‌

Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌2.2‌ ‌

Characters‌‌and‌‌Characterizations‌ ‌
‌
Contents‌ ‌

Introduction‌ 1‌ ‌

Learning‌‌Objectives‌ 2‌ ‌

Let’s‌‌Begin‌ 2‌ ‌

Discover‌ 3‌ ‌
Characters‌‌in‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌ 3‌ ‌
Types‌‌of‌‌Characters‌ 7‌ ‌
Round‌‌and‌‌Flat‌ 7‌ ‌
Dynamic‌‌and‌‌Static‌ 8‌ ‌
Stereotypes‌ 8‌ ‌

Wrap-Up‌ 10‌ ‌

Try‌‌This!‌ 11‌ ‌

Practice‌‌Your‌‌Writing‌‌Skills‌ 12‌ ‌

Bibliography‌ 15‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌2.2‌ ‌

Characters‌‌and‌‌Characterizations‌ ‌
‌

Introduction‌ ‌
Just‌ ‌like‌ ‌in‌ ‌fiction,‌ ‌drama,‌ ‌and‌ ‌other‌ ‌literary‌ ‌genres,‌ ‌characters‌ ‌are‌ ‌important‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌‌
nonfiction.‌ ‌Much‌ ‌like‌ ‌the‌ ‌narrator,‌ ‌who‌ ‌is‌ ‌often‌ ‌also‌ ‌the‌ ‌author,‌ ‌characters‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌‌
nonfiction‌ ‌texts‌ ‌help‌ ‌tell‌ ‌the‌ ‌story.‌‌The‌‌most‌‌important‌‌thing‌‌about‌‌characters‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌
nonfiction‌ ‌is‌ ‌that‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌not‌ ‌just‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌or‌ ‌inspired‌ ‌by‌ ‌real‌ ‌people;‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌real‌‌
people.‌ ‌They‌ ‌are‌ ‌the‌ ‌people‌ ‌we‌ ‌encounter‌ ‌in‌‌our‌‌lives‌‌that‌‌make‌‌enough‌‌of‌‌an‌‌impact‌‌in‌‌
them‌ ‌that‌ ‌we‌ ‌include‌ ‌them‌ ‌in‌ ‌our‌ ‌stories.‌ ‌How‌ ‌do‌ ‌we‌ ‌write‌ ‌about‌ ‌these‌ ‌characters?‌‌Are‌‌
there‌‌still‌‌types‌‌of‌‌characters‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction?‌‌What‌‌are‌‌their‌‌uses?‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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Learning‌‌Objectives‌ ‌ DepEd‌‌Learning‌‌Competency‌ ‌
At‌ ‌the‌ ‌end‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌lesson,‌ ‌you‌ ‌should‌ ‌be‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌‌
In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌you‌‌should‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌do‌‌the‌‌ analyze‌ ‌factual/nonfictional‌ ‌elements‌ ‌(plot,‌‌
following:‌ ‌ characters,‌ ‌characterizations,‌ ‌point‌ ‌of‌ ‌view,‌‌angle,‌‌
setting‌‌and‌‌atmosphere,‌‌symbols‌‌and‌‌symbolisms,‌‌
● Identify‌‌and‌‌describe‌‌the‌‌
irony,‌ ‌figure‌ ‌of‌ ‌speech,‌ ‌dialogue,‌ ‌scene,‌ ‌other‌‌
different‌‌kinds‌‌of‌‌characters.‌ elements‌a
‌ nd‌d
‌ evices)‌i‌n‌t‌ he‌t‌ exts.‌ ‌

● Recognize‌‌the‌‌value‌‌of‌‌using‌‌
‌

life-like‌‌details‌‌in‌‌describing‌‌a‌‌
character.‌ ‌

Let’s‌‌Begin‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

‌ The‌‌People‌‌in‌‌Our‌‌Lives‌ ‌ 10‌‌minutes‌

Think‌‌of‌‌someone‌‌you‌‌personally‌‌know‌‌who‌‌has‌‌made‌‌a‌‌big‌‌impact‌‌in‌‌your‌‌life.‌‌Who‌‌is‌‌he‌‌or‌‌
she‌ ‌to‌ ‌you?‌ ‌What‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌know‌ ‌about‌ ‌him‌ ‌or‌ ‌her?‌ ‌How‌ ‌would‌ ‌you‌ ‌describe‌ ‌him‌ ‌or‌ ‌her?‌‌
Recall‌‌as‌‌many‌‌details‌‌as‌‌you‌‌can‌‌and‌‌share‌‌them‌‌with‌‌a‌‌partner.‌ ‌
‌
Instructions‌ ‌
1. Think‌‌of‌‌someone‌‌you‌‌personally‌‌know.‌ ‌
2. Partner‌‌up‌‌with‌‌a‌‌classmate.‌ ‌
3. Describe‌‌your‌‌chosen‌‌person‌‌to‌‌your‌‌partner.‌ ‌
4. Focus‌‌on‌‌two‌‌things:‌‌a‌‌physical‌‌description‌‌and‌‌who‌‌the‌‌person‌‌is‌‌to‌‌you‌‌or‌‌how‌‌the‌‌
person‌‌made‌‌an‌‌impact‌‌on‌‌your‌‌life.‌ ‌
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Guide‌‌Questions‌ ‌
1. Whom‌‌did‌‌you‌‌choose‌‌and‌‌why?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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2. How‌‌would‌‌you‌‌describe‌‌your‌‌chosen‌‌person’s‌‌physical‌‌features‌‌and‌‌personality?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
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3. How‌‌would‌‌you‌‌talk‌‌about‌‌the‌‌person’s‌‌impact‌‌on‌‌your‌‌life?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
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Discover‌ ‌
Characters‌‌in‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌ ‌
As‌‌mentioned‌‌in‌‌the‌‌introduction,‌‌characters‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction‌‌are‌‌different‌‌from‌‌those‌‌
in‌ ‌fiction‌ ‌because‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌real‌ ‌people.‌ ‌We‌ ‌call‌ ‌them‌ ‌characters,‌ ‌but‌ ‌they‌‌exist‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life‌‌
and‌ ‌not‌ ‌just‌ ‌in‌ ‌our‌ ‌texts.‌ ‌So,‌ ‌how‌ ‌does‌ ‌characterization‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌differ‌ ‌from‌‌
that‌‌in‌‌fiction?‌ ‌
‌

