEY AT THE END OF THE STORY
AFTER ALL OF HIS CHANGES.
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Honest
Light-hearted
Leader
Expert
Brave
Conceited
Mischievous
Demanding
Thoughtful
Distrustful
Simple
Disagreeable
Keen
Happy
Plain
Excited
Studious
Inventive
Creative
Thrilling
Independent
Intelligent
Compassionate
Ruthless
Impulsive
Greedy
Gentle
Proud
Wild
Messy
Neat
Joyful
Strong
Bright
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Cowardly
Cruel
Courageous
Serious
Funny
Humorous
Sad
Poor
Rich
Selfish
Unselfish
Self-confident
Respectful
Disrespectful
Considerate
Inconsiderate
Imaginative
Busy
Successful
Unsuccessful
Lazy
Dreamer
Helpful
Simple minded
Humble
Friendly
Adventurous
Hard working
Timid
Shy
Bold
Loud
Daring
Dainty
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Pitiful
Loveable
Cooperative
Curious
Ambitious
Bossy
Fighter
Tireless or
energetic
Cheerful
Smart
Loyal
Jealous
Dishonest
Suspicious
Quiet
Egotistical
Nervous
Mysterious
Evil
Mean
Careless
Clever
Grouchy
Hopeful
Fearless
Fierce
Foolish
Lucky
Silly
Inconsiderate
Loving
Efficient
Hateful
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Fair
Frustrated
Giving
Gloomy
Talented
Secretive
Picky
Reliable
Dull
Eager
Angry
Others:
______________
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CHART
USE THIS CHART TO HELP ORGANIZE
QUOTES, EVENTS AND CHARACTER
ACTIONS THAT ILLUSTRATE THE
CHARACTER TRAITS.
PLAN
PLAN YOUR INTRODUCTION/THESIS,
THE SEQUENCE OF YOUR PAPER AND
YOUR CONCLUSION
o PLANNING PAGE
Title
Title