Creating a Character Sketch

Mrs. Tweedy8th Grade Language Arts

Purpose

• You will be able to use a graphic organizer (4-Square) to write a character sketch about someone you know in real life.

• You will write an interesting character sketch and include all of the required elements.

Keywords to Think About…

• Character• Character Sketch• Expository Writing• Traits• Topics• Details• Vivid

What IS a Character Sketch?

• A character sketch highlights several important characteristics or personality traits of a person -- a real person, a person in literature, or an imagined person. A good character sketch provides support detail for each identified trait.

What a Character Sketch Is NOT

• A character sketch is not a biography. Your goal is not to tell all about the persons life. Instead you are telling what kind of person they are and recalling stories or details from their life. These might be your favorite memories or an important event in their life.

An Example Character SketchMy friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.

Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.

Liz can be a barrel of fun when she is in the mood. I really like when she does silly things. One night, we rented three movies and watched all three while we ate popcorn, cheese and crackers, and a whole box of chocolates. We gabbed about everything and even imagined what it would be like to live like some of the characters in the movies.

Since my best friend is now living over 500 miles away, I miss all the laughter she brought to my life and the times I could ask her opinion on things that troubled me. But I can still hear the sound of her voice and ask her opinion on the telephone!

In the character sketch on the previous slide, the writer highlighted what he or she felt were some of Liz's best qualities or character traits. For each trait or characteristic, the writer provided at least one detail that supported -- served as proof -- that Liz possessed that trait. The character sketch form below provides a simple outline for a character sketch.

On Your OwnThis form will help you identify: • the qualities/character traits that the writer likes most about Liz. • details/examples to support those traits.

Character Sketch Format/Graphic Organizer

Topic Sentence: ____________________________________________________

Trait #1 _________________________________ Example(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Trait #2 _________________________________ Example(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Trait #3 _________________________________ Example(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Concluding Sentence: ____________________________________________________

What You Can Include

1. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION2. WHAT THE CHARCTER SAYS3. WHAT THE CHARACTER DOES4. WHAT THE CHARACTER THINKS5. WHAT OTHERS SAY TO OR ABOUT THE CHARACTER6. WHAT OTHERS DO TO THE CHARACTER7. THE SETTING IN WHICH THE CHARACTER IS FOUND8. WHAT THE CHARACTER IS LIKE

Your Assignment

• First, you need to think of someone you know very well (a family member or friend).– You may NOT do one about a famous person or

someone you just met. • Make a list of traits that you would like to

share about that person.• You will be writing a 5 paragraph character

sketch using a 4-Square.