‌
How‌ ‌do‌ ‌characters‌ ‌affect‌ ‌the‌ ‌storytelling‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌‌
nonfiction?‌ ‌

‌
When‌ ‌writing‌ ‌characters‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction,‌ ‌creating‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters‌ ‌has‌ ‌already‌ ‌been‌‌
done‌ ‌for‌ ‌you.‌ ‌The‌ ‌characters‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌story‌ ‌already‌ ‌exist.‌ ‌The‌‌next‌‌step,‌‌however,‌‌remains‌‌
the‌‌same‌‌with‌‌fiction.‌‌When‌‌you‌‌add‌‌characters‌‌into‌‌your‌‌story,‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌mind‌‌that‌‌these‌‌are‌‌
people‌ ‌you‌ ‌know.‌ ‌Your‌ ‌descriptions‌ ‌for‌ ‌them‌ ‌should‌ ‌be‌ ‌more‌ ‌life-like,‌ ‌as‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌met‌‌
these‌‌people‌‌before.‌‌It‌‌falls‌‌to‌‌you‌‌to‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌describe‌‌and‌‌portray‌‌them‌‌well‌‌in‌‌your‌‌work‌‌
so‌‌that‌‌your‌‌readers‌‌can‌‌also‌‌feel‌‌that‌‌they‌‌are‌‌real.‌ ‌
‌
When‌‌doing‌‌characterization‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌many‌‌techniques‌‌are‌‌shared‌‌with‌‌fiction.‌‌

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For‌ ‌example,‌ ‌the‌ ‌narrator‌ ‌or‌ ‌the‌ ‌author‌ ‌can‌ ‌take‌ ‌the‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌describe‌ ‌or‌ ‌explain‌ ‌the‌‌
character(s)‌‌through‌‌‌narration‌.‌‌Here,‌‌the‌‌character’s‌‌physical‌‌appearance‌‌can‌‌be‌‌described‌‌
or‌‌the‌‌narrator‌‌could‌‌talk‌‌about‌‌the‌‌character’s‌‌actions‌‌or‌‌a‌‌bit‌‌of‌‌background‌‌information.‌‌
It‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌thorough‌ ‌introduction‌ ‌of‌ ‌these‌‌characters‌‌and‌‌can‌‌lead‌‌to‌‌the‌‌readers‌‌knowing‌‌and‌‌
understanding‌ ‌them‌ ‌better,‌ ‌but‌ ‌be‌ ‌careful‌ ‌when‌ ‌using‌ ‌this‌ ‌method‌ ‌as‌ ‌it‌ ‌could‌ ‌easily‌‌
become‌‌dragging‌‌and‌‌boring‌‌for‌‌the‌‌readers.‌ ‌
‌
Another‌ ‌way‌ ‌characters‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌described‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌is‌ ‌through‌ ‌their‌ ‌gestures‌‌
and‌‌‌dialogue‌.‌‌Their‌‌actions‌‌as‌‌you‌‌narrate‌‌them‌‌could‌‌also‌‌show‌‌what‌‌kind‌‌of‌‌person‌‌they‌‌
are.‌ ‌How‌ ‌do‌ ‌they‌ ‌deal‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌narrator?‌ ‌How‌ ‌do‌ ‌they‌ ‌deal‌ ‌with‌ ‌other‌ ‌people?‌ ‌How‌ ‌you‌‌
write‌‌their‌‌actions‌‌in‌‌your‌‌story‌‌dictates‌‌how‌‌they‌‌are‌‌perceived‌‌by‌‌the‌‌readers.‌‌Their‌‌choice‌‌
of‌‌words,‌‌how‌‌they‌‌speak,‌‌and‌‌who‌‌they‌‌talk‌‌to‌‌also‌‌have‌‌an‌‌effect‌‌on‌‌their‌‌characterization.‌
You‌‌should‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌portray‌‌the‌‌characters‌‌in‌‌your‌‌story‌‌as‌‌closely‌‌as‌‌you‌‌can‌‌to‌‌how‌‌you‌‌
perceive‌ ‌them‌ ‌in‌ ‌real‌ ‌life.‌ ‌Most‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌time,‌ ‌writing‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters’‌ ‌actions‌ ‌and‌‌
dialogue‌‌also‌‌requires‌‌moving‌‌the‌‌plot,‌‌so‌‌use‌‌these‌‌methods‌‌when‌‌you‌‌want‌‌a‌‌faster‌‌pace‌‌
for‌ ‌your‌ ‌text,‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌slight‌ ‌risk‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌ ‌portrayal‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌characters‌ ‌won’t‌‌be‌‌as‌‌clear‌‌or‌‌as‌‌
thorough‌ ‌as‌ ‌if‌ ‌you‌ ‌had‌ ‌described‌ ‌them‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌introduction‌ ‌or‌ ‌preceding‌ ‌paragraph(s).‌‌
Choose‌‌which‌‌style‌‌works‌‌depending‌‌on‌‌the‌‌story‌‌you‌‌are‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌tell.‌‌ ‌
‌

‌ riting‌‌Tip‌ ‌
W
As‌ ‌a‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌writer‌ ‌and‌ ‌reader,‌ ‌remember‌ ‌that‌‌most‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌time,‌‌the‌‌narrator‌‌of‌‌the‌‌work‌‌is‌‌also‌‌the‌‌author,‌‌as‌‌it‌‌is‌‌often‌‌his‌‌
or‌ ‌her‌ ‌story‌ ‌that‌ ‌is‌ ‌being‌ ‌told.‌ ‌Therefore,‌ ‌the‌ ‌portrayal‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
characters‌‌is‌‌usually‌‌how‌‌the‌‌author‌‌sees‌‌them,‌‌filtered‌‌by‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌
own‌‌emotions,‌‌experiences,‌‌and‌‌perception.‌ ‌

