The Diary of Anne Frank
What’s the Big Idea?
Justice requires
action.
Convincing writers use
strong evidence and logical
reasoning to support their
claims.
Unit Essential
Questions

What moral responsibility do I have to educate myself about the
world around me? Do I have a responsibility to take action to
prevent injustice? (Asset #27: Equality and Social Justice)

Why do some people stand by during times of injustice while others
try to stop or prevent injustice? (Asset #28: Integrity)

What accounts for hatred and bigotry? What can we do--as individuals
and groups--to overcome prejudice?

Are human beings good or bad at heart? (Argument Essay)

How do I write a convincing argument? What are the elements I need
to persuade others of my ideas?
The Diary of Anne Frank Vocabulary Chart
Word
1) conspicuous
2) mercurial
3) unabashed
4) insufferable
5) meticulous
6) fatalist
7) ostentatiously
8) inarticulate
9) apprehension
10) intuition
Part of
Speech
Definition
Application: Word in
sentence
The Diary of Anne Frank Vocabulary Chart (continued)
Word
11) indignant
12) stealthily
13) ineffectually
Part of
Speech
Definition
Application: Word in
sentence
Literary Terms
related to The Diary of Anne Frank (a dramatic
adaptation)
point-of-view (first, third, limited, omniscient)
symbolism
analogy
simile
metaphor
personification
theme
(dramatic) irony
characterization
connotative meaning of words vs. denotative meaning (connotation compared
to denotation)
Defining Characterization
Use the information on this page to help you fill out the
characterization chart for Diary of Anne Frank
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality
of a character.
 Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and
indirect characterization.
 Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the
character is.
Example:
“The patient boy and quiet girl were both well
mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the
personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl
is “quiet.”
 Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of
a character. This is higher level analysis of the text requiring critical
thinking. In order to gather evidence via indirect characterization, you
will need to infer, evaluate, compare, and interpret a character’s
behavior and the author’s description of events. There are five
different methods of indirect characterization:
Speech
Thoughts
Effect on others
Actions
Looks
What do we learn from how the character talks and
communicates? How does the character speak?
What is revealed through the character’s private
thoughts and feelings?
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other
people? How do other characters feel or behave in
reaction to the character?
What does the character do? How does the character
behave?
What does the character look like? How does the
character dress?
TIP #1: Use the mnemonic device of STEAL to remember the five types of
indirect characterization
Character Analysis
Analyzing text for Characterization (Reading Literature Standard 2: Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or
Character
drama propel action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.)
Age &
Personality/
Characterization (use the STEA of STEAL to
complete this box)
How does this
character
change ?
Looks
background
Personality/
Characterization (use the STEA of STEAL to
complete this box)
How does this
character
change ?
Looks
Character
Character Analysis (continued)
Analyzing text for Characterization
Age & back-
ground
Theme Development
Reading Literature Standard 2: Determine a theme or central idea of the text and analyze its development over the course of the
text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
Objective
Summary:
Theme/Central Idea:
Act 1: Scene 2
Act 1: Scene 3
Act 1: Scene 4
Act 1: Scene 5
Act 2: Scene 1
Act 2: Scene 2
Act 2: Scene 3
Act 2: Scene 4
Act 2: Scene 5
Scene # and
evidence
Scene # and
evidence
Act 1: Scene 1
Theme Development
Reading Literature Standard 2: Determine a theme or central idea of the text and analyze its development over the course of the
text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
Objective
Summary:
Theme/Central Idea:
Act 1: Scene 2
Act 1: Scene 3
Act 1: Scene 4
Act 1: Scene 5
Act 2: Scene 1
Act 2: Scene 2
Act 2: Scene 3
Act 2: Scene 4
Act 2: Scene 5
Scene # and
evidence
Scene # and
evidence
Act 1: Scene 1
Argument Essay Preparation
Are human beings good or bad at heart?
Reading Literature Standard 1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an
analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
What’s your evidence? Remember to
evidence.
Human beings are good at heart.
cite the BEST evidence. Not just ANY
Human beings are bad at heart.