BIg+Ideas

Why are our core books required? How can we understand and relate to characters? What does what we learn in class have to do with our lives and our community? How can we clearly convey what we have learned to different audiences?

Big Ideas

Reading Themes in literature are universal. There are different types of characters-- flat, round, static, and dynamic. Readers can see characters develop throughout a novel. The setting of a novel can influence the characters' actions.



Writing Different pieces of writing have different purposes, topics, and audiences. An essay is a structured piece of writing that conveys clear ideas to an audience.

The thesis of an essay is a debatable statement that the writer attempts to prove by presenting and explaining evidence.

Basic Understandings Reading By revealing a character's thoughts, words, and actions, an author allows the reader to determine a character's traits. Dynamic characters change during the course of a novel. Static characters do not change significantly during the course of a novel. Round characters are complex and well-developed. Flat characters are not fully developed. A character analysis shows the traits and complexities of a character. A character analysis contains a motivator, thesis, direct evidence, explanation of evidence, and a conclusion.

Writing A character analysis allows a reader to take a close look at a character and to figure out what makes a character "tick." It may include character type, traits, actions, and motivations. It may include information about the characters role in developing plot and presenting theme. It will take into consideration setting. An 5-paragraph essay includes an introduction (with motivator and thesis), three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The evidence in the character analysis is cited from the novel. The quotations are embedded in the writing, explained in the context of the story, and punctuated correctly. Transition words are used to connect ideas.

Personal Identity/Traits/ Paragraph Writing (Playlist) Character Traits and Types/ Explaining Quotations (Summer Reading) Character Analysis/ Essay Structure (Core Book)