‌
Now,‌ ‌let’s‌ ‌take‌ ‌a‌ ‌look‌ ‌at‌ ‌a‌ ‌sample‌ ‌text‌ ‌and‌ ‌determine‌ ‌what‌ ‌style‌ ‌of‌ ‌characterization‌ ‌the‌‌
author‌‌went‌‌for‌‌in‌‌the‌‌excerpt.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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Is‌ ‌it‌ ‌true‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌‌sun‌‌of‌‌a‌‌man's‌‌mentality‌‌touches‌‌noon‌‌at‌‌
‌
forty‌ ‌and‌ ‌then‌‌begins‌‌to‌‌wane‌‌toward‌‌setting?‌‌Doctor‌‌Osler‌‌ ‌
‌
is‌‌charged‌‌with‌‌saying‌‌so.‌‌Maybe‌‌he‌‌said‌‌it,‌‌maybe‌‌he‌‌didn't;‌‌ ‌
I‌‌don't‌‌know‌‌which‌‌it‌‌is.‌‌But‌‌if‌‌he‌‌said‌‌it,‌‌I‌‌can‌‌point‌‌him‌‌to‌‌a‌‌ ‌
‌
case‌ ‌which‌ ‌proves‌ ‌his‌ ‌rule.‌ ‌Proves‌ ‌it‌ ‌by‌‌being‌‌an‌‌exception‌‌ ‌

to‌‌it.‌‌To‌‌this‌‌place‌‌I‌‌nominate‌‌Mr.‌‌Howells.‌ ‌ ‌
‌
‌ ‌
‌
I‌ ‌read‌ ‌his‌‌Venetian‌‌Days‌‌about‌‌forty‌‌years‌‌ago.‌‌I‌‌compare‌‌it‌‌
‌
with‌ ‌his‌ ‌paper‌ ‌on‌ ‌Machiavelli‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌late‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌ ‌Harper,‌‌ ‌
‌
and‌ ‌I‌ ‌cannot‌ ‌find‌ ‌that‌ ‌his‌ ‌English‌ ‌has‌ ‌suffered‌ ‌any‌‌
‌
impairment.‌ ‌For‌ ‌forty‌ ‌years‌ ‌his‌ ‌English‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌to‌ ‌me‌ ‌a‌‌ ‌
‌
continual‌ ‌delight‌ ‌and‌ ‌astonishment.‌ ‌In‌ ‌the‌ ‌sustained‌‌ ‌

exhibition‌‌of‌‌certain‌‌great‌‌qualities—clearness,‌‌compression,‌‌ ‌
‌
verbal‌ ‌exactness,‌ ‌and‌ ‌unforced‌ ‌and‌ ‌seemingly‌‌unconscious‌‌
felicity‌ ‌of‌ ‌phrasing—he‌ ‌is,‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌belief,‌‌without‌‌his‌‌peer‌‌in‌‌ f‌ elicity‌ ‌
the‌ ‌English-writing‌ ‌world.‌ ‌sustained.‌ ‌I‌ ‌entrench‌ ‌myself‌‌ (noun):‌a
‌ ‌‌pleasing‌‌
behind‌ ‌that‌ ‌protecting‌ ‌word.‌ ‌There‌ ‌are‌ ‌others‌ ‌who‌ ‌exhibit‌‌ quality‌‌in‌‌art‌‌or‌‌
those‌ ‌great‌ ‌qualities‌ ‌as‌ ‌greatly‌ ‌as‌ ‌he‌ ‌does,‌ ‌but‌ ‌only‌ ‌by‌‌ language‌ ‌
intervaled‌ ‌distributions‌ ‌of‌ ‌rich‌ ‌moonlight,‌ ‌with‌ ‌stretches‌ ‌of‌‌ ‌
veiled‌ ‌and‌ ‌dimmer‌ ‌landscape‌ ‌between;‌ ‌whereas‌ ‌Howells's‌‌ ‌
moon‌‌sails‌‌cloudless‌‌skies‌‌all‌‌night‌‌and‌‌all‌‌the‌‌nights.‌ ‌ ‌
‌ ‌
In‌ ‌the‌ ‌matter‌ ‌of‌ ‌verbal‌ ‌exactness‌ ‌Mr.‌ ‌Howells‌ ‌has‌ ‌no‌‌ ‌
superior,‌ ‌I‌ ‌suppose.‌ ‌He‌ ‌seems‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌almost‌ ‌always‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌‌ ‌
find‌ ‌that‌ ‌elusive‌ ‌and‌ ‌shifty‌ ‌grain‌ ‌of‌ ‌gold,‌ ‌the‌ ‌right‌ ‌word.‌‌ ‌
Others‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌put‌ ‌up‌ ‌with‌ ‌approximations,‌ ‌more‌ ‌or‌ ‌less‌‌ ‌
frequently;‌‌he‌‌has‌‌better‌‌luck.‌‌To‌‌me,‌‌the‌‌others‌‌are‌‌miners‌‌ ‌
working‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌gold-pan—of‌ ‌necessity‌ ‌some‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌gold‌‌
r‌ iffle‌
washes‌ ‌over‌ ‌and‌ ‌escapes;‌ ‌whereas,‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌fancy,‌ ‌he‌ ‌is‌‌
(noun):‌a
‌ ‌‌stretch‌
quicksilver‌ ‌raiding‌ ‌down‌ ‌a‌ ‌riffle‌—no‌ ‌grain‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌metal‌‌
of‌‌water‌‌flowing‌‌
stands‌‌much‌‌chance‌‌of‌‌eluding‌‌him.‌‌A‌‌powerful‌‌agent‌‌is‌‌the‌‌
over‌‌a‌‌streambed‌ ‌
right‌ ‌word:‌ ‌it‌ ‌lights‌ ‌the‌ ‌reader's‌ ‌way‌ ‌and‌ ‌makes‌ ‌it‌ ‌plain;‌ ‌a‌‌

