1.31.08: Creative Writing Workshop - Trying on a Character

Title: CWW Short Story - Trying on a Character

Author: M. Hill

Subject: ELA

Grade: 6

Week:

Unit/Lesson Plan #:

Unit theme: Adaptation to the Environment/Short Story Writing

Textbook references:

Learning objectives:

- Distinguish between character motives and character traits

- Describe a character that you've read about

- Create a new character

Key Questions, Concepts, or Themes:

- What does it mean to "try on a character"?

- Why is trying on a character useful?

- What is the difference between character traits and character motives? Why are these helpful in describing a character?

Stage 1: Journal Warm-Up: Write a descriptive paragraph about your favorite literary character.

Stage 2:

I. As a class discussion, students will share descriptions they wrote down about their character. They will not be reading the full paragraph, and will not need to identify the character's name or the piece of literature they come from. As they share description, I will note it on the board in two columns (motives & traits).

II. Ask students to identify why I put these pieces of description into two separate columns. Discuss how character traits are different from character motives, and why both are important in characterization.

III. TRYING ON A CHARACTER. Ask students what they think "trying on a character" means. Discuss why brainstorming is important in creative writing, especially for character development, and how motives might help to later spark a plot.

IV. As a class, we will try on a character in a character map brainstorm. This is done by mapping (spokes on a wheel) in three levels:

1. Character's name

2. Character's traits

3. Character's motives

Remember, it is okay to try on character description that you may later take off - it is all about experimenting!

[Talk about why we are writing realistic fiction to begin short story writing]

Stage 3: Students will try on their on character, creating traits and motives for their own realistic character. Students will pair and share at the end of class, and we will debrief the character creation process.

Homework: Try on a new character!

Assessments: (attach/link copies)

_x_ Group assessment

_x_ Observation of process/student work

_x_ Self-assessment by student

__ Teacher generated assignment

__ Written project

__ Test/Quiz

__ Other: ____________________________________