Characterization is the method used by a writer to develop a character. The method includes (1) showing the character’s appearance, (2) displaying the character’s actions, (3) revealing the character’s thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.
That’s all well and good, but how does that translate into writing? The idea behind “characterization” is for your audience to learn about your character without necessarily being told.
So what does that mean?
Good writers will weave in details about characters over the course of the piece. They will not include every detail–just the ones that they feel are important to capture the “feeling” they want to get across.
For example, if I wanted to show you how gentle my father can be, I might use his physical description (”Standing over 6 feet 5 inches, Gene easily dominated any room he entered..”) as a way of contrasting the man he is (”his teddy-bear smile melted his granddaughter’s heart…”). What I do NOT want to do is simply list off facts about him (”Gene is 6 ft 5inches. He has grey hair. he drives a Metro. He likes football…”)
But characterization, as the definition above says, is more than just listing off physical traits. It is trying to capture a character (or person) from a variety of different angles:
APPEARANCE: “Wearing pants held up a belt that had long since folded over on itself due to his oversized belly…”
ACTIONS: “Gene eyebrow arched downward as his vision surveyed the room, looking for someone who knew the answer…”
THOUGHTS: “‘I would do anything to help,’ Gene thought, ‘if they would just ask.’”
SPEAK: “Sit down,” he said, without yelling, yet forcefully enough so that his voice boomed across the room.
REACTIONS: The students sat in their desks, respectfully attentive as this mountain of a man worked on a math problem on the board.
See,, now showing you these things about my father should help you “see” the type of man that he is. (I had him for math when I was in school. He was one of the best teachers I ever had!) You should see that I respect the man on many levels for many reasons. But nowhere above do I ever write “I had respect for my father.” That would be weak writing—you don’t trust your skills enough in order for the reader to get that sense. Do you respect my father as much as I do just from what I have written? No, but that’s okay. In fact, my words might remind you of someone that YOU respect, and that’s the idea.
ASSIGNMENT ONE: Read the article entitled “Mariano Saves” by Tom Verducci. In your blog, you are to find two examples of REACTIONS, APPEARANCE, ACTIONS, THOUGHTS, and SPEECH (Let’s call it RAATS) Verducci uses to show Mariano’s character. Please include the page number as well.
TO GET AN A: You need to complete the above directions. When done, please write a short paragraph THAT CREATIVELY REFLECTS YOUR ABILITY TO analyze Mariano’s character.
TO GET A B: You need to complete the above directions. When done, please write a short paragraph in which you analyze Mariano’s character.
TO GET A C: You need to complete the above directions.
ASSIGNMENT TWO: We have already discussed in class the idea of writing an article about some EGHS student-athlete. Determine who you would like to write an article about. Then write a short paragraph trying to characterize this person. Make sure you use RAATS when characterizing your person. Please identify each of the five parts when you write your paragraph.
TO GET AN A; Complete the above directions AND WRITE A CREATIVE, INSIGHTFUL PIECE ABOUT YOUR PERSON.
TO GET A B: Complete the above directions.
TO GET LESS THAN A B: You need to do less than above.
BOTH OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS GO ONTO YOUR BLOG.
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