WARRIOR KIDS

CHARACTER ESSAY
Essay Writing Guide

TOPIC: From a text you have studied, describe at least one character who changed. Explain the change
that occurs and what you have learnt.
(Write about ONE character, and how we see them presented at the beginning, how they
develop/change in the middle and how they have changed by the end of the book.)

DECODING THE TOPIC:

1. Identify how many things the topic is asking you to write about. Every essay topic has at least
two parts. Decode your topic:
a. __________________________________ b. _______________________________________

PLANNING THE ESSAY:

1. Choose which character you will write about: __________________________________
2. Identify the character who changes, and what causes them to change. Then explain what
we learn from the character:
a. At the beginning of the book (what are they like originally?)
b. In the middle of the book (how they are changing/what causes them to change)
c. At the end of the book (how has their behaviour changed from the beginning?)
3. Fill each grid box with at least one idea, explanation, example/quote or comment. Identify
what the author is pointing out about a lesson that can be learnt through the character’s
behaviour/change.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH (Complete this section AFTER you plan the body paragraphs)
Should include You write it in order here.
Give text details In the novel . . . . . by . . . . . . .
Echo 1st part of topic an important character who changes is . . .
Summarise the structure of We can see what the author wants us to learn about . . . . by looking at how
your essay (what the this character starts at the beginning, how they change in the middle and
different body paragraphs what they are like by the end of the book.
will talk about)
At the beginning the author is showing us that . . .

In the middle the author wants us to see that . . .

Finally, at the end of the book the author is saying . . .

Personal response I felt the author’s message related to me because . . .

PARAGRAPH 1: Identify what the character is like at the beginning of the story
Statements: Describe the Explain more about each Important quote(s) Author’s message about
character. of your Statements Additional X’s? this character. What can
E + relevant X’s Comment on how these we learn from the
prove your Statements situation/behaviour?
or Explanations
What character traits do
they have?

How do they relate to

others?

PARAGRAPH 2: Identify how the character is developed in the middle of the story
Statements: what is Explain more about each Important quote(s) Author’s message about
causing the character to of your Statements Additional X’s? this character. What can
change? How do we E + relevant X’s Comment on how these we learn from the
know the character is prove your Statements situation/behaviour and
changing? or Explanations how it is changing?

Change(s) affecting Mark Thomas never

character(s) needed a reason to
thump someone, he just
did it.

Choice(s) made
PARAGRAPH 3: Identify how the character has changed by the end of the story
Change(s) result in what Explain more about each Important quote(s) Author’s message about
outcome? Is it a positive of your Statements Additional X’s? this character. What can
or negative outcome? E + relevant X’s Comment on how these we learn from how they
Why? Statements prove your Statements have changed?
or Explanations
Change(s) outcome

How did their change

affect others/how they
related to others

5. CONCLUSION: ANSWER THE SECOND PART OF THE TOPIC

You have already answered the second part of the topic, but to get maximum marks you also need to
provide a personal response.
IF YOU HAVE INCLUDED YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSE IN EACH OF YOUR PARAGRAPHS,
simply summarise them here, and explain why you thought it was a good/boring book.
IF YOU HAVE NOT INCLUDED YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSE IN EACH PARAGRAPH,
do so in your concluding paragraph.

Concluding paragraph: What did the author want me to learn?

Par 1 Lesson: _____________________________ Par 2 lesson: _____________________________
The author wanted to show me that . . . The author wanted to show me that . . .

Par 3 Lesson: _____________________________ Finally, add your personal opinion. Did the author
The author wanted to show me that . . . succeed? What made the book effective?