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close‌ ‌approximation‌ ‌to‌ ‌it‌‌will‌‌answer,‌‌and‌‌much‌‌traveling‌‌is‌‌ ‌

done‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌well-enough‌ ‌fashion‌ ‌by‌ ‌its‌ ‌help,‌ ‌but‌ ‌we‌ ‌do‌ ‌not‌‌ ‌
welcome‌ ‌it‌ ‌and‌ ‌applaud‌ ‌it‌ ‌and‌ ‌rejoice‌ ‌in‌ ‌it‌ ‌as‌ ‌we‌ ‌do‌ ‌when‌‌ ‌
the‌‌right‌‌one‌‌blazes‌‌out‌‌on‌‌us.‌‌Whenever‌‌we‌‌come‌‌upon‌‌one‌‌ ‌
of‌‌those‌‌intensely‌‌right‌‌words‌‌in‌‌a‌‌book‌‌or‌‌a‌‌newspaper‌‌the‌‌ ‌
resulting‌‌effect‌‌is‌‌physical‌‌as‌‌well‌‌as‌‌spiritual,‌‌and‌‌electrically‌‌ ‌
prompt:‌‌it‌‌tingles‌‌exquisitely‌‌around‌‌through‌‌the‌‌walls‌‌of‌‌the‌‌ ‌
mouth‌ ‌and‌ ‌tastes‌ ‌as‌ ‌tart‌ ‌and‌ ‌crisp‌ ‌and‌ ‌good‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌‌ ‌
autumn-butter‌ ‌that‌ ‌creams‌ ‌the‌ ‌sumac-berry.‌ ‌One‌ ‌has‌ ‌no‌‌ ‌
time‌ ‌to‌ ‌examine‌ ‌the‌ ‌word‌ ‌and‌ ‌vote‌ ‌upon‌ ‌its‌ ‌rank‌ ‌and‌‌ ‌
standing,‌ ‌the‌ ‌automatic‌ ‌recognition‌ ‌of‌ ‌its‌ ‌supremacy‌ ‌is‌ ‌so‌‌ ‌
immediate.‌ ‌There‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌plenty‌ ‌of‌ ‌acceptable‌ ‌literature‌ ‌which‌‌ ‌
deals‌ ‌largely‌ ‌in‌ ‌approximations,‌ ‌but‌ ‌it‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌likened‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌‌ ‌
fine‌ ‌landscape‌ ‌seen‌ ‌through‌ ‌the‌ ‌rain;‌‌the‌‌right‌‌word‌‌would‌‌ ‌
dismiss‌‌the‌‌rain,‌‌then‌‌you‌‌would‌‌see‌‌it‌‌better.‌‌It‌‌doesn't‌‌rain‌‌ ‌
when‌‌Howells‌‌is‌‌at‌‌work.‌ ‌ ‌
‌ ‌
And‌ ‌where‌ ‌does‌ ‌he‌ ‌get‌ ‌the‌ ‌easy‌ ‌and‌ ‌effortless‌ ‌flow‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌‌
u
‌ ndulating‌ ‌
speech?‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌ ‌cadenced‌ ‌and‌ ‌undulating‌ ‌rhythm?‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌‌
(adjective):‌r‌ ising‌‌
architectural‌ ‌felicities‌ ‌of‌ ‌construction,‌ ‌its‌ ‌graces‌ ‌of‌‌
and‌‌falling‌ ‌
expression,‌ ‌its‌ ‌pemmican‌ ‌quality‌ ‌of‌ ‌compression,‌ ‌and‌ ‌all‌‌
‌
that?‌‌Born‌‌to‌‌him,‌‌no‌‌doubt.‌‌All‌‌in‌‌shining‌‌good‌‌order‌‌in‌‌the‌
‌
beginning,‌ ‌all‌ ‌extraordinary;‌ ‌and‌ ‌all‌ ‌just‌ ‌as‌ ‌shining,‌ ‌just‌ ‌as‌‌
‌
extraordinary‌ ‌today,‌ ‌after‌ ‌forty‌ ‌years‌ ‌of‌ ‌diligent‌ ‌wear‌ ‌and‌‌
‌
tear‌‌and‌‌use.‌‌He‌‌passed‌‌his‌‌fortieth‌‌year‌‌long‌‌and‌‌long‌‌ago;‌‌
but‌‌I‌‌think‌‌his‌‌English‌‌of‌‌today—his‌‌perfect‌‌English,‌‌I‌‌wish‌‌to‌‌
say—can‌ ‌throw‌ ‌down‌ ‌the‌ ‌glove‌ ‌before‌ ‌his‌ ‌English‌ ‌of‌ ‌that‌‌
antique‌‌time‌‌and‌‌not‌‌be‌‌afraid.‌ ‌

