How to begin writing your character analysis paper on “Smoke Signals”
1. Don’t Summarize!! Your paper is analysis. You may use a line or two of plot description to
get to your analysis. A good rule of thumb is for each line of plot summary, then give a line
of analysis.
Good example of a body paragraph:
Learning to overcome his animosity towards his father and discovering that Arnold Joseph
had positive qualities as well as negative ones enabled Victor to evolve as a character. It was
necessary for Victor to learn more about his father so that his character could grow and change.
One of the first moments in the film that portrayed Victor as beginning to realize that his father
was not just a drunken, abusive father, but a real person with flaws was when the character Suzy
Song reveals facts about Arnold to Victor, including the profound, moving part in the film when
she announces that Arnold mistakenly caused the fire that killed Thomas’ parents. Suzy also
portrayed Arnold as a loving, father-like figure to her which initially angered Victor but then
allowed him to view his father as a kind person to others. Victor, then, takes this new found
knowledge back to Cour d’Alene where he is able to embrace his mother and begin a new chapter
in their mother-son relationship.
Bad Example:
Victor shows his anger quite a bit in “Smoke Signals.” He is angry at his father and also
shows his anger towards strangers, for instance, the gymnast on the bus. The gymnast begins
talking to Thomas and tells her about how she was an alternate in the 1980 Olympic Games. She
says that she didn’t get to go because Jimmy Carter called off the games. She seemed upset at
this. Thomas then asks her more questions and she replies that she was just as good as Mary
Lou Retton.
2. Use your highlighted notes, jot list, and web to begin writing your essay. Plan out your
ideas and strategy for organization before you write. Decide on subtopics – these will turn
into your sample sentences. For example, if your paper is a character analysis of Thomas,
begin thinking of what main ways his character grew during the movie. What role did he
play?
You might come up with some ideas like this for topic sentences:
1. Thomas as a story-teller – why is he always telling stories
2. Thomas as a friend to Victor
3. Thomas as a loving grandson
4. Thomas helping Victor even when he doesn’t want help
5. Thomas’ friendliness to strangers
6. Thomas helping Victor realize that his father wasn’t all “bad”
Tips for writing a FANTABULOUS Essay
1. Begin with an attention grabber. Start with a meaningful quote from the film and
then tie it into your thesis statement.
2. Make sure that you mention “Smoke Signals” and Sherman Alexie in your thesis
statement.
3. Make sure your thesis is carefully worded and well-crafted.
4. Make sure each of your topic sentences tie into your thesis.
5. Make sure that each of your topic sentences are analysis, NOT SUMMARY!
6. Make sure you are not giving too much summary in your body paragraphs.
7. Use at least two quotes in your paper.
8. Restate your thesis in a different way in your concluding paragraph and DON’T just
REGURGUTATE ideas in your paper. Leave your reader with a powerful statement
about why your points are important.
Some more “Smoke Signals” Quotes
“He’s mean to you.” Thomas’ grandmother
“He wasn’t always mean.” Thomas to grandmother
“Promise me you’ll come back.” – Arlene Joseph to Victor
“What do you want me to do; sign a paper?” –Victor to Arlene
“Arnold Joseph was the perfect Indian because all hippies wanted to be Indians,
anyhow.” Thomas
“You can’t trust anybody.” Victor
“Hey, Victor, heard your dad left. What happened? Does he hate you?” Thomas to Victor
“Why did Arnold leave?” Thomas to Arlene
“You know what, Thomas? I don’t know what you’re talking about half the time.” Victor
“Thomas, you need to grow up.” Victor
“Your dad’s gone. He hacked us into pieces.” Arlene to Victor
“Who is your favorite Indian?”
“Nobody.”
“Nobody?”
“Nobody.”
“Did you say Nobody?”
“Nobody. Nobody. Nobody.” – Arnold to Victor