Write For Your LifeWrite For Your Life

Module TwoModule Two

Narrative Writing: Fun with Narrative Writing: Fun with CharacterizationCharacterization

Module OverviewModule Overview

• This module is designed to:This module is designed to:1.) Use pop culture television characters as 1.) Use pop culture television characters as

a way of exploring traditional narrative a way of exploring traditional narrative writing and character development.writing and character development.

2.) Critically reflect upon your own skills and 2.) Critically reflect upon your own skills and talents as a narrative writer.talents as a narrative writer.

3.) Discover how you can apply current 3.) Discover how you can apply current technology to teaching narrative writing technology to teaching narrative writing with your future students.with your future students.

Quick WriteQuick Write

What is your favorite character or What is your favorite character or story? Why is this story or character story? Why is this story or character so interesting to you? so interesting to you?

FOCUS LESSON:FOCUS LESSON:TYPES OF NARRATIVESTYPES OF NARRATIVES

• A narrative is a story with characters and A narrative is a story with characters and there is a definite plot line. A narrative there is a definite plot line. A narrative normally has a beginning, a middle and an normally has a beginning, a middle and an end.end.

• There are two types of narrative – fiction There are two types of narrative – fiction and non fictionand non fiction

FICTIONAL NARRATIVEFICTIONAL NARRATIVE

• This includes novels, plays, short stories and mini This includes novels, plays, short stories and mini sagas.sagas.

• In each instance the focus of the writing is what the In each instance the focus of the writing is what the writer’s imagination has created, the world and the writer’s imagination has created, the world and the situations and the characters he/she has conceived situations and the characters he/she has conceived of and written about.of and written about.

• Scripts (film, TV and radio) also belong in the fiction Scripts (film, TV and radio) also belong in the fiction narrative category. They are so different though in narrative category. They are so different though in presentation and the demands they make on the presentation and the demands they make on the writer, that they have their own section.writer, that they have their own section.

NON-FICTION NARRATIVENON-FICTION NARRATIVE

• This includes personal narratives (i.e. Real life This includes personal narratives (i.e. Real life stories about yourself or someone else), stories about yourself or someone else), bibliographiesbibliographies and and autobiographiesautobiographies, as well as , as well as feature storiesfeature stories in magazines and newspapers, and in magazines and newspapers, and traveltravel articlesarticles..

What do you know about these What do you know about these characters?characters?

• List everything you know about the List everything you know about the character or the book.character or the book.

CHARACTERSCHARACTERSIt is impossible to have a successful It is impossible to have a successful

story without charactersstory without characters

• Here is an example of how central Here is an example of how central characters are.characters are.

Trev has a disgusting habit. He collects Trev has a disgusting habit. He collects cockroaches. He calls them his ‘Pet Dinosaurs’ cockroaches. He calls them his ‘Pet Dinosaurs’ and he loves them. He stores them in little and he loves them. He stores them in little plastic bottles and feeds them food scraps. plastic bottles and feeds them food scraps. Now that wouldn’t be a problem, except for Now that wouldn’t be a problem, except for one thing – Trev doesn’t do this in the safety one thing – Trev doesn’t do this in the safety of his own home – he does it at school. of his own home – he does it at school.

One day, when……One day, when……

Character developmentCharacter development

• Your characters must look and sound Your characters must look and sound ‘real’ or credible.‘real’ or credible.

• Characters should move a story along – Characters should move a story along – they need to have a specific role.they need to have a specific role.

• Interactions between characters should be Interactions between characters should be believable.believable.

• There needs to be a purpose to any There needs to be a purpose to any character traits given .character traits given .

Writing Time!Writing Time!

TRY THIS…TRY THIS…

MOTIVATION IS WHAT DRIVES A MOTIVATION IS WHAT DRIVES A CHARACTER TO ACT THE WAYS HE CHARACTER TO ACT THE WAYS HE

/SHE DOES./SHE DOES.

Choose 2 of the characters and give them names. Choose 2 of the characters and give them names. Draw up a comprehensive list of the sorts of things Draw up a comprehensive list of the sorts of things

that could motivate such a character eg….that could motivate such a character eg….……JEALOUSY, FEAR, A PAINFUL PAST, GREED, HUNGER, JEALOUSY, FEAR, A PAINFUL PAST, GREED, HUNGER,

A QUEST, POWER…etc.A QUEST, POWER…etc.

Select one of those motives for each character and Select one of those motives for each character and write a brief outline of the sorts of actions and write a brief outline of the sorts of actions and responses which might be a result of that motive.responses which might be a result of that motive.

…….NOW THIS….NOW THIS…

• Choose one of the Choose one of the following ‘PLOT following ‘PLOT STARTERS’ and STARTERS’ and organize a series of organize a series of events and character events and character interaction/response interaction/response suitable to the plot.suitable to the plot.

• This is story-boardingThis is story-boarding – – arranging a arranging a PLOTPLOT into into SCENESSCENES

He sat there,….

Character SketchCharacter Sketch

• Choose a character. Make a picture Choose a character. Make a picture of the character. Come up with 5-6 of the character. Come up with 5-6 words to describe the character. words to describe the character.

• If you’re having trouble use the If you’re having trouble use the “Character Sketch Template”.“Character Sketch Template”.

Share TimeShare Time

• Tweet a series of clues about your favorite Tweet a series of clues about your favorite TV character. (Ex. I am bilingual, I have a TV character. (Ex. I am bilingual, I have a pet monkey…who am I??…Dora the pet monkey…who am I??…Dora the Explorer)Explorer)

• Post your “character sketch” on your blog, Post your “character sketch” on your blog, have your peers ask your character a have your peers ask your character a series of interview questions.series of interview questions.

• Find four Youtube links related to your Find four Youtube links related to your character. Post them to your blog.character. Post them to your blog.