Biography

Character
Analysis

Life Size Body

Teacher Notes- Student Examples 11th grade ELA College Prep

Character analysis represents one of the most common assignments given in English literature classes. Many times at the secondary level we forget to give focus on the characters other than though discussion. A successful character analysis weighs heavily on the students to infer intangible traits and values from accurate details found in a text. This cooperative task engages students to infer those traits but also to show that knowledge by applying the traits as they create their body biography which includes details from the character's perspective. The body biography provides an opportunity for students to explore the supporting reasons for the traits they have chosen for their characters visual, especially in the background of commonalities among the lists compiled by the class. Even when students can confidently create suitable traits, they often find it hard to connect specific details to their inferences. This process of creating lists and then discussing them as in a small group and then to the class, gives students practice in connecting details.

These examples are from our Hamlet Unit, 2013

Created by Danielle Knight, 2013

Common Core Standards, Objectives, and Teaching Tips

Literacy- Common Core Standards ELA Reading: Literature11-12.1-6 Reading: Informational Text11-12.1-3 Writing11-12.1a-8 Speaking & Listening 11-12.1a-1d Language 11-12.2b-5b
Multiple Intelligences Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart") Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart") Linguistic intelligence ("word smart"): Nine Essential Instructional Strategies 2. Summarizing and note taking 3. Reinforcing effort and providing recognition 4. Homework and practice 6. Cooperative learning 7. Setting objectives and providing feedback

STUDENT OBJECTIVES
review the characteristics of adjectives. define the literary term "character trait" and explore how to provide details that support their inferences. conduct research using Internet reference resources to find accurate and descriptive word choice. explore perspective by writing descriptive word lists from the point of view of a character in a novel they've read recently.

Teaching Tips
Bulletin board paper works best for this activity. Bring the entire roll into your classroom and dispense the paper yourself. I would not allow my students to do this on their own to ensure they do not waste paper. -one pair of scissors for each group. Have markers, crayons and pencils ready. Paste sticks are okay if you have them, too. -Group member 1 in each group must lie down on the paper. -Group member 2 trace in pencil around the student to create the outline of the body -Group member 3 cuts the body out. -Group member 4 tapes the body up on the wall and creates the name plate for the character. Displaying the life size body biographic organizers work well for students. Throughout your novel unit, you will "catch" your students looking at the cut outs and their studying all the details quite often. Especially during critical character parts in the novel.

Created by Danielle Knight, 2013

Life Size Body Biography Group Project

Which character will you choose? Your group will create body biography. This is a visual and written portrait illustrating several aspects of the characters life within the story. You have many possibilities for filling up your life size cut out. There are nine categories of which you need to have on your body biography, but feel free to add anything else you think needs to be on there so others can understand your character better. Make sure that what you decide to put on your body biography can be explained to the whole class. Your body biography should reflect the creativity and a true understanding of the character.

Body Biography Requirements

Although I expect your biography to contain many elements, your project must contain the following: Characters name must be on the body Visual symbols Your characters three most important quotations from the text All nine categories must be represented on your life size body biography CREATIVITY!

Nine Categories of Your Body Biography

1.Placement: Carefully choose the placement of your text and artwork. This includes objects, words, phrases, and pictures. For example, the area where your characters heart would be might appropriate for illustrating the important relationships with his life. 2.Spine: The spine is your characters objective within the story. What is the most important goal for your character? What drives his thoughts and actions? This is your characters spine. How can you illustrate it? 3.Qualities: What are your characters best qualities? What are his/her worst qualities? How can you make us visualize them? 4.Colors: Colors are often symbolic. What color(s) do you most associate with your characters? Why? How can you work these colors in your project? 5.Mirror, Mirror: Consider both how your character appears to others on the surface and what you know about the characters inner-self (what the character really thinks about himself). Do these images clash or are they the same? What does this tell you about the character? 6.Dynamic: Any character shifts? How has your character changed within the story? Trace these changes through your artwork. 7.Lines: Be sure to include three or more important lines of the character in regards to a discovery or description of self. 8.Symbols: What objects can you associate/relate with your character that illustrate his own importance with the story? 9.Poem: Write a poem in regard to your characterat least 10 lines
Created by Danielle Knight, 2013

