Card
S.T.E.A.L.
A mnemonic device that helps students understand a character’s personality, motivations, or development by analyzing their Speech, Thoughts, Effects on Others, Actions, and Looks.
S.T.E.A.L.
Summary
Students work individually or in pairs using the S.T.E.A.L. method to analyze characters. They will identify examples from a text to analyze a character’s Speech, Thoughts, Effects on Others, Actions, and Looks. Then, students will create a character analysis statement to describe a specific character based on the evidence they gathered.
Procedure
Have students work independently or in pairs.
Once students have read through a specific text, review the S.T.E.A.L. method with them. Explain that they will analyze