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Learn it your way
A short class with Sarah and her students. The other ways are under More.
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Today, we're going to dive into internal and external characterization. Can anyone tell me what those terms mean?
External characterization is about how a character looks or acts, right?
And internal is about their thoughts and feelings?
Exactly! External characterization shows us the visible traits, while internal characterization reveals motivations and emotions. Remember this with the acronym 'ICE': Internal = Character Emotion. Can anyone think of a character from a book who exemplifies this?
Harry Potter! He looks brave on the outside, but he often feels scared or insecure inside.
Great example! Let’s practice recognizing both types in our characters.
Now, let's talk about motivation and stakes. Why do characters do what they do?
Because they want something, right?
Absolutely! A character's motivation is what they desire or need. Remember the mnemonic 'WANTS' - What A Narrator Tells about a character’s Stakes. Can anyone share a character’s motivation from their favorite story?
Katniss Everdeen wants to save her sister and survive the Hunger Games.
Exactly! By understanding a character’s wants, you can create tension and keep readers engaged.
Let's discuss character arcs now. Can someone explain what a character arc is?
It's how a character changes during the story!
Correct! Think of the structure 'BEGINNING -> CONFLICT -> RESOLUTION' to visualize how they evolve. Can anyone think of a character arc?
Frodo Baggins! He starts as a naive hobbit and has to mature and carry the burden of the Ring.
Fantastic! To remember this, use the phrase: 'Change for Challenge.' Let’s practice developing our own character arcs.
Now, let's explore specific exercises! One exercise is a 'Character Interview.' Who would like to share what they’d ask their characters?
I would ask my character what their biggest fear is.
Excellent question! Another exercise is 'Dialogue to Reveal Character.' This means showing traits through what they say. Does everyone understand how to implement this?
Yes, by focusing on how they speak!
Exactly! Let’s try writing a dialogue piece with this in mind.
Characters have both observable traits (external) and internal motivations, thoughts, and emotions (internal) that drive their actions. Understanding both is crucial for depth.
A character's motivations and what they have at stake add layers to their personality and decisions.
The transformation a character undergoes through the narrative helps in engaging the reader.
Students craft and answer queries about their characters.
Creating conversations to reflect personality without overt descriptions.
Enabling character traits to emerge from actions rather than flat descriptions.
These exercises foster creativity, enhance storytelling skills, and help students express individual characters authentically in their narratives.
A character's mind can be a maze, seek their heart and understand their ways.
Imagine a dragon who appears fierce (external) but has a soft heart hidden beneath its scales (internal). This juxtaposition defines its character.
Use 'MICE' to remember elements of motivation: Motivation, Internal traits, Conflict, Evolution.
Make 'CAMP' for Character Arc Motivation Projection: Conflict, Actions, Motivations, Progression.
Term
Internal Characterization
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Term
External Characterization
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Term
Character Arc
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Term
Motivation
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The process of creating and evolving a character's personality and traits within a narrative.
The portrayal of a character's inner thoughts, feelings, motivations, and personal conflicts.
The visible traits of a character, including their physical appearance, behaviors, and mannerisms.
The transformation or growth a character undergoes throughout a story.
The underlying reasons or desires that drive a character’s actions in a narrative.
This section focuses on character development exercises that enhance students' abilities to create multi-dimensional characters within their writing.
Character development exercises are essential for helping students craft believable and rich characters in their narratives. This section outlines various techniques such as character interviews, dialogues, and actions to showcase traits, as well as explores the importance of internal versus external characterization.
This section emphasizes the significance of character development in creative writing, presenting various exercises and techniques to aid students in crafting nuanced, multi-dimensional characters.
These exercises foster creativity, enhance storytelling skills, and help students express individual characters authentically in their narratives.