Smiley Face Tricks – Methods of Characterization
Rubric
Name_________________________________ Date _____ Hour _____
Cite at least one example of each Smiley-Face Trick and Method of Characterization
from your piece. Label all of the Smiley-Face Tricks and Methods of
Characterization in the margin of your piece as well.
A Level: 6 Methods of Characterization plus 7 Smiley-Face Tricks; 21/2 - 3 pages
B Level: 5 Methods of Characterization plus 5 Smiley-Face Tricks; 1 1/2 - 2 pages
C Level: 4 Methods of Characterization plus 3 Smiley-Face Tricks; at least 1 page
WHATEVER LEVEL YOU SELECT, YOU MUST USE A FULL CIRCLE ENDING
Leads: The first few sentences of a piece. These sentences should grab the
reader’s attention. Big Potato: Jump into the middle of your story, Snapshot:
Create a picture in the reader’s mind, Talking: Dialogue, Thinking: Thoughtshot of
a character, Misleading: Set-up expectations, then surprise the reader, Set-up:
Set-up the action for the whole story in a few sentences
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Write your lead---
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Which type of lead did you use? ______________________________________
USE DIRECT QUOTES FROM YOUR PIECE!
SMILEY-FACE TRICKS
1. Magic 3— Three detailed examples in a row.
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2. Figurative Language— (e.g., simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, etc.)
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3. Specific Details for Effect— List 3 examples from your piece
1.
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2.
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3.
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4. Repetition for Effect—
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Why did you choose to repeat this word or phrase?
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5. Expand Moment— A moment of action written in great detail. Underline Expanded
Moments in the piece. Do not rewrite them. This must be at least a half a page in
length.
What moment did you expand? ____________________________________________
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Why did you expand this moment? _________________________________________
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6. Hyphenated Modifiers— *hyphenated adjectives often cause the reader to “sit up and take
notice.”
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7. Full Circle Ending – Tie the beginning of the piece to the end of the piece by
repeating a phrase or sentence.
Beginning phrase or sentence
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Ending phrase or sentence
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METHODS OF CHARACTERIZATION (Must be on the same Character) Use
Direct quotes from your piece.
Name of Character __________________________
★ Describe the appearance of the character__________________________________
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★ Show the character in action____________________________________________
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★ Speech of the Character _______________________________________________
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★ Reveal the character's thoughts and feelings________________________________
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★ Show how others react to the character____________________________________
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★ Describe the environment of the character _________________________________
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