YEAR 8 ENGLISH -

CREATIVE WRITING
Please have a seat 
CHARACTER TRAIT
BRAINSTORM
IN THE NEXT 3 MINUTES, WRITE AND/OR DRAW
AS MANY CHARACTER TRAITS AS YOU CAN!
SOME IDEAS TO HELP YOU START:
o BRAVE
o KIND
o CURIOUS
AT THE END OF THIS LESSON…
Students:

…must be able to apply techniques for creating their own characters

…could be able to construct developed characters with deliberate goals
and obstacles
…should be able to apply their understanding of character construction
to enhance the quality of their creative writing pieces
 WHAT WE’RE DOING TODAY

01 02 03
EXPLORING UNDERSTANDING CREATING
CHARACTER CHARACTER CHARACTER
TRAITS DEVELOPMENT PROFILES
01
CHARACTER
TRAITS
 WHAT ARE CHARACTER TRAITS?
Character traits are qualities, attributes, or
characteristics that make up the personality or
behaviour of a fictional character.

These traits can be both positive AND

negative, and shape the way a character thinks,
feels, and acts in a narrative.

EXAMPLE:

Brave (e.g. a hero!)

Evil (e.g. a villain!)
A WELL-CRAFTED CHARACTER…

The author can tell us these traits directly, but will mostly SHOW us the
character traits in action. Our job as readers is to figure out the character traits
from what the character says, thinks, and does.
 ACTIVITY: CHARACTER
BRAINSTORM

Instructions: Characters:
• Move your chairs into your assigned • Harry Potter
groups (take your traits lists with you!) • Katniss Everdeen
• Pick a character from the list. • Sherlock Holmes
• Using your brainstorms from the start, • Percy Jackson
select the traits that are MOST LIKE • The Grinch
your character. • Captain Hook
• Justify! When does this character show
this trait? What did they say, think, or Or… feel free to use a different
do? character!
02
CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
WHAT IS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?
Character development is the journey of
crafting evolving characters in a narrative,
revealing their growth over time.

Authors achieve character development through

descriptive language, character interactions,
and inner conflicts.

EXAMPLE:
Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) goes from being
mean and nasty to nice and generous.
 ELEMENTS OF DEVELOPMENT
1 2 3
TRAITS MOTIVATIONS ARC
Qualities that define a The goals, desires, and The journey of a
character’s personality reasons behind a character’s growth or
and behaviours. character’s decisions change over the course
and actions. of a narrative.
SCROOGE DEVELOPMENT:
AT THE BEGINNING…
AT THE END!
03
CHARACTER
PROFILES
USING WHAT WE’VE LEARNT
CREATE YOUR OWN!
Using the Character Profile
worksheet, choose a character that
you know and fill out the sheet,
You must select two traits that you
brainstormed at the start of the
lesson that relate to your character.
IF YOU FINISH…
Bring your character profile up to
the front for review, and feel free to
start another… but using a different
character instead!
EXTENSTION ACTIVITY:
Create your own character! Fill out
the profile worksheet with your
own, original character.
THIS LESSON WE LEARNT:
● Character writing techniques and variables,
such as traits, motivations and development.
● How we can use language and behaviours to
demonstrate character traits and goals.
● How to find these techniques in popular
literary characters.
● To use these skills to formulate our own
character profiles.
 THANKS!
See you all next
lesson!

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