Name______

Student Directions

Literary Analysis Performance Task

Task:

Authors use two types of characterization to communicate the personality of a character within a text. The first is direct characterization, which involves the author simply telling the reader the personality of a character. The second is indirect characterization and requires the reader to make inferences. Indirect characterization occurs when a character’s personality is revealed through their thoughts, their actions, what they say, their appearance, and what other characters say about them. When characters are dynamic, their personalities change over the course of the novel.

It is the responsibility of the reader to determine the personality of a given character based on the information presented by the author.

Student Directions:

You will now examine the novella, The Pearl by John Steinbeck. We have already read it one time together as a class.

You can re-examine the text as often as you like.When finished with the reading, you will review your notes as well as the text, and plan, draft, revise, and edit your writing. You may use your notes and refer to the text. Now read your assignment and begin your work.

Your Assignment:

Your teacher has given you the task of writing a multi-paragraph formal character analysis essay focusing on the protagonist, Kino. As a character analysis, this essay should focus on the two to four character traits that you believe most conclusively define Kino’s personality. Make sure to include a clear, focused thesis statement that acknowledges that he is a dynamic character. You are expected to use a minimum of two quotations from the novella to support each character trait that you use to describe Kino. Keep in mind, an exceptional character analysis will leave the reader with a clear sense of the character’s true nature.

Essay Scoring:

Your essay will be scored on the following:

  1. Organization/purpose
  2. Evidence/elaboration
  3. Conventions

Now, begin work on your essay. Manage your time carefully so that you can…

  • Plan your multi-paragraph essay
  • Write your multi-paragraph essay
  • Revise and edit the final draft of your multi-paragraph essay.

Remember to check your notes and your prewriting/planning as you write and then revise and edit your essay.

UNLOCKING THE PROMPT

  1. What type of writing would you be doing for this assignment?
  1. What are the tasks, expectations, and “musts” that you will need to include in order to be successful on this writing assignment? Look for key verbs.
  1. Record your initial thesis here:

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BRAINSTORM

Fill out the chart below using the guidelines. During class, do Chapter 3, 4 and 6.

Chapter / Quote that describes Kino at this point in the book (Remember PPD). Look back at the annotations you did for each chapter and find where you wrote about Characterization. / Possible adjective to describe Kino
1
2
3
4
5
6

Introductory Paragraph

BODY PARAGRAPH 1

Topic Sentence (TS)
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Concrete Detail #1 (CD)

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Commentary #1 (CM)
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Commentary #2 (CM)
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Concrete Detail #2 (CD)

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Commentary #1 (CM)
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Commentary #2 (CM)
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Concluding Sentence (CS)
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BODY PARAGRAPH 2

Topic Sentence (TS)
______
Concrete Detail #1 (CD)

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Commentary #1 (CM)
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Commentary #2 (CM)
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Concrete Detail #2 (CD)
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Commentary #1 (CM)
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Commentary #2 (CM)
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Concluding Sentence (CS)
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Concluding Paragraph