Note that student work varies significantly from one assignment to the next, even within
the same level. The intent of providing samples such as this one is to guide students in
recognizing key criteria of assignments and in assessing their own work.
SAMPLE CHARACTER SKETCH – SATISFACTORY
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Strengths:
• Explanations are relevant to trait (thinking).
• Most sentences are grammatically correct. Review and edit step 2
(communication).
Tips for improvement:
• State the author's name (Hugh Garner, for this story) in the topic sentence
(knowledge).
• Explanations need development. Write at least two focused sentences to explain
each quotation (thinking).
• Avoid stating, “this quotation reveals”. Focus on what a character or circumstance
reveals (thinking).
• The expansion and closing sentences need more detail (application).
• Lead in to quotations. Sentences should not begin with a quotation. Integrate
passages (application).
• Keep language formal for this assignment. Stay in third person, present tense, and
avoid giving personal opinions not connected to the story. Review and edit the
last part of step 6 (communication).
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Note: While writing your own character sketch, double-space both rough and final
drafts. To demonstrate knowledge of paragraph structure for this assignment,
number the steps as shown on the outline template and in the sample.
(1) Moose Maddon, in the short story, “The Moose and the Sparrow,” reveals
insensitivity. (2) This insensitivity is evident when treats Cecil poorly. (3) Moose first
reveals his insensitive side. “carried the sleeping Cecil, mattress and all, down to the river
and threw him in” (107). (4) This quotation shows Moose’s uncaring nature because
Cecil is not even aware of what is happening to him. (5) Moose shows his insensitive
manner to Cecil on the job. “[Moose] heated the end of the saw blade in the tea fire and
[…] handed the hot end to Cecil, and it burned his hand pretty bad” (112). (6) This
quotation reveals that Moose is insensitive because he intentionally causes Cecil to burn
his hand. I became very angry when I read this. You can't just hurt a fellow employee, or
any human being, like that! I think Moose is a horrible bully and needs to attend
Challenge Day, maybe as a helper. Well, maybe not because the grade nines, including
myself, would probably be scared of him. (7) Therefore, Moose is insensitive.
Work Cited
Garner, Hugh. "The Moose and the Sparrow." Kaleidoscope: Canadian Stories. Ed.
John Metcalf. Toronto: Van Nostrand Reinhold Ltd., 1972. 106-115. Print.