Personal and Cultural Identity

Task: Using several methods of characterization discussed in the previous lesson, write a one page scene about a brief encounter with a character (may be completely fictional or based on a real event or character). Open with a quick description of  the situation in general and then you might include the following:

1. Description of a place (work, home etc.) where they belong to reveal something about them.
2. A description of what they look like. But show they are old by the way they move rather than tell. 
3. Dialogue which can reveal personality or background
4. In your interaction have some vivid actions (or not if they are on their deathbed!)

Tips: Think first about the main idea or emotion you want the reader to have about this character. 

Before writing, brainstorm some ideas about your character. You might want to use these sites to help:

Character File Questionnaire
Physical Traits Thesaurus
11 Secrets To Writing Effective Character Description

Example:

Eudora Welty’s Sketch of Miss Duling

Miss Duling dressed as plainly as a Pilgrim on a Thanksgiving poster we made in the schoolroom, in a longish black-and-white checked gingham dress, a bright thick wool sweater the red of a railroad lantern--she'd knitted it herself--black stockings and her narrow elegant feet in black hightop shoes with heels you could hear coming, rhythmical as a parade drum down the hall. Her silky black curly hair was drawn back out of curl, fastened by high combs, and knotted behind. She carried her spectacles on a gold chain hung around her neck. Her gaze was in general sweeping, then suddenly at the point of concentration upon you. With a swing of her bell that took her whole right arm and shoulder, she rang it, militant and impartial, from the head of the front steps of when it was time for us all to line up, girls on one side, boys on the other. We were to march past her into the school building, while the fourth-grader she nabbed played time on the piano, mostly to a tune we could have skipped to, but we didn't skip into .

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment. 

Learning Target: Exemplary (6/6):  Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective. An overall image and/or emotion is created in the scene while revealing several character traits. 

Written Expression:  Exemplary (6/6):  Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written, and carefully chosen.  Work has been proofread and there are few or no errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.