10F ELA

ELA 10F Character Essay

Part 1: Choosing a Character and Three Predominant Traits

A: Brainstorm a list of traits that describe your character. Also think about examples from the text
that correspond to the traits you identified.

Character Trait Example from text and explanation

isolated At the beginning of the novel, Melinda says, “I

am Outcast” (Anderson 4). This shows Melinda
feels like she is different than everyone else.
She feels like she is alone.
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Choose three traits that you feel best represent your character. Choose one trait to represent
her/him at the beginning of the novel, one in the middle of the novel and one at the end of
novel.

1) ___________________________ Beginning of novel

2) ___________________________ Middle of novel

3) ___________________________ End of novel

Part 2: Thesis Statement

Now you can create a thesis statement by filling in your character’s name and the three character
traits you chose to represent her:

_______________ (main character) is revealed as _______________, __________________________,

_____________________ in the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
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Part 3: Quote Journals

For each of the traits you have chosen, you will need to use at least two quotes or references to
the text as support. Make sure you choose quotes which are the most effective in demonstrating
the traits you have chosen.
Using quote journals can help you organize your thoughts, note the context of your quote, and
draw connections between quotes.

Quote # _____ Page #______ Trait: _____________

Context of Quote: (Where was the quote found? What was happening at the time? Who was
speaking? To whom were they speaking?)

Quote:

Importance of Quote:

 How was the reader impacted as a result of the trait that was employed by the author?
 How does this trait shape your understanding of the character?
 Do your views change as a result of what you have read?
 Does this trait have further implications later on in the piece?

Part 4: Essay Outline

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Introduction – Introduce the title and author of the text. Identify the character
traits you have chosen.

Hook:

Information on Topic:

Thesis:

________________________ (main character) is revealed as _____________________,

_______________________, and ______________________________.

Point 1: _____________(character) is revealed as being ________________________(character

traits) to the reader.

Example 1: (remember to include the context of the quote for the reader)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Analysis :
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Example 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Analysis:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Concluding Sentence: ________________ (character) being shown as

_________________________(trait) is important to the reader because
___________________________________________________________________

Point 2: _____________(character) is revealed as being ________________________(character

traits) to the reader.

Example 1:

Analysis

Example 2:

Analysis:

Concluding sentence:

Point 3: ________________(character) is revealed as being ________________________(character

traits) to the reader.
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Example 1:

Analysis

Example 2:

Analysis:

Concluding sentence:

Conclusion

Re-state Thesis:

Summarize Points:

Final Thought (Connection and/or Extension)

Quote # ____ Page #______ Trait: _____________

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Context of Quote:

Quote:

Importance of Quote:

Quote # _____ Page #______ Trait: _____________

Context of Quote:

Quote:

Importance of Quote:

Quote # ______ Page #______ Trait : _____________

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Context of Quote:

Importance of Quote:

Connection to other quote(s):

Quote # _____ Page #______ Trait: _____________

Context of Quote:

Importance of Quote:

Connection to other quote(s):

Quote # _____Page #______ Trait : _____________

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Context of Quote:

Importance of Quote:

Connection to other quote(s):

Quote # _____ Page #______Trait: _____________

Context of Quote:

Importance of Quote:

Connection to other quote(s):