LCMS 7th Grade Summer Reading Assignment: Characterization Journal
Book Choices:
-Matched by Ally Condie (Lexile level 680)
-The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (Lexile level 1010)
*contains some violence of a mildly graphic nature*
-Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (Lexile level 760)
Elements of Characterization:
When we learn about characters in a story, the author uses two kinds of description to show us who
they are. These are called direct and indirect characterization.
Direct Characterization: The author makes statements directly to the reader about a character’s
personality.
•
Example: Bob is a selfish boy and quite the bully.
Indirect Characterization: The author reveals the character’s personality through their speech,
thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.
• Example: Even though Bob already had had a bag of cookies; he stole cookies from
five other students in the class.
Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Effect on others: What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other
characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Assignment:
1. As you read and discover the characters, choose 10 quotes (2 for each element) to show
characterization using S.T.E.A.L. Make sure your quotes are chosen from throughout the novel
(beginning, middle, and end).
2. Create a table in a word document. Make 3 columns: one for a quote and page number, one for
a S.T.E.A.L. element (see below), and one for an explanation.
3. Each explanation should be at least 60 words with a word count in parenthesis at the end. In
your explanation, you can give background information as well as evidence to prove why your
quote fits a certain element of characterization.
4. This assignment will not be handed in on paper. It must be submitted electronically via
eCampus by Monday, August 24th. We will explain the process of using eCampus during the
first week of school.
See Examples Below:
Do This:
Quote and Page Number
p. 55 “He swept past her,
staring down at the sticky
cafeteria floor.” (beginning)
S.T.E.A.L. element
Action
Explanation of S.T.E.A.L
Harry is shy around Beth. He
wants to look at her but can’t
muster the courage. This action
proves that he can’t bring
himself to look her in the face.
Before this moment, he was
psyching himself up in the
hallway, carrying a poem he
wrote just for her. Hoping to
see her face light up with joy, he
instead went straight to the
pizza line. Poor Harry. (68)
S.T.E.A.L. element
Speech
Explanation of S.T.E.A.L
This means that Harry likes
chocolate.
Not That:
Quote and Page Number
p. 5,211 “I like chocolate!”