Describing Map Example: Your paper

Dee

Strong-willed

“Dee wanted nice things…she was determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts” (Walker 77). Indirect characterization

* You must have a total of four descriptive words and evidence; NOT including my example

Label whether direct or indirect characterization

Descriptive word

Concrete Detail (CD) passage from the story properly cited.

Body Paragraph Details We are now going to use the information we

gathered on our Descriptive Map to practice writing a body paragraph for an essay.

A good body paragraph contains the following:Topic sentence: like a “mini-thesis” for the body

paragraph. It contains a subject and an opinion. A topic sentence informs the reader what you are going to talk about in your body paragraph.

Commentary: This means your opinion, interpretation, insight, analysis, personal response, reflection, etc. about a concrete detail (paraphrased or quoted passage) in an essay.

Character Analysis Paragraph

Look at your Descriptive Map. Pick TWO of the descriptive words from

your map that you think are the most important.

The words that you chose will be used as part of your topic sentence.

You will now write a paragraph on your character using the “Body Paragraph Outline” on the following slide:

Body Paragraph on Character Analysis Format:

1) Topic Sentence: Dee (subject) is (opinion) ___________ and ___________.2) For example, “Dee wanted nice things…she was determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts” (Walker 77). (Concrete detail CD-quoted passage)3) (commentary CM–what does sentence #2 mean?) 4) (commentary CM– how does sentence #2 matter?) 5) In addition, … (concrete detail CD – quoted passage).6) (commentary CM–what does sentence #5 mean?) 7) (commentary CM– how does sentence #5 matter?) 8) Concluding sentence that ties your thoughts together. 

strong-willed