Character Analysis
ESSAY WRITING
Choosing a topic
 Choose from any of the stories that we have read so
far
 Consider that you are setting out to prove something
about this
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will need to identify 3 character traits,
discuss and analyze those traits,
and then come to some conclusion about the character based
on the analysis of the traits.
Writing the essay
 Characters to choose from…
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“Paul’s Case”
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Paul
“Barn Burning”
Abner Snopes
 Sartoris “Sarty” Snopes
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“A Worn Path”
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Phoenix Jackson
“A Jury of Her Peers”
Mrs. Peters (the sheriff’s wife)
 Mrs. Hale (the farmer’s wife)
Mrs. Minnie Foster Wright (the killer)
Mr. John Wright (the dead guy)
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Paragraph 1: The Introduction
 Follow ANT
 A: Attention grabber
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N: Necessary information
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Consider using a quotation from the story or a line of a song lyric
that reminds you of that character
Author’s full name, title of the story, brief plot summary
T: Thesis

Your thesis should consist of a topic and limiting ideas. It should
NEVER be a question. It should be the last sentence of the intro
paragraph.
 Thesis should make clear what characteristics you are writing
on a what they add to the story.
Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4: Body
 Body Paragraphs should follow TIQAT
 T: Topic Sentence
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I: Introduce Quote
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Provide a quote that supports the topic sentence
A: Analysis
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Give some context to the quote
 Who’s speaking?
 What are the circumstances?
Q: Quote
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Ex: Sarty’s fear of his father keeps him loyal to the family for much of the
story, despite the fact that he knows his father is breaking the law.
After the quote, spend two or three sentences discussing how this quote proves
that the character displays this trait
T: Transition
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Us a sentence to transition into a SECOND quote for support
After 2nd quote, provide context and analysis. Then transition to next
paragraph
Paragraph 5: The Conclusion
 Reword your thesis
 Tie all three character traits together
 Tell the reader the significance or importance of the
ideas you have been analyzing
 Clincher: Try to end the paper with a short sentence
that reinforces your argument

Maybe include words from attention grabber or title to give
closure to your paper
Analyzing Character Traits
 Consider the following when analyzing your
character

Appearance and Name
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Actions
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List the direct characterization of the character’s appearance. Then
analyze how the appearance helps to develop the character
List actions of the character. Then analyze how those actions
define the character.
Speech

List some relevant dialogue that helps to define your character
Analyzing Character Traits
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Thoughts and Feelings
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Choices
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List the choices made by your character. These reveal the
character’s value and self concept
Past/Biography
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List thoughts and feelings of character and determine how these
define the character
Examine family history or past experiences of character
Comments
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What do other character’s say about your character? What does
that reveal?