An‌‌excerpt‌‌from‌‌“William‌‌Dean‌‌Howells”‌ ‌
Mark‌‌Twain‌ ‌

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In‌ ‌this‌ ‌text,‌ ‌Mark‌ ‌Twain‌ ‌writes‌ ‌about‌‌William‌‌Dean‌‌Howells‌‌and‌‌his‌‌mastery‌‌of‌‌the‌‌English‌‌
language.‌ ‌Here,‌ ‌Twain‌ ‌focuses‌ ‌on‌ ‌using‌ ‌narration‌ ‌to‌ ‌talk‌ ‌about‌ ‌Howells,‌ ‌instead‌ ‌of‌‌
demonstrating‌‌his‌‌character‌‌through‌‌actions‌‌or‌‌dialogue.‌‌He‌‌uses‌‌a‌‌creative‌‌and‌‌imaginative‌‌
vocabulary‌‌to‌‌describe‌‌Howells’‌‌talents‌‌when‌‌writing‌‌in‌‌English,‌‌with‌‌a‌‌focus‌‌on‌‌the‌‌mastery‌‌
of‌‌his‌‌choice‌‌of‌‌words.‌‌Did‌‌you‌‌think‌‌it‌‌was‌‌an‌‌effective‌‌strategy‌‌on‌‌characterization‌‌for‌‌the‌‌
author’s‌‌purposes?‌ ‌
‌
Types‌‌of‌‌Characters‌ ‌
Keep‌ ‌in‌ ‌mind‌ ‌that‌ ‌characters‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌are‌ ‌real‌ ‌people.‌ ‌So,‌ ‌all‌ ‌of‌ ‌them‌ ‌are‌‌
capable‌ ‌of‌ ‌growth‌ ‌and‌ ‌change.‌ ‌Categorizing‌ ‌them‌ ‌into‌ ‌these‌‌types‌‌of‌‌characters‌‌does‌‌not‌‌
mean‌‌labelling‌‌them‌‌as‌‌these‌‌types‌‌of‌‌people.‌‌Rather,‌‌we‌‌are‌‌putting‌‌them‌‌into‌‌types‌‌based‌‌
on‌‌how‌‌they‌‌were‌‌portrayed‌‌or‌‌used‌‌in‌‌a‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction‌‌text.‌ ‌
‌
Round‌a
‌ nd‌F
‌ lat‌
A‌ ‌round‌ ‌character‌ ‌is‌ ‌one‌ ‌who‌ ‌is‌ ‌complex‌‌and‌‌multifaceted.‌‌They‌‌are‌‌usually‌‌portrayed‌‌as‌‌
someone‌‌who‌‌is‌‌complicated‌‌and‌‌at‌‌times‌‌unpredictable.‌‌Round‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌the‌‌closest‌‌
portrayal‌ ‌of‌ ‌real‌ ‌people‌ ‌in‌‌fiction,‌‌as‌‌we‌‌all‌‌have‌‌different‌‌aspects‌‌to‌‌our‌‌personalities‌‌and‌‌
won’t‌‌always‌‌act‌‌the‌‌same‌‌in‌‌different‌‌situations,‌‌even‌‌in‌‌similar‌‌ones.‌‌In‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌
round‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌the‌‌people‌‌in‌‌your‌‌story‌‌that‌‌have‌‌the‌‌most‌‌in-depth‌‌characterization.‌‌
These‌‌are‌‌the‌‌characters‌‌you‌‌took‌‌the‌‌time‌‌to‌‌elaborate‌‌on‌‌so‌‌that‌‌readers‌‌can‌‌have‌‌a‌‌much‌‌
closer‌‌idea‌‌of‌‌who‌‌the‌‌persons‌‌really‌‌are‌‌to‌‌you.‌ ‌
‌
A‌ ‌flat‌ ‌character‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌opposite‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌round‌‌character.‌‌Flat‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌most‌‌notable‌‌for‌‌
having‌‌a‌‌distinct‌‌characteristic‌‌that‌‌defines‌‌them.‌‌These‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌more‌‌predictable,‌‌as‌‌
they‌ ‌are‌ ‌guaranteed‌ ‌to‌ ‌act‌ ‌the‌ ‌same‌ ‌or‌ ‌similar‌ ‌in‌ ‌many‌ ‌scenarios‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌their‌ ‌one‌‌
defining‌‌trait.‌‌Despite‌‌not‌‌being‌‌complex,‌‌flat‌‌characters‌‌can‌‌move‌‌the‌‌plot‌‌in‌‌their‌‌own‌‌way,‌‌
often‌‌as‌‌supporting‌‌or‌‌secondary‌‌characters.‌‌In‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌not‌‌that‌‌the‌‌person‌‌
is‌‌flat‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life‌‌but‌‌that‌‌the‌‌author‌‌decided‌‌to‌‌highlight‌‌a‌‌particular‌‌characteristic‌‌of‌‌his‌‌or‌‌
hers‌‌for‌‌the‌‌purpose‌‌of‌‌the‌‌story.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
‌
‌
Dynamic‌a
‌ nd‌S
‌ tatic‌ ‌
A‌‌‌dynamic‌‌‌character‌‌is‌‌one‌‌that‌‌undergoes‌‌some‌‌sort‌‌of‌‌growth‌‌or‌‌change‌‌in‌‌the‌‌story.‌‌This‌‌
usually‌ ‌happens‌ ‌after‌ ‌overcoming‌ ‌a‌ ‌major‌ ‌crisis‌ ‌or‌ ‌resolving‌ ‌a‌ ‌central‌ ‌conflict.‌ ‌Dynamic‌‌
characters‌ ‌tend‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌‌‌central‌‌characters‌‌because‌‌facing‌‌and‌‌resolving‌‌major‌‌conflicts‌‌are‌‌
important‌‌to‌‌the‌‌climax.‌‌Dynamic‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌usually‌‌the‌‌protagonists‌‌of‌‌their‌‌stories.‌‌In‌‌
creative‌ ‌nonfiction,‌ ‌the‌ ‌dynamic‌ ‌character‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌story‌ ‌is‌ ‌usually‌ ‌the‌ ‌narrator.‌ ‌This‌ ‌is‌‌
especially‌‌true‌‌if‌‌a‌‌writer’s‌‌work‌‌is‌‌about‌‌a‌‌major‌‌event‌‌or‌‌experience‌‌in‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌life.‌ ‌
‌
On‌ ‌the‌ ‌other‌ ‌hand,‌ static‌ ‌characters‌ ‌are‌ ‌those‌ ‌that‌ ‌do‌ ‌not‌ ‌undergo‌ ‌any‌ ‌kind‌ ‌of‌ ‌change.‌‌
They‌‌remain‌‌the‌‌same‌‌throughout‌‌the‌‌text.‌‌Many‌‌secondary‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌static.‌‌Many‌‌flat‌‌
characters‌ ‌are‌ ‌also‌ ‌static.‌ ‌Even‌ ‌major‌ ‌villains‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌static‌ ‌since‌ ‌they‌ ‌remain‌‌antagonistic‌‌
throughout‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌story.‌‌In‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌many‌‌of‌‌the‌‌other‌‌characters‌‌that‌‌are‌‌not‌‌
the‌‌narrator‌‌or‌‌the‌‌main‌‌character‌‌will‌‌likely‌‌be‌‌static‌‌characters‌‌as‌‌their‌‌growth‌‌as‌‌human‌‌
beings‌ ‌will‌ ‌not‌ ‌be‌ ‌presented‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌text.‌ ‌They‌ ‌are‌ ‌shown‌ ‌as‌ ‌how‌ ‌the‌‌author‌‌knows‌‌them,‌‌
and‌‌if‌‌it‌‌was‌‌only‌‌for‌‌a‌‌brief‌‌period,‌‌then‌‌the‌‌author‌‌is‌‌unlikely‌‌to‌‌have‌‌seen‌‌their‌‌growth.‌‌ ‌
‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
Based‌‌on‌‌their‌‌descriptions,‌‌how‌‌can‌‌a‌‌character‌‌be‌‌round‌‌but‌‌not‌‌
‌
dynamic?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
Stereotypes‌ ‌
Stereotypes‌ ‌or‌ ‌archetypes‌ ‌are‌ ‌characters‌ ‌with‌ ‌very‌ ‌defined‌ ‌roles‌ ‌or‌ ‌characteristics‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌‌
story.‌ ‌They‌ ‌are‌ ‌types‌ ‌of‌ ‌characters‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌repeatedly‌ ‌used‌ ‌in‌ ‌stories‌ ‌and‌ ‌so‌ ‌are‌ ‌very‌‌
familiar‌‌to‌‌writers‌‌and‌‌readers‌‌alike.‌‌These‌‌archetypes‌‌were‌‌categorized‌‌by‌‌literary‌‌theorist‌‌
Joseph‌ ‌Campbell,‌ ‌psychologist‌ ‌Carl‌ ‌Jung,‌ ‌alongside‌ ‌generations‌ ‌of‌ ‌other‌ ‌authors,‌‌
screenwriters,‌ ‌playwrights,‌ ‌and‌ ‌storytellers.‌ ‌Here‌ ‌are‌‌a‌‌number‌‌of‌‌examples‌‌of‌‌archetypes‌‌
and‌‌how‌‌they‌‌might‌‌be‌‌used‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌considering‌‌that‌‌the‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌real‌‌
people.‌ ‌

‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 8‌
‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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‌
‌
The‌‌Lover‌‌‌archetype‌‌is‌‌the‌‌romantic‌‌lead‌‌who‌‌is‌‌guided‌‌mostly‌‌by‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌emotions.‌‌He‌‌
or‌ ‌she‌ ‌is‌ ‌often‌ ‌passionate‌ ‌and‌ ‌strong-willed.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌he‌ ‌or‌ ‌she‌ ‌could‌ ‌also‌ ‌be‌‌naive‌‌and‌‌
irrational.‌‌In‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌the‌‌author‌‌might‌‌portray‌‌his‌‌or‌‌herself‌‌as‌‌a‌‌Lover‌‌type,‌‌and‌
then‌‌eventually‌‌either‌‌be‌‌validated‌‌as‌‌one‌‌or‌‌outgrow‌‌it‌‌and‌‌experience‌‌change‌‌because‌‌of‌‌
a‌‌certain‌‌event.‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌Explorer‌ ‌archetype‌ ‌is‌‌a‌‌character‌‌that‌‌is‌‌driven‌‌to‌‌push‌‌boundaries‌‌and‌‌discover‌‌new‌‌
things.‌ ‌Explorers‌ ‌are‌ ‌often‌ ‌portrayed‌ ‌as‌ ‌curious,‌ ‌driven,‌ ‌and‌ ‌motivated‌ ‌by‌‌
self-improvement.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌they‌ ‌can‌ ‌also‌ ‌be‌ ‌restless,‌ ‌unreliable,‌ ‌and‌ ‌never‌‌satisfied.‌‌The‌‌
author‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction‌ ‌could‌ ‌also‌ ‌portray‌ ‌him‌ ‌or‌ ‌herself‌ ‌as‌ ‌such‌ ‌or‌ ‌maybe‌ ‌present‌‌
someone‌ ‌he‌ ‌or‌ ‌she‌ ‌knows‌‌who‌‌is‌‌like‌‌this‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life‌‌and‌‌write‌‌about‌‌how‌‌this‌‌person‌‌has‌‌
become‌‌an‌‌inspiration.‌ ‌
‌
The‌‌Innocent‌‌‌archetype‌‌is‌‌a‌‌morally‌‌pure‌‌character,‌‌most‌‌often‌‌a‌‌child‌‌who‌‌only‌‌has‌‌good‌‌
intentions.‌‌Although‌‌this‌‌type‌‌of‌‌character‌‌is‌‌often‌‌portrayed‌‌as‌‌weak‌‌and‌‌vulnerable,‌‌he‌‌or‌‌
she‌ ‌is‌ ‌also‌ ‌often‌ ‌seen‌ ‌as‌ ‌an‌ ‌example‌ ‌of‌ ‌morality,‌ ‌kindness,‌ ‌or‌ ‌sincerity.‌ ‌In‌ ‌creative‌‌
nonfiction,‌ ‌they‌ ‌could‌ ‌be‌ ‌someone‌‌the‌‌author‌‌met‌‌that‌‌has‌‌taught‌‌them‌‌a‌‌valuable‌‌lesson‌‌
on‌‌kindness.‌‌On‌‌the‌‌other‌‌hand,‌‌a‌‌more‌‌cynical‌‌author‌‌could‌‌talk‌‌about‌‌a‌‌situation‌‌in‌‌which‌‌
an‌ ‌Innocent,‌ ‌whether‌ ‌the‌ ‌author‌ ‌him‌ ‌or‌ ‌herself‌ ‌or‌ ‌a‌ ‌person‌ ‌he‌ ‌or‌ ‌she‌ ‌considers‌‌as‌‌such,‌‌
loses‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌innocence.‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌Jester‌ ‌archetype‌ ‌is‌ ‌perhaps‌ ‌one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌more‌‌popular‌‌ones‌‌because‌‌we‌‌are‌‌also‌‌often‌‌
quick‌ ‌to‌ ‌say‌ ‌that‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌friends‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌“class‌ ‌clown”‌ ‌or‌ ‌the‌ ‌“b
‌ arkad‌a’s‌ ‌funny‌‌guy.”‌‌The‌‌
Jester‌ ‌is‌ ‌an‌ ‌intentionally‌ ‌funny‌ ‌character‌ ‌who‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌source‌ ‌of‌ ‌comic‌ ‌relief‌ ‌but‌ ‌may‌ ‌also‌‌
contain‌ ‌some‌ ‌important‌ ‌truths.‌ ‌Jesters‌ ‌are‌ ‌often‌ ‌hilarious‌ ‌but‌ ‌surprisingly‌ ‌insightful‌ ‌and‌‌
charming.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌also‌ ‌people‌ ‌who‌ ‌will‌ ‌consider‌ ‌them‌ ‌obnoxious‌ ‌and‌‌
superficial.‌‌In‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction,‌‌the‌‌author‌‌might‌‌include‌‌a‌‌friend‌‌or‌‌family‌‌member‌‌in‌‌his‌‌
or‌‌her‌‌story‌‌who‌‌is‌‌often‌‌cracking‌‌jokes‌‌or‌‌being‌‌funny.‌‌Maybe‌‌that‌‌person‌‌is‌‌the‌‌author‌‌him‌‌
or‌‌herself,‌‌and‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌works‌‌are‌‌about‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌insights‌‌as‌‌the‌‌“clown.”‌ ‌
‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌many‌ ‌other‌ ‌stereotypes‌ ‌or‌ ‌archetypes‌ ‌that‌ ‌can‌‌be‌‌used‌‌to‌‌describe‌‌the‌‌various‌‌
characters‌‌you‌‌meet‌‌in‌‌fiction‌‌and‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction.‌‌Remember‌‌that‌‌it‌‌is‌‌never‌‌a‌‌bad‌‌thing‌‌
‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 9‌
‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
‌
‌
to‌ ‌use‌ ‌these‌ ‌archetypes‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌texts.‌ ‌Using‌ ‌one‌ ‌or‌ ‌more‌ ‌does‌ ‌not‌ ‌mean‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌not‌‌
creative‌‌enough‌‌in‌‌creating‌‌your‌‌own‌‌characters.‌‌It’s‌‌how‌‌you‌‌can‌‌portray‌‌them‌‌uniquely‌‌or‌‌
perfectly‌‌for‌‌the‌‌purpose‌‌of‌‌your‌‌story‌‌that‌‌can‌‌make‌‌them‌‌interesting.‌ ‌
‌

