1. Characterization Think S.T.E.A.L

2. SPEECH What they say How they say it
Complex language – intelligent or educated
Swear – angry or crude
Talkative – nervous or social
How they say it
Accent
Tone of voice (deep & gruff; high & squeaky)
Speed
Refined vs. colloquial manner

3. THOUGHTS Thinking Feeling Thoughts revealed throughout story
Inner dialogues
Beliefs
Decisions made
Feeling
Revealed through body language
Tone of voice (rude, flippant, encouraging)
Emotions

4. EFFECTS ON OTHERS Emotions Reactions
Feelings he/she brings about in other characters
Others are attracted to him/her
Or avoid him/her
Reactions
Popular with lots of friends?
Alone with few or no friends?
Others reach out to help?
Or do they ignore?

5. A character may be motivated by:
Anger
Guilt
Fear
Love
Competition
Revenge
Success

6. ACTIONS Motivations With others Under stress/in conflict
Reasons why characters make their decisions
Beliefs, way they were raised, their education, etc.
With others
Sympathetic?
Apathetic?
Selfish?
Under stress/in conflict
Face problems head-on
Try to escape/run away
Trial and error approach
Ask for advice
Handle independently

7. LOOKS Expression Dress & Appearance Facial expressions Body language
Clothing
Shoes
Hair
Body build
Size
Way of moving

8. CHANGES
Just as we are changed by our experiences in real life, characters undergo changes in a story.
A character often changes as different events unfold, and these changes can affect the outcome of the story.
These are dynamic characters.

9. Types of Changes Intellectual Emotional Physical
Changes from beginning to end
Change before an event and after an event in the plot

10. Readers come to know a character through the character’s:
thoughts
words
Our job as readers is to draw a conclusion (infer) about the character's traits from what the character says, thinks, and does.
actions