Life Size Body Biography Group Project

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Complete your male or female draft template. This depends on your characters trait ,not yours.
Present your draft template for approval to move onto the next step

Send only one member to receive your large paper from the roll. Group member 1 in each group must lie down on the paper. Group member 2 trace in pencil around the student to create the outline of the body Group member 3 cuts the body out. Group member 4 tapes the body up on the wall and creates the name plate for the character.

Life Size Body Biography Group Project

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Complete your male or female draft template. This depends on your characters trait ,not yours.
Present your draft template for approval to move onto the next step

Send only one member to receive your large paper from the roll. Group member 1 in each group must lie down on the paper. Group member 2 trace in pencil around the student to create the outline of the body Group member 3 cuts the body out. Group member 4 tapes the body up on the wall and creates the name plate for the character.

Life Size Body Biography Group Project

1) Complete your male or female draft template. This depends on your characters trait ,not yours.
Present your draft template for approval to move onto the next step

2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

Send only one member to receive your large paper from the roll. Group member 1 in each group must lie down on the paper. Group member 2 trace in pencil around the student to create the outline of the body Group member 3 cuts the body out. Group member 4 tapes the body up on the wall and creates the name plate for the character.

Created by Danielle Knight, 2013

MALE DRAFT TEMPLATE

1. Name: The characters name should be on the body. 2. Quotations: Near the character's head, students two or three direct quotations from the story that sum up the character and add to an understanding of the character. 3. Original Text: You should include a poem for your character. 4. Outside Text: You should include a set of song lyrics that appropriately applies to this character. 5. Colors: What colors are associated with your character? Why?

Include:

6. Symbolic representation of :

A. The Heart: This should represent what this character loves most. B. The Backbone: This should represent what motivates the character most. C. The Hands: The character should be holding something in his/her hands which represents what he seeks to control. D. The Feet: This character should be standing on something which represents the character's most fundamental beliefs about life. E. The Legs: This should represent the virtues and vices (best and worst qualities) of the character. F. The eyes: This should represent how the character appears to others on the outside. G. The gut: This should represent the characters inner self. H. The head: This should represent something that the character learns throughout the story

Group Members:

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Created by Danielle Knight, 2013

FEMALE DRAFT TEMPLATE

1. Name: The characters name should be on the body. 2. Quotations: Near the character's head, students two or three direct quotations from the story that sum up the character and add to an understanding of the character. 3. Original Text: You should include a poem for your character. 4. Outside Text: You should include a set of song lyrics that appropriately applies to this character. 5. Colors: What colors are associated with your character? Why?

Include:

6. Symbolic representation of :

A. The Heart: This should represent what this character loves most. B. The Backbone: This should represent what motivates the character most. C. The Hands: The character should be holding something in his/her hands which represents what he seeks to control. D. The Feet: This character should be standing on something which represents the character's most fundamental beliefs about life. E. The Legs: This should represent the virtues and vices (best and worst qualities) of the character. F. The eyes: This should represent how the character appears to others on the outside. G. The gut: This should represent the characters inner self. H. The head: This should represent something that the character learns t throughout the story
Created by Danielle Knight, 2013

Group Members:

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Names of Group Members:

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

GET STARTED! 1.Write the Poem FIRST so that you get ideas for what to put on your body. 2.Use the rough draft body and sketch out where you will be putting items and what the items will be. You must use your draft template as a guide. 3. Draft template is 10 points

Life Size Body Biography Group Project Rubric

Category
Draft template Placement Spine Qualities Colors Image Dynamic Lines Symbols Poem

Points
10 10 10 10 5 5 15 10 10 15 Total

Earned

Created by Danielle Knight, 2013