‌ riting‌‌Tip‌ ‌
W
Do‌‌not‌‌be‌‌afraid‌‌to‌‌assign‌‌some‌‌people‌‌in‌‌your‌‌life‌‌these‌‌archetypes‌‌
if‌ ‌it‌ ‌will‌‌help‌‌you‌‌organize‌‌your‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction‌‌work‌‌better.‌‌You‌‌
are‌ ‌not‌ ‌necessarily‌ ‌saying‌ ‌this‌ ‌is‌ ‌all‌ ‌there‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌their‌ ‌character;‌ ‌it’s‌‌
just‌‌that‌‌in‌‌your‌‌story‌‌or‌‌in‌‌your‌‌point‌‌of‌‌view,‌‌they‌‌were‌‌very‌‌similar‌‌
to‌‌this‌‌stereotype‌‌during‌‌a‌‌particular‌‌incident‌‌or‌‌set‌‌of‌‌incidents.‌

‌
Characters‌ ‌are‌ ‌important‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction.‌ ‌The‌ ‌author’s‌‌interactions‌‌with‌‌them‌‌could‌‌
be‌‌defining‌‌moments‌‌in‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌life,‌‌and‌‌so‌‌it‌‌is‌‌important‌‌that‌‌these‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌also‌‌
portrayed‌‌well.‌‌Write‌‌about‌‌them‌‌well‌‌to‌‌let‌‌the‌‌audience‌‌know‌‌their‌‌impact.‌‌Lastly,‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌
mind‌ ‌the‌ ‌different‌ ‌types‌‌of‌‌characters‌‌to‌‌help‌‌you‌‌organize‌‌your‌‌descriptions‌‌of‌‌these‌‌real‌‌
people‌‌in‌‌your‌‌stories.‌ ‌
‌

‌Wrap-Up‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
● Characters‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction‌‌are‌r‌ eal‌‌people‌i‌n‌‌your‌‌life.‌ ‌
● They‌‌can‌‌be‌‌described‌‌through‌n
‌ arration‌,‌‌actions‌,‌‌or‌d
‌ ialogue‌.‌ ‌
● Round‌‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌complex‌‌and‌‌multifaceted,‌‌while‌‌‌flat‌‌‌characters‌‌are‌‌defined‌‌by‌‌
one‌‌trait.‌ ‌
● Dynamic‌‌‌characters‌‌experience‌‌change‌‌and‌‌growth,‌‌while‌‌‌static‌‌‌characters‌‌stay‌‌the‌‌
same.‌ ‌
● People‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life‌‌can‌‌fall‌‌under‌s‌ tereotypes‌.‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌

‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 10‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
‌
‌

Try‌‌This!‌ ‌
A.‌ T
‌ rue‌‌or‌‌False.‌W
‌ rite‌t‌ rue‌‌i‌f‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌is‌‌correct.‌‌Otherwise,‌‌write‌f‌ alse.‌‌ ‌
‌

________________‌ 1. Characters‌‌in‌‌creative‌‌nonfiction‌‌can‌‌be‌‌imaginary.‌ ‌

________________‌ 2. Characterization‌‌can‌‌happen‌‌by‌‌describing‌‌characters’‌‌actions.‌ ‌

________________‌ 3. A‌‌flat‌‌character‌‌can‌‌demonstrate‌‌multiple‌‌traits.‌ ‌

________________‌ 4. A‌‌dynamic‌‌character‌‌is‌‌one‌‌who‌‌experiences‌‌growth.‌ ‌

________________‌ 5. A‌‌stereotype‌‌is‌‌exactly‌‌who‌‌a‌‌person‌‌is‌‌in‌‌real‌‌life.‌ ‌

‌
B. Fill‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Blanks.‌F
‌ ill‌‌in‌‌the‌‌blanks‌‌with‌‌the‌‌correct‌‌answer.‌ ‌
‌

1. Showing‌‌a‌‌character’s‌‌personality‌‌through‌‌dialogue‌‌is‌‌also‌‌a‌‌technique‌‌in‌‌
________________‌.‌ ‌

2. The‌‌author‌‌can‌‌spend‌‌time‌‌talking‌‌about‌‌a‌‌character‌‌through‌_‌ ____________‌.‌

3. A‌‌character‌‌who‌‌can‌‌show‌‌different‌‌sides‌‌of‌‌his‌‌or‌‌her‌‌personality‌‌is‌‌a‌_‌ _________‌‌
character.‌ ‌

4. A‌‌character‌‌who‌‌stays‌‌the‌‌same‌‌throughout‌‌the‌‌story‌‌is‌‌a‌_‌ ________‌‌‌character.‌ ‌

5. A‌‌character‌‌who‌‌often‌‌makes‌‌other‌‌people‌‌laugh‌‌can‌‌be‌‌stereotyped‌‌as‌‌the‌_‌ ___________‌.‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 11‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
‌
‌

