Characterization- a writer’s use of information that tells readers what a character in a story is like A writer uses characterization to make us feel a certain way about a character. We may be made to like or dislike a character, to be suspicious or feel sorry for a character, etc. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

Tips to Add to Your Understanding of Characterization Writers make us feel a certain way about a character by telling readers very directly the kind of person the character is.  Michael was a very angry person.  Amanda thought she was the smartest girl in the class. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

Tips to Add to Your Understanding of Characterization Writers make us feel a certain way about a character by telling readers what the character does.  Michael picked a fight with someone every day.  Every time the teacher asked for an answer to a question, Amanda stuck her nose – and her hand – up in the air. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

Tips to Add to Your Understanding of Characterization Writers make us feel a certain way about a character by telling readers what the character says.  “I can beat anybody in this school!” Michael yelled to the students who had crowded around him.  “Nobody in this class is as smart as I am!” said Amanda, looking over her shoulder at her classmates. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

Tips to Add to Your Understanding of Characterization Writers make us feel a certain way about a character by telling readers how other characters react to him or her.  Whenever Michael walked into the classroom, everybody looked the other way so that he wouldn’t pick a fight with them.  Whenever Amanda raised her hand in class, the other students rolled their eyes. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

Tips to Add to Your Understanding of Characterization Writers make us feel a certain way about a character by telling readers what other characters say about him or her.  Ryan said, “I’m sick of Michael trying to pick a fight with me, so I’m gonna teach him a lesson he’s not gonna forget.”  “Amanda thinks she’s smarter than everyone in the class,” said Victoria. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

Michael was a very angry person. Given what you know about Michael and Amanda, what do you think of them? Whenever Michael walked into the classroom, everybody looked the other way so that he wouldn’t pick a fight with them. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

As you listen to the reading of My Ol’ Man, make a “mind movie” and listen for signs of characterization that Patricia Polacco uses to make us feel a certain way about the main character. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization

What the dad does or says What other characters do in response to the dad What other characters say about the dad CHARACTERIZATION What kind of character is the dad?

Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Elements of Characterization Be alert to the author’s use of characterization in the book we are reading!