Describing a character . . .From Reading to Writing Character descriptions can be found in most great literature. Mark Twain draws a portrait of a clever man in “The Million-Pound Bank Note.” In “The Bet,” Anton Chekhov paints a picture of how his main character changes from a greedy young man into a bitter old man.

Character Sketch

Describing a character . . .

Character Sketch

A character sketch is a snapshot of a character. It captures the personality and appearance of a person by showing how he or she thinks, looks, and acts. It leaves a reader feeling that he or she knows a character inside and out.

B a s i c s i n a B o x

Character Sketch at a Glance

RUBRIC STANDARDS FOR WRITING

A successful character sketch should

• present a vivid picture of the personality and physical appearance of the person

• give a strong impression of the person

• include dialogue, mannerisms, descriptions, and other devices that show, rather than tell, what the person is like

• reveal the writer’s response to the person

• place the person in surroundings that help readers understand him or her

• have a clear structure, a strong beginning, and a strong conclusion

Main Impression of Subject

person’s actions and speech

mannerisms of person

physical description

other people’s reactions to the

person

surroundingswriter’s feelings about the person

Whom do you want to write about? Think about people in your life who would make interesting subjects for your piece. You might choose someone you know well, such as a best friend, an outspoken relative, or a humorous sibling.

Writing Your Character Sketch1 Prewriting

You might also choose a unique person you’ve only observed, such as a bus driver who sings, a coach at school who carries a lucky rabbit’s foot, or someone who jogs by your house rain or shine.

Writing Your Character Sketch1 Prewriting

Planning Your Character Sketch

1. Study your character. In order to create a vivid picture of your character, you need to study him or her. Collect and organize information in a chart like the one below.

How character looks

What character says What character does

How others react

Planning Your Character Sketch

2. Choose your focus. Review the information in your chart. What main impression of your character is suggested by his or her actions, words, and looks, and the way others react to him or her?

3. Explore your feelings. Why is this person significant to you? What tone, or attitude, will you use to communicate your feelings?

Planning Your Character Sketch

4. Place the character in a setting. What place or situation will best show your character’s personality?

Writing Your Character Sketch

One of the best things about writing a character sketch is that you can start anywhere. As you write, your subject will begin to take shape. You can rework the details at a later stage, when you revise and edit.

2 Drafting

Writing Your Character Sketch

Show, don’t tell.

You can create powerful images in a reader’s mind by showing rather than telling. To describe a subject’s actions, use anecdotes, descriptions, quotations, and other details.

2 Drafting

Writing Your Character Sketch

Grab your reader’s attention at the beginning but save the best for last. Start with a quotation or an interesting detail to grab your reader’s attention. Develop your character’s personality in the body of the essay. Your ending should leave readers with a strong idea about your subject and how you feel about him or her.

2 Drafting

TARGET SKILL

USING QUOTES TO SHOW CHARACTER

Your goal in writing a character sketch is to create images in your reader’s mind of the person that you are describing. One method of showing rather than telling is using the character’s own words.

Writing Your Character Sketch3 Revising

TARGET SKILL

USING QUOTES TO SHOW CHARACTER

Writing Your Character Sketch3 Revising

Dialogue can reveal the personality of the subject more vividly than many sentences of explanation. Insert dialogue to help your character sketch come to life.

TARGET SKILL

USING MODIFIERS CORRECTLY

In everyday conversation, people often use modifiers incorrectly. For example, people might say He’s doing good instead of He’s doing well. Remember to use adverbs—rather than adjectives—to modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

4 Editing and ProofreadingWriting Your Character Sketch

FOR YOUR WORKING PORTFOLIO

What did you learn about your subject from writing this character sketch? Of which aspect of your character sketch are you most proud?

5 ReflectingWriting Your Character Sketch