STUDENT NAME:
TEACHER NAME:
UNIT: Examining Characters in a Novel
ASSESSMENT TASK: Written Radio Interview Transcript
TASK DESCRIPTION:
You are to analyse a character in Worldshaker and then analyse the language features and themes of this novel using this document. You must then use the information that you have gathered to write and record a fictional radio interview with the author,
Richard Harland.
Select ONE of the following characters to analyse in depth in tasks A & B (circle):
Col Riff Sir Mormus Lady Ebnolia
CONDITIONS:

Complete all tasks in this assessment booklet within set time frames and are to have all tasks viewed and signed off by their teacher before progressing to the next section.
DUE DATES:
Tasks A & B: Week 6
Tasks C & D: Week 8
Tasks E & F: Week 12
SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
CRITERIA ASSESSED
RECEPTIVE MODES Language Features
PRODUCTIVE MODES
Text Structure
STANDARD
CLASS: _______
Language Features
OVERALL

Create a radio interview transcript that examines the way plot (text structure) and language features create representations of characters in a novel.
CONTEXT:
Radio program:
Host:
Guest speaker:
Let’s talk books, a national radio program for discussion about everything related to literary texts.
Interviewer; poses a range of open and closed questions to prompt responses from the guest speaker and engage the audience.
A literary expert explains the choices made about plot and language features that construct representations of characters and issues.
Target audience: Listeners of a national radio program, Let’s talk books; mature, educated, familiar with the novel.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
Task A.
Comprehend the extract
1.
Identify a character to examine.
2.
Select the extract from the novel that is relevant to your character (See task sheet).
3.
Read the extract.
4.
Identify and define unfamiliar vocabulary.
5.
Comprehend the extract.
Task B.
Character Analysis
1.
Examine the characters thoughts (values, attitudes and beliefs), appearance, actions, words and the way other character respond to them.
2.
Examine how values and beliefs change throughout the book.
3.
Identify how language choices help shape the readers interpretation of this character.
4.
Explore a theme within the book and how it is represented within the novel.
5.
Analyse how this theme relates to your own personal understanding of the world.
Task C.
Analyse the theme
6.
Choose a theme in the book and relate it to society.
Task D.
Plan the radio interview
7.
Write an orientation for the interview, something that will engage listeners.
8.
Write the interview questions responses.
9.
Write a wrap up (conclusion) for the interview.
Task E.
Publish the radio interview transcript
Task F. Record the radio interview

Task A. Comprehend the extract
1. Choose one of the following main characters from the novel for analysis:
Col Riff Sir Mormus Lady Ebnolia
The following extracts have been selected to assist you with the analysis of your character:
Page 315 - 316 Page 295 – 299 OR
Page 278-280
Page 343 – 347 Page 308-313
2 Read the extract that has been chosen to assist you with analysing your character.
What is happening?
What led up to the action?
What happens next?
Who is involved?
Where and when is the action taking place?
What lessons about real life is the author trying to teach the reader in this extract? How are these lessons taught through the words and actions of your chosen character?

TASK B. Character Analysis
3 CHARACTER ANALYSIS
A character is made up of many parts:
Language features and text structure define a text and shape its meaning. Worldshaker is a literary text, a narrative. It is structured according to a plot, with an orientation, complication and resolution.
In a novel, there are few images so the author makes deliberate choices about the language
features used in order to get readers to view characters in certain ways e.g. bad or good, higher or lower class, beautiful or unattractive.
Language features can include different types of sentences (exclamations, questions, and statements), dialogue, nouns/noun groups and adjectives, verbs and adverbs, vocabulary,
punctuation and figurative language (metaphor, simile).
Analyse your chosen character and the language features that have been used in order to portray them in a certain way. Use the following prompts to assist you.