Practice‌‌Your‌‌Writing‌‌Skills‌ ‌
To‌ ‌practice‌ ‌your‌ ‌skill‌ ‌in‌ ‌characterization,‌ ‌this‌ ‌activity‌ ‌will‌ ‌allow‌ ‌you‌ ‌to‌ ‌write‌ ‌a‌ ‌short‌‌
paragraph‌ ‌or‌ ‌snippet‌ ‌describing‌ ‌a‌ ‌character‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌work‌ ‌in‌ ‌creative‌ ‌nonfiction.‌ ‌Think‌ ‌of‌‌
someone‌‌in‌‌your‌‌life‌‌that‌‌you‌‌would‌‌like‌‌to‌‌highlight‌‌in‌‌your‌‌story.‌‌Then,‌‌choose‌‌one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
two‌‌techniques‌‌below‌‌and‌‌try‌‌to‌‌apply‌‌it‌‌in‌‌your‌‌writing.‌ ‌
‌
1. Describe‌ ‌your‌ ‌chosen‌ ‌person‌ ‌through‌ ‌narration:‌‌Who‌‌is‌‌he‌‌or‌‌she‌‌to‌‌you‌‌and‌‌what‌‌
about‌‌him‌‌or‌‌her‌‌has‌‌made‌‌an‌‌impact‌‌on‌‌your‌‌life?‌ ‌
2. Describe‌‌your‌‌chosen‌‌person‌‌through‌‌gestures‌‌or‌‌dialogue:‌‌Write‌‌a‌‌sample‌‌scene‌‌in‌‌
which‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌seeing‌ ‌how‌ ‌he‌ ‌or‌ ‌she‌ ‌acts‌‌or‌‌how‌‌he‌‌or‌‌she‌‌talks‌‌to‌‌you‌‌or‌‌to‌‌other‌‌
people.‌ ‌
‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 12‌
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Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
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‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌

‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 13‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
‌
‌
Suggested‌‌Rubric‌‌for‌‌Grading‌ ‌
The‌ ‌rubric‌ ‌below‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌suggested‌ ‌one.‌ ‌Your‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌may‌ ‌modify‌ ‌it‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌needs.‌‌
Consult‌‌your‌‌teacher‌‌for‌‌the‌‌final‌‌rubric.‌‌ ‌
‌
‌

Performance‌‌Levels‌ ‌

1‌ ‌ 2‌ ‌ 3‌ ‌ Suggested‌‌
Criteria‌ ‌ Score‌ ‌
Beginning‌‌ Proficient‌ ‌ Advanced‌‌ Weight‌ ‌
Proficiency‌ ‌ Proficiency‌ ‌

The‌‌paragraph‌‌ The‌‌paragraph‌‌ The‌‌paragraph‌‌

Clarity‌‌of‌‌ ‌
vaguely‌‌describes‌‌ describes‌t‌ he‌‌ clearly‌‌describes‌‌
Content‌ ‌
the‌‌highlighted‌‌ highlighted‌‌person‌‌ the‌‌highlighted‌‌ ×‌‌3‌ ‌
person‌‌using‌‌the‌‌ using‌‌the‌‌chosen‌‌ person‌‌using‌‌the‌‌
chosen‌‌technique.‌ ‌ technique.‌ ‌ chosen‌‌technique.‌ ‌

The‌‌paragraph‌‌uses‌‌ The‌‌paragraph‌‌uses‌‌ The‌‌paragraph‌‌uses‌‌

Completion‌‌of‌‌ ‌
insufficient‌‌‌details‌‌ enough‌‌details‌‌to‌‌ enough‌‌details‌‌to‌‌
Content‌ ‌ ×‌‌2‌ ‌
and‌b
‌ arely‌d
‌ escribes‌‌ mostly‌d
‌ escribe‌‌the‌‌ completely‌d
‌ escribe‌‌
the‌‌chosen‌‌person.‌ ‌ chosen‌‌person.‌ ‌ the‌‌chosen‌‌person.‌ ‌

There‌‌are‌fi
‌ ve‌‌or‌‌ There‌‌are‌t‌ wo‌‌to‌‌four‌‌ There‌‌is‌o
‌ ne‌o
‌ r‌‌‌no‌‌
Grammar‌‌and‌‌ ‌
more‌m
‌ istakes‌‌in‌‌ mistakes‌‌‌in‌‌grammar‌‌ mistake‌‌‌in‌‌grammar‌‌
Language‌ ‌ ×‌‌1‌ ‌
grammar‌‌and‌‌ and‌‌spelling.‌ ‌ and‌‌spelling.‌ ‌
spelling.‌ ‌

Total‌‌Possible‌‌Score‌ ‌ 18‌ ‌ ‌

‌
‌
Teacher’s‌‌Feedback‌ ‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 14‌
‌
 ‌
Unit‌‌2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction‌‌I‌ ‌
‌
‌

Bibliography‌ ‌
“Character‌‌Types‌‌in‌‌Literature:‌‌Writing‌‌Guide.”‌‌A‌‌Research‌‌Guide‌‌for‌‌Students,‌‌May‌‌5,‌‌2020.‌‌
https://www.aresearchguide.com/character-types-in-literature.html‌.‌
‌
‌
MasterClass‌‌Staff.‌‌“Writing‌‌101:‌‌All‌‌the‌‌Different‌‌Types‌‌of‌‌Characters‌‌in‌‌Literature‌‌-‌‌2021.”‌‌
MasterClass,‌‌May‌‌5,‌‌2021.‌‌
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-all-the-types-of-characters-in-literature‌
#5-character-types-that-appear-in-fiction‌.‌ ‌
‌
‌
Purdue‌‌Writing‌‌Lab.‌‌“Types‌‌of‌‌Characters.”‌‌Purdue‌‌Writing‌‌Lab.‌‌Accessed‌‌May‌‌10,‌‌2021.‌‌
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/creative_writing/characters_and_fi‌
ction_writing/types_of_characters.html‌.‌ ‌
‌
‌
Roorbach,‌‌Bill,‌‌and‌‌Kristen‌‌Keckler.‌‌“Craft‌‌True-to-Life‌‌Nonfiction‌‌Characters.”‌‌Writer's‌‌
Digest.‌‌Writer's‌‌Digest,‌‌August‌‌6,‌‌2009.‌‌
https://www.writersdigest.com/improve-my-writing/craft-true-to-life-nonfiction-charact‌
ers‌.‌ ‌
‌
‌
2.2:‌‌Elements‌‌of‌‌Creative‌‌Nonfiction.‌‌Humanities‌‌LibreTexts.‌‌Libretexts,‌‌July‌‌1,‌‌2020.‌‌
https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Literature_and_Literacy/Writing_and_Critic‌
al_Thinking_Through_Literature_(Ringo_and_Kashyap)/02%3A_About_Creative_Nonfic‌
tion/2.02%3A_Elements_of_Creative_Nonfiction‌.‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌

‌
2.2.‌C
‌ haracters‌a
‌ nd‌C
‌ haracterizations‌ ‌ 15‌
‌