How Well Do You Know the Jurors?
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Characterization
Writers use characterization to bring their characters to life. Characterization can be direct (what the writer/narrator tells us) or indirect (what the characters tell us).
In a play we learn about characters by understanding
What the playwright tells us (character list - direct characterization)
What the character says (lines - indirect characterization)
What the character does (stage directions - indirect characterization)
How other characters respond (lines, stage directions - indirect characterization)
Use the Characterization Chart to gather supporting evidence from the play.
In a play we learn about characters by understanding
What the playwright tells us (character list - direct characterization)
What the character says (lines - indirect characterization)
What the character does (stage directions - indirect characterization)
How other characters respond (lines, stage directions - indirect characterization)
Use the Characterization Chart to gather supporting evidence from the play.
Character Analysis Prewriting Chart | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Twelve Angry Men - Character Analysis Assignment
Task: Demonstrate your understanding of the play and the literary technique of characterization by selecting one juror from Reginald Rose’s play 12 Angry Men and writing a 300-500 word (1 1/2 - 2 page) character analysis which shows how 2-3 traits of the character are developed through direct and indirect characterization.
Process
Planning
Drafting
Your character analysis will consist of four or five paragraphs: introduction, two to three body points, and a conclusion. Write using 3rd person pronouns (no “you” or “I”) to create an academic voice. When referring to the characters and actions in the play, use present tense verbs. For instance, Rose uses Juror #8 to show the importance of standing up for one's convictions instead of Rose used.
Follow this format to refer to the characters: Juror #8
Use your completed outline as a guide.
I. Introduction – introduce your topic and make your purpose clear
A. Engage the reader (Begin with a quotation from the play, and idea from the "Author's Commentary," or a
statement about trials, juries, human nature – related to the play).
Do not include a sentence which begins "In this paper I will write about . . ."
B. Identify the author and title (italicized) and provide a brief (one or two sentence) summary of the main action of the play.
C. End with your thesis statement. It should include the two or three character traits you selected for your character.
Thesis statement formula: Author + title + focus + purpose
Sample thesis statement:
In his play 12 Angry Men Reginald Rose uses direct and indirect characterization
title author focus
to develop Juror # * as a (trait) and (trait) man.
purpose
II. Body – develop your main points with examples.
A. Trait #1
1. Topic sentence – identify the juror and his character trait.
a+. Supporting sentences – use paraphrased and directly quoted lines from the play to show how Rose
develops his character. You may also discuss how this trait impacts the juror's attitude toward the case and his
voting.
Use a lower case letter for each supporting sentence / idea in the outline of the body point, i.e. a-e
When using direct quotations, include the page number in parentheses. Because we are all drawing from the
same text, we do not need to include the author’s name in the citation or a Works Cited page.
Ex. Juror #3 shows his forceful nature when he screams, “I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him!” (239).
2. End with a concluding sentence the makes it clear what you’re “getting at” with this character trait.
B. Trait #2
1. Topic Sentence
a-e. Supporting Sentences
2. Concluding Sentence
C. Trait #3
1. Topic Sentence
a-e. Supporting Sentences
2. Concluding Sentence
III. Conclusion – bring your analysis to a close, emphasizing your main points.
A. Restate your thesis statement
B. Summarize your main points. Mention the juror, his character traits, and how they connect to the play as a whole
and the theme. You may also include the juror’s voting record and what changes his mind.
C. End with a closing that connects to the opening or the introduction.
Revision
Submission
A revised analysis will be submitted electronically for evaluation using a scoring rubric.
Process
Planning
- Based on your knowledge and understanding of the play, select one juror to use as the focus of your analysis.
- Complete a Characterization Chart to gather information from the play related to the character you have chosen.
- Following the structure shown below, create an outline of your character analysis.
Drafting
Your character analysis will consist of four or five paragraphs: introduction, two to three body points, and a conclusion. Write using 3rd person pronouns (no “you” or “I”) to create an academic voice. When referring to the characters and actions in the play, use present tense verbs. For instance, Rose uses Juror #8 to show the importance of standing up for one's convictions instead of Rose used.
Follow this format to refer to the characters: Juror #8
Use your completed outline as a guide.
I. Introduction – introduce your topic and make your purpose clear
A. Engage the reader (Begin with a quotation from the play, and idea from the "Author's Commentary," or a
statement about trials, juries, human nature – related to the play).
Do not include a sentence which begins "In this paper I will write about . . ."
B. Identify the author and title (italicized) and provide a brief (one or two sentence) summary of the main action of the play.
C. End with your thesis statement. It should include the two or three character traits you selected for your character.
Thesis statement formula: Author + title + focus + purpose
Sample thesis statement:
In his play 12 Angry Men Reginald Rose uses direct and indirect characterization
title author focus
to develop Juror # * as a (trait) and (trait) man.
purpose
II. Body – develop your main points with examples.
A. Trait #1
1. Topic sentence – identify the juror and his character trait.
a+. Supporting sentences – use paraphrased and directly quoted lines from the play to show how Rose
develops his character. You may also discuss how this trait impacts the juror's attitude toward the case and his
voting.
Use a lower case letter for each supporting sentence / idea in the outline of the body point, i.e. a-e
When using direct quotations, include the page number in parentheses. Because we are all drawing from the
same text, we do not need to include the author’s name in the citation or a Works Cited page.
Ex. Juror #3 shows his forceful nature when he screams, “I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him!” (239).
2. End with a concluding sentence the makes it clear what you’re “getting at” with this character trait.
B. Trait #2
1. Topic Sentence
a-e. Supporting Sentences
2. Concluding Sentence
C. Trait #3
1. Topic Sentence
a-e. Supporting Sentences
2. Concluding Sentence
III. Conclusion – bring your analysis to a close, emphasizing your main points.
A. Restate your thesis statement
B. Summarize your main points. Mention the juror, his character traits, and how they connect to the play as a whole
and the theme. You may also include the juror’s voting record and what changes his mind.
C. End with a closing that connects to the opening or the introduction.
Revision
- A draft will be reviewed by peers.
- Referring to the rubric, make revise the draft to improve the structure, content, and readability of the analysis.
Submission
A revised analysis will be submitted electronically for evaluation using a scoring rubric.
Character Analysis Rubric | |
File Size: | 60 kb |
File Type: | doc |