2a Analyse the character
Character’s appearance:
Based on how the character is described in the novel, describe the appearance of the character (size, clothing, facial features, hair, gender etc.) What does this tell you about the character?
Character’s words:
Dialogue and vocabulary
What does this character say (word choices) and how do they say it
(language and style)?
How does this affect the reader’s interpretation of
the character?
Character’s actions:
How does the character behave? Does he or she try to avoid conflict or take action to work things out? Describe their actions. What does this tell you about the
Find evidence/quotes from the novel to support your points. Include the page number.

character?
Character’s thoughts
(Values, attitudes and beliefs):
What beliefs does the character have?
Do the character’s values change throughout the story? How do you know?
Why do you think the author deliberately gave this character these values/beliefs? What is the intended message about society?
Other characters’ reactions to the character:
What do other characters think and say about your chosen character? How do they act towards him or her?
What does this tell you?

2b Language Features: How is the character constructed through the use of language features? (See example below.)
Nouns and Adjectives
What does the character’s name tell you about them?
Do they have a nickname?
What does this tell you?
Figurative Language
Are there any similes or
metaphors used to describe your character? What do
they tell you?
Dialogue What is said and how is it said? Does your character repeat themselves? Stutter etc
(refer to character’s words)
Using your answer for one of the language features above
(Nouns and Adjectives,
Figurative Language or
Dialogue), write an extended paragraph integrating the evidence (in the form of direct quotations or specific examples) into your response.
Tasks A & B signed off by your teacher: ……………………………………………………...
Use direct quotes as evidence and show how these language choices shape the reader’s interpretation of the character.

Task C:
3. Themes: The theme is the main idea that runs throughout the story (e.g. love, friendship, racism). Sometimes it is a message that they
author is trying to convey e.g. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Choose ONE of the following themes that is explored in the novel to reflect upon: morality absolute hierarchy inequality jealousy power of individuals to create change
Explain how this theme is explored within the book.
Is it a common theme?
Give examples/events that specifically demonstrate this theme?
Give examples of dialogue which explores this theme.
5. Can you make any connections between the theme explored in the novel and society? What message is the author trying to give about real life?

Task D. Plan the radio interview transcript
Radio program Let’s talk books
Host
Guest speaker Literary expert (name):
Questions and responses: Write responses to the following questions using the information from the previous activities.
1.
Can you tell us about the book and the main characters in the novel?
2.
What character have you chosen to talk about today and how are they represented in the novel?
3.
What language features were used by the author to develop the character?
4.
What values and beliefs does the character have?
5.
Why do you think this character was given these values and beliefs? What message was the author trying to give readers?
6.
Most characters experience change throughout a novel, from immaturity or inexperience to maturity and experience. Would you say this is true of your chosen character? Explain?
7.
What themes are examined through the novel?
8.
Why do you think the author chose to include this theme? What does he want readers to understand?
9.
(You can create additional questions here if there is anything else that you would like to cover)
10.
(You can create additional questions here if there is anything else that you would like to cover)
Task C & D signed off by your teacher......................................................................

Task E. Draft the radio interview transcript
Please use the below template as a general planner to show the main content you want to cover in each section.
Use all of the above questions and answers to structure a radio interview in which all the above covered concepts are revealed and explored. Feel free to add further information to your radio interview that is not mentioned
above.
This is the introduction where you will set the scene/atmosphere for the interview and introduce the listener to what the interview is about. Tell us about the book and the main characters.
These questions and the answers you construct will reveals all the information you have provided within this assessment booklet already.
This is the summary of the interview where you tie up any loose ends and thank your guest for coming onto the station.
Task F. Record the radio interview:
Now that you have analysed the character and written the radio interview script, you must now record it as a real radio interview. You can create this as a video, or just a recording. Do this in a place free of interfering noises such as wind, bird calls or air conditioning. You should get someone to ‘act’ with you. Remember, the show is called ‘Let’s talk books,’ and should have introductory and ‘fade out’ music. Your teacher may show you an exemplar or two.
Tasks E and F signed off by teacher ...............................................................