Writing Character Analyses

Revising Last Week’s Paper and Prewriting to Research Your New Topic
Student: Danny Wang Date: Nov 15 2023

Homework1 Character Scouting Report

Choose a character from your literary work(please find a NEW book to do the character
analyze) . Fill in the scouting report about the character. Include details from the text
as well as your own observations.

NOTE : you may use this story for your week 3&4 Character Analysis assignment： Da
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vPaM4zw4Bygj2nNMyNED6IylvrMVw1_O/view?usp=sharing

Harry Potter throughout the whole series

Appearance: What does Harry is described in the books as having untidy black
the character look like? hair, green eyes, a lightning bolt shaped scar on his
forehead, and small and skinny for his age.

Personality: What words Harry is brave, determined, humble, and loyal. He also
describe the character's overall cares about his close friends.
personality? Caring? Friendly?
Bubbly? Aggressive?

Strengths: What Some of Harry’s strengths that help him succeed are how
characteristics help the he is courageous and is willing to risk himself to save or
character succeed? help others.

Weaknesses: What Some of Harry’s weaknesses are how he can sometimes

characteristics get the act foolishly and recklessly and sometimes acted without
character in trouble? common sense.

Hopes: What does the Harry Potter hopes to belong with loved ones, to defeat
character want or desire? Voldemort, and to help other people.
Fears: What scares the Harry is scared of disappointing others, being responsible
character? for other people’s deaths, and feeling unwelcome.

Motivations: What drives Harry is motivated by helping others and this makes him
the character to take action? successful when trying to complete something.

Homework2 Analyze Character Development

Search through the literature, carefully reading passages that contain your key
character or characters. Fill in the character shift chart with information about the
character's development. Answer the questions by listing things the character does or
says. Then connect the shift in character to lessons about life in general.

Character Shift Chart

Beginning At the start of the series and over the course of the first
few books, Harry is a young boy and is curious and
How does the friendly. He makes friends with Hermoine and Ron at
character feel?
Hogwarts and takes it as a welcome break from the
How does the
Dursleys. Harry feels like he has opened a new world
character act?
entirely.

Middle As Harry slowly progresses through the 7-book series, he

starts to grow both physically and mentally. From many
What events force events that happen to him, he is forced to grow up and
the character to
become stronger and tougher. He is also forced to witness
change the way
and understand many events that change him.
she or he thinks or
acts?
 Ending At the end of the series, Harry Potter is able to defeats
Voldemort. He feels happy for himself and others but also
How does the feels regret and feels like he is the reason why so many
character feel?
other people died. However, Harry is still determined to do
How does the
the right thing.
character act?

What does the character's development teach about life in general?

It teaches us about true friendship, determination, and facing your fears.

Homework3 Write a Thesis Statement

Write down the character(s) you will analyze and the lesson you will connect to. Then
combine both into a single sentence that expresses your thesis.

Example:

Character + Lesson Learned = Thesis Statement

Castle Crenshaw you have to accept Joining the Defenders

your past before teaches Castle Crenshaw to
you can chase a accept his past and chase a
better future better future.

Character + Lesson Learned = Thesis Statement

Harry Potter teaches us about true Harry Potter’s journey through the
friendship, series teaches us about true
determination, and friendship, determination, and
facing your fears facing your fears.
Homework4 Prewriting to Outline Your Report
An outline is an organized list that previews what you want to say in your essay. On the
first level (I, II, III, IV..), write topic sentences that support your thesis (position)
statement. On the second level (A, B..), write details that support the idea in the topic
sentence above it. Please write as many details as possible, so that your marking
tutor has enough content to help you write better.

Outline Example

Outline

Opinion Statement: Harry Potter’s journey through the series teaches us about true
friendship, determination, and facing your fears.

I. In the beginning of the series, Harry Potter is shown to be a young boy who is
curious and friendly.

A. When he goes to Hogwarts, He makes friends with Hermoine and Ron

and takes it as a welcome break from the Dursleys.
 B. Harry feels like he has opened a new world entirely.
C. He is curious about the wizarding world but doesn’t understand his past
completely.

II. As Harry’s adventure progresses, many changes happen to his personality.

A. From many events that happen to him, he is forced to grow up and
become stronger and tougher.
B. He is also forced to witness and understand many events such as
murder that change him.
C. Harry grows up and faces problems affecting his life.

III. The end of the seven book series shows how far Harry has come.
A. At the end of the series, Harry Potter is able to defeat Voldemort, the
general antagonist of the series.
B. He feels happy for himself and others but also feels regret and feels like
he is the reason why so many other people died. However, Harry is
still determined to do the right thing.
C. He grows from a small but curious kid into a teenager with a deep
personality.

IV. There are many life lessons that can be taken from the Harry Potter series.
A. True friendship is shown through Harry’s close friendships between
Hermoine and Ron.
B. Having lost both of his parents to Voldemort, Harry yearns to fit in
throughout the whole series and it demonstrates belonging.
C. Harry’s story also shows determination and facing your fears through
the courageous things he does.