ALEX Learning Activity

  

Character Analysis Through Dialogue and Action

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Tanisha Boyd
System:Mobile County
School:Mobile County Board Of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2801
Title:
Character Analysis Through Dialogue and Action
Digital Tool/Resource:
Character Analysis Writing Activity
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This learning activity should be used as an after-activity for students to demonstrate their ability to analyze characters. The students will write a character analysis of the main character in a text, supporting their analysis with textual evidence displayed through dialogue and actions within the text. Students will need to have received prior instruction on character analysis and the opportunity to practice identifying character traits through dialogue and action.

 

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
3.
  • Literary elements
  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Theme
  • Characters
  • Internal conflict
  • External conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Points of view
  • Text evidence
Knowledge:
3. Students know:
  • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and/or enhance the meaning of the text.
  • An author's use of literary elements can indicate the author's purpose for writing the text.
  • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.
Skills:
3. Students are able to:
  • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view in literary text.
  • Analyze how literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of literary text.
  • Support their analysis of literary elements with textual evidence.
Understanding:
3. Students understand that:
  • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
  • Literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of literary text.
  • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
8.
  • Narrative writing
  • Argument writing
  • Informative/explanatory writing
  • Writing development
  • Writing organization
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Task
  • Purpose
  • Audience
  • Command of language
8a.
  • Narratives
  • Clear purpose
  • Narrative techniques
  • Sequence
8b.
  • Informative text
  • Explanatory text
  • Credible sources
  • Transitions
  • Precise vocabulary
8c.
  • Argument
  • Defend a position
  • Claim
  • Opposing claim
  • Counterclaims
  • Relevant evidence
  • Accurate sources
  • Credible sources
Knowledge:
8. Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
  • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
  • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
  • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.
8a.
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story, such as a memoir, a short story, or a personal narrative.
  • Narrative writing includes techniques, like dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection.
  • Events in narrative writing should be sequenced in a coherent manner, such as chronological, reverse chronological, or the inclusion of flashbacks.
8b.
  • Informative or explanatory text is writing that examines and explains complex ideas or processes, utilizing information from multiple credible research sources.
  • Informative or explanatory text has an organized structure, and usually begins by clearly focusing on the topic, providing credible evidence, and ends with a conclusion.
  • Informative or explanatory writing should include academic, content-specific technical word meanings.
  • Words that indicate transitions.
8c.
  • The purpose of argumentative writing is to defend an opinion.
  • Argumentative writing includes introducing the topic by stating an argumentative claim, relevant evidence to support the claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, acknowledging counterclaims, and a concluding statement.
  • Evidence to support the argument must be collected from various accurate and credible sources.
Skills:
8. Students are able to:
  • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
  • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
  • Demonstrate command of the written language.
8a.
  • Write a narrative with a coherent sequence of plot events and a clear purpose.
  • Incorporate narrative techniques in their narrative writing, including dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection.
8b.
  • Gather credible information and data from multiple sources.
  • Write an informative or explanatory text with an organized structure and formal style that develops the topic and utilizes appropriate transitions, credible information or data, and technical vocabulary words.
8c.
  • Write an argument to defend a position.
  • Gather evidence from accurate and credible sources to support the claim.
  • Include a claim and relevant evidence in argumentative writing.
  • Acknowledge alternate or opposing claims in argumentative writing.
  • Present counterclaims and supporting reasons in argumentative writing.
Understanding:
8. Students understand that:
  • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
  • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
  • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
8a.
  • Narrative writing can take many forms, but there should be a coherent sequence of events.
  • Literary techniques are tools that can be used to create a piece of narrative writing.
  • Literary techniques in narrative writing contribute to the overall meaning and purpose of the text.
8b.
  • Informative or explanatory writing follows a predictable, organized text structure that utilizes appropriate transition words and precise vocabulary.
  • They must gather their information and data about the topic from multiple credible research sources.
  • Using credible information/data can support a writer's ideas and claims.
  • Writers elaborate on details included in the text by using formal academic, content-specific technical words.
8c.
  • To effectively defend a position, they must present relevant, well-organized evidence from accurate and credible sources.
  • An argument can be more effective if a writer acknowledges opposing viewpoints and counterclaims.
Learning Objectives:

  • Students will write a character analysis.
  • Students will describe how dialogue and actions contribute to the understanding of characters.
  • Students will use text evidence to support their analysis of characters.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

  • Introduce prompt to students. Explain to them that they will use their characterization charts to assist them with the task of writing a character analysis on the character assigned from "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry (or other assigned text)
  • Students will use their indirect and direct characterization chart from the  Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?: Determining Direct and Indirect Characterization Through Dialogue and Actions activity for reference of evidence from the text "A Retrieved Reformation" to support their character analysis.
  • Students will choose at least two character traits (two traits demonstrated through dialogue and two traits demonstrated through action) from the characterization chart.
  • Students will use these traits, along with the examples from the text to write a character analysis in the Google doc "Character Analysis Response", or in written form if the teacher prefers.
  • Students will write a two-three paragraph response to the following prompt: Based on the dialogue and action of the characters within the text, what are two traits you could use to describe the main character? Use two specific examples of dialogue and two specific examples of action from the text that support your chosen traits.
  • Students will submit their response to the teacher either digitally or manually.

 

 

Assessment Strategies:

Assessment should involve:

  • Students are able to apply specific and accurate traits to the main character.
  • Students address how dialogue contributes to the understanding of the character.
  • Students address how action contributes to the understanding of the character.

Use ACAP Informative Text-Dependent Writing Rubric to assess writing.


Advanced Preparation:

Lesson Time: 30 minutes

  • Determine whether this assignment will be completed and submitted digitally or manually. The Google doc can be printed and handed out to students for a written completion and submission.
  • Students should have read "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry prior to this activity.
  • Students should have received instruction or review on indirect and direct characterization and character traits. Teachers can use the activity  Determining Character Traits to introduce and begin practice on characterization.
  • Students should have completed a direct and indirect characterization chart/graphic on a selected character. This can be found in the activity Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?: Determining Direct and Indirect Characterization Through Dialogue and Actions.
  • The students will use the information recorded in the direct and indirect characterization chart to write a one-two paragraph response to the following prompt: Based on the dialogue and action of the characters within the text, what are three traits you could use to describe the main character? Use two specific examples of dialogue and two specific examples of action from the text that support your chosen traits.
Variation Tips (optional):
 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

Use these additional lessons for a complete lesson to the teaching and application of this standard.

Before Activity: Determining Character Traits

During Activity:  Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?: Determining Direct and Indirect Characterization Through Dialogue and Actions

  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: character analysis, character traits, characterization, direct, indirect characterization