WRITING WITH THE
ENNEAGRAM
USING THE NINE POINT SYSTEM TO HELP STUDENTS
ANALYZE CHARACTERS AND WRITE THEIR OWN
BY ROBIN ORNER
My Family
OBJECTIVE
• Learn about the Enneagram types
• Learn your own type (It is interesting to think
about your type related to your teaching style,
along with the students in your class and their
types related to learning styles)
• Analyze characters in fiction with the Enneagram
• Use the Enneagram to create vivid characters in
your writing.
The Nine Points
WHAT THE HECK IS THE
ENNEAGRAM?
• The Enneagram is a nine point system of identifying personality
types.
• It is a synthesis of a number of wisdom traditions which can be
traced back to the works of Pythagoras.
• Enneagram scholars agree that it is common to find a little
yourself in all nine types, although one should stand out.
• Everyone is born with a dominant type
• No type is inherently male or female
• No one type is better than another, though some societies may
value one over another
REQUIRED COMIC !!!
QUOTE
• “Experienced writers know that plot and
character are like Siamese twins: if one is
terminally diseased the other is doomed.
While a solid structure is essential to a good
story, it fails to guarantee characters whose
behavior continually seems both inevitable and
surprising” Judith Searle
QUICK WRITE
• TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO WRITE DOWN A FEW
ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF.
• NOW WRITE DOWN A FEW ADJECTIVES YOU
THINK OTHERS WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOU.
• GO LOG INTO 9 TYPES ENNEAGRAM AND TAKE
THE PERSONALITY TEST.
• IF YOU FINISH EARLY, READ ABOUT YOUR TYPE.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
CHARACTER ANALYSIS IS FOUND IN THE FIFTH GRADE WRITING STANDARDS UNDER
NARRATIVE #3 a. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator
and/or characters.
Check the common core standards for your grade.
What does it ask you to teach about characters.
Fifth graders need to be able to compare and contrast two or more characters on the basis
of specific detail. (CCSS from Kid-Tested Writing Lessons by Leslie Blaum)
In which categories would character analysis fall under in the 6 Traits model?
THE NINE TYPES
Type 1 (The Critic)
• Critic/achiever
• Perfectionist with a strong sense of right and
wrong.
• Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious with high
standards.
• Afraid of making mistakes, can be critical
• Think of Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Type 2 (The Helper)
• Caring, nurturing, friendly, and attentive
• Sincere, generous, and self-sacrificing
• Driven to be close to others, but can slip into
doing things for others in order to be needed
• Fear being unloved, not needed
• Can be sentimental, flattering, and peoplepleasing
• Think of Susan Sarandon in “Dead Man Walking”
Type 3 (The Achiever)
• Energetic, driven, and ambitious
• Self-assured, charming, and attractive
• Success oriented and feel the need to be the
center of attention
• Fearful of being a failure, of being a loser
• Think of Tom Cruise in “Jerry Maguire”
Type 4 (The Individualist)
• Introspective romantic type
• Sensitive, creative, emotionally intense
• Can be moody, self-conscious, and melancholic
• Disdainful of and feel exempt from ordinary ways
of living: the artist
• Need to feel special and understood
• Think of Meryl Streep in “Out of Africa”
Type 5 (The Analyst)
• Observant, curious, and insightful
• Able to concentrate and focus on complex ideas
and skills
• Independent and innovative
• Detached, cool, preoccupied with their own
thoughts
• Private people who enjoy being alone
• Think of Ralph Fiennes in “The English Patient”
Type 6 (The Loyalist)
• Dutiful, hospitable and caring people
• Motivated by their need for security, worried
• Fearful of not being able to survive
• Hard-working, responsible, and trustworthy
• Team-directed, loyal to people and causes
reluctant hero
• Think of Sally Field in “Norma Rae”
Type 7 (The Enthusiast)
• Extroverted, optimistic, high-spirited, and
spontaneous
• They constantly seek new and exciting experiences,
may be undisciplined
• Inspirational, but tend to be impatient and scattered
with too many irons in the fire
• Fear of boredom, of being deprived, need adventure
• Think of Robert Redford in “Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid”
Type 8 (The Challenger)
• Likes to be in control of people and places
• Straight-talking
• Resourceful, self-confident, a true leader
• Can be bossy, confrontational, domineering
• Fearful of not being in control
• Think of George C. Scott in “Patton”
Type 9 (The Peacemaker)
• Calm, laid-back, unpretentious and reassuring people
• Motivated by their need for peace and smooth sailing
• Grounded and supportive
• Fearful of conflict, may go along with others to keep
the peace
• Can be stubborn and indolent
• Think of Francis McDormand in “Fargo”
WHY USE THE
ENNEAGRAM?
• QUICK GUIDE TO ENHANCE YOUR MEMORY
• REMEMBER THE ENNEAGRAM IS A
SIMPLIFIED WAY OF ORGANIZING THE
DETAILS OF CHARACTERS
• OFFERS THE ILLUSION OF REALITY
DOGS OF THE
ENNEAGRAM
• Dogs of the Enneagram
POOH AND THE
ENNEAGRAM
HARRY POTTER AND THE
ENNEAGRAM
• Talk with your elbow buddy about your Potter
character
• Write down characteristics of the character
• Assign a number to your character and
support it
What the ‘experts’ say
•
Type #1 Professor McGonagall
•
Type#2 Hagrid/Dobby
•
Type #3 Valdemort
•
Type #4 Professor Trelawney/Moaning Myrtle
•
Type #5 Snape
•
Type #6 Ron Weasley
•
Type #7 Weasley Twins
•
Type #8 Uncle Vernon
•
Type #9 Harry Potter
CHARACTER
IDENTIFICATION
THE HOUSE IS BURNING
WHAT WOULD THEY CARRY?
What would each type do and why?
What would each type have in their
purse or backpack?
Type #1
Type #2
etc
USE THE ENNEAGRAM
• Develop a character using a type
• Don’t forget to think about clothing and possibly
setting. (Example: The #7 wearing a motorcycle
helmet out in the mountains ready to do some jumps)
• Without divulging the type, have a buddy guess the
enneagram type of your character
• Use mentor texts to help students type characters
• Regularly have students type the characters in their
reading.
Resources