Character Analysis Character Analysis PaperPaper

Paper FormatPaper Format

First ParagraphFirst Paragraph

Include an Include an attention grabberattention grabber, , lead-in sentencelead-in sentence and and thesis thesis statementstatement

Introduce the novel and author in Introduce the novel and author in your thesis statementyour thesis statement

Attention GrabberAttention Grabber(first sentence)(first sentence)

Ask a questionAsk a question– Have you ever done something you Have you ever done something you

regret?regret? ““Paint a Picture”Paint a Picture”

– It was a cool, dark night on a curvy It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when everything abandoned road when everything changed forever. changed forever.

Startling StatementStartling Statement– X amount of people are killed in bicycle X amount of people are killed in bicycle

accidents each year.accidents each year.

Lead-inLead-in

This sentence will connect your This sentence will connect your attention-grabber to your thesis attention-grabber to your thesis statement statement

Let’s see how we can build on each of Let’s see how we can build on each of the attention grabbers we have the attention grabbers we have already written.already written.

Example Lead-in SentencesExample Lead-in Sentences

– Have you ever done something you regret? Have you ever done something you regret? Well, four teenagers did last summer. Well, four teenagers did last summer.

– It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when everything changed forever. road when everything changed forever. The The nightmare will never end for four nightmare will never end for four teenagers.teenagers.

– X amount of people are killed in bicycle X amount of people are killed in bicycle accidents each year. accidents each year. This is just one This is just one interesting fact four teenagers were interesting fact four teenagers were unaware of on a dark night.unaware of on a dark night.

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

The Thesis Statement is one sentence that The Thesis Statement is one sentence that states the main idea of your essay. It tells states the main idea of your essay. It tells what the essay will be about. Following are what the essay will be about. Following are some examples.some examples.

Thesis Statement Format:Thesis Statement Format:– Subject+Appositive+action verb+prepositional Subject+Appositive+action verb+prepositional

phrasephrase– Subject: Julie JamesSubject: Julie James– Appositive: main character in…Appositive: main character in…– Action verb: experiences many changesAction verb: experiences many changes– Prepositional phrase: from the secret she Prepositional phrase: from the secret she

carried…carried…

Thesis StatementThesis Statement– Have you ever done something you regret? Well, four Have you ever done something you regret? Well, four

teenagers did last summer. teenagers did last summer. Julie James, a main character in Julie James, a main character in I Know What You Did Last SummerI Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, by Lois Duncan, experiences many changes from the secret she carried experiences many changes from the secret she carried about the bike accident.about the bike accident.

– It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when It was a cool, dark night on a curvy abandoned road when everything changed forever. This night is all four teenagers everything changed forever. This night is all four teenagers can think of. can think of. Julie James, a main character in Julie James, a main character in I Know What I Know What You Did Last SummerYou Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, experiences many by Lois Duncan, experiences many changes from the secret she carried about the bike changes from the secret she carried about the bike accident.accident.

– X amount of people are killed in bicycle accidents each year. X amount of people are killed in bicycle accidents each year. This is just one interesting fact four teenagers were unaware of This is just one interesting fact four teenagers were unaware of on a dark night. on a dark night. Julie James, a main character in Julie James, a main character in I Know I Know What You Did Last SummerWhat You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, experiences by Lois Duncan, experiences many changes from the secret she carried about the many changes from the secret she carried about the bike accident.bike accident.

Second ParagraphSecond Paragraph

Identify the character that is the Identify the character that is the subject of your paper by namesubject of your paper by name

Give general information such as Give general information such as physical descriptions, personality physical descriptions, personality traits, and any other background traits, and any other background information you think is important, information you think is important, such as academic skills, athletic such as academic skills, athletic ability, family background, jobs, etc.ability, family background, jobs, etc.

Third ParagraphThird Paragraph

Briefly summarize the facts of the accidentBriefly summarize the facts of the accident Tell how your character responded to and Tell how your character responded to and

dealt with the accident at the time it dealt with the accident at the time it occurredoccurred

What was your character’s motivation for What was your character’s motivation for reacting in the way he/she did? Did the reacting in the way he/she did? Did the accident seem to affect your character accident seem to affect your character during the first year after it happened, during the first year after it happened, before Julie received the note? If so, how? before Julie received the note? If so, how? Use specific details from the story.Use specific details from the story.

Fourth ParagraphFourth Paragraph Tell how your character reacts to the Tell how your character reacts to the

various signs that someone knows about various signs that someone knows about the accident and is out for revenge the accident and is out for revenge – including the note sent to Julie, the magazine including the note sent to Julie, the magazine

picture on Helen’s door, the newspaper clipping picture on Helen’s door, the newspaper clipping sent to Ray, and finally Barry’s shooting. sent to Ray, and finally Barry’s shooting.

Why do you think your character reacts the Why do you think your character reacts the way he/she does? How does his/her way he/she does? How does his/her reaction reflect your character’s values? reaction reflect your character’s values?

How does your character’s reaction How does your character’s reaction compare to that of the other characters? compare to that of the other characters?

Conclusion Paragraph (5Conclusion Paragraph (5thth))

This should be a conclusion to your This should be a conclusion to your paperpaper

Did your character seem to change Did your character seem to change due to the events of the story? If so, due to the events of the story? If so, how? (be specific)how? (be specific)

Was your character believable? Why Was your character believable? Why or why not?or why not?

Would you like to know this character? Would you like to know this character? Why or why not? Why or why not?

Conclusion Paragraph (5Conclusion Paragraph (5thth))

Start with a concluding statementStart with a concluding statement Examples include:Examples include:

– In conclusion,In conclusion,– As you can see,As you can see,– To close,To close,– All in all,All in all,– In summaryIn summary– Overall,Overall,– To sum up,To sum up,

Conclusion Paragraph (5Conclusion Paragraph (5thth))

Add a statementAdd a statement– In conclusion, Julie learned…In conclusion, Julie learned…– As you can see, Ray changed from As you can see, Ray changed from

being…to being….being…to being….– In summary, Barry realized….In summary, Barry realized….– Overall, Helen’s character was Overall, Helen’s character was

believable because…believable because… Restate your thesis Restate your thesis

Conclusion Paragraph (5Conclusion Paragraph (5thth))

Original Thesis:Original Thesis: A secret about a A secret about a bicycle accident brought many bicycle accident brought many changes to the life of Julie James.changes to the life of Julie James.

Re-written for conclusion:Re-written for conclusion: Julie Julie James changed throughout the novel James changed throughout the novel due to the guilt she was carrying due to the guilt she was carrying about the bike accident.about the bike accident.

Conclusion Paragraph (5Conclusion Paragraph (5thth))

Example:Example:– In conclusion, Julie learned an important In conclusion, Julie learned an important

lesson. She realized that it is okay to lesson. She realized that it is okay to follow your instincts and to stand up for follow your instincts and to stand up for what you believe in. Julie James changed what you believe in. Julie James changed throughout the novel due to the guilt throughout the novel due to the guilt she was carrying about the bike she was carrying about the bike accident.accident.