The Character Sketch : An Extended Paragraph
Show! Don’t Tell!
Creating your character sketch.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Select a subject
Create a description
Include action
Develop a Character’s Speech
Include a setting
Pre-Writing Questions for the Character Sketch
1.
2.
3.
4.
Title: A Person Who Made a Difference
Name a person who has made a difference in your life and explain what the
difference has been.
____________________________________________________________
If the person is a family member, where do you see him/her most often? If
the person is not a family member, where did you meet him/her?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
What do other people think of this person? What might other people say
about him/her?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Picture this person. Describe him/her in as much detail as you can. Include
facial features, physical appearance, clothing, manner of speech.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. How does his/her appearance reflect his/her personality?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
6. When you picture this person, what do you think of him/her doing?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
7. Describe something special or memorable that happened between you.
This should be an incident that shows how this person made a difference in
your life.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
The Character Sketch Format
1. Topic sentence – 1 sentence: Use the answers to your first two pre-writing
questions to write the first sentence, but do not reveal the person’s name
or identity.
2. Support #1 - 2 to 3 sentences: In the first sentence, name the person, the
person’s relationship to you, and include information from pre-writing
question #3. Then support that sentence with selected details from your
answers to questions 4,5, and 6. Don’t use all your details, just the ones
that connect to / fit the first sentence.
3. Support #2 - 2 to 3 sentences: The first sentence to this supporting detail
will be a simile. Ie: This person is like a ______. To support that sentence,
use selected details from your answers to questions 4,5, and 6. Again,
don’t use all your details, just the ones that connect to / fit the first
sentence.
4. Support # 3 – 2 to 3 sentences: Write about your answer to question #7.
5. Conclusion – 1 sentence: Summarize why this person is important to you. It
should connect back to your topic sentence.
REMEMBER: SHOW! DON’T TELL! Use vivid adjectives! Use action verbs
instead of linking verbs (ie: replace has, had, is, are, was, were, be, been
with verbs that show action)
Character Sketch Revision and Editing Guide:
A Checklist
1. Topic Sentence:
a. Is it written in one sentence? ___
b. Do you say where you met this person or where you see this person
most often? ___
c. Do you tell how this person has made a difference to you? ___
d. You did not use the character’s name! ___
2. Support #1:
a. Does the first sentence name the person? ___
b. Does the first sentence tell the person’s relationship to you? ___
c. Do you adequately describe the character? ___ Physical? ___
Personality? ___
d. Did you use action verbs? ___
List 2 that you used: 1)______________ and 2)________________
3. Support #2:
a. Do you have a simile in your first sentence? ___
Write it here:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. Do you continue to describe the character? ___
Physical? ___ Personality? ___
c. Did you use action verbs? ___
List 2 that you used: 1)______________ and 2)________________
4. Support #3:
a. Do you describe one event shared by you and the character? ___
b. Do you explain how this event has shown you the importance of your
character? ___
c. Did you use words or phrases that appeal to your senses? ____
List 2 and what senses they appeal to:
1) sense:____________
Example: _______________________________________
2) sense:____________
Example: _______________________________________
5. Conclusion:
a. Is your conclusion written in one sentence? ___
b. Did you restate why the person is important to you? ___
REVISION ADVICE:
1. Add adjectives and revise the sentences with linking verbs. Use strong action
verbs instead.
Example:
If you wrote: Her hair is blonde.
Revision: Her long, blonde hair cascades over slim, rounded shoulders.
2. Add words and phrases that appeal to the senses.
3. Spelling? When it doubt check it out! Use a dictionary.
4. Blah words? Use a thesaurus to find exciting alternatives, BUT make sure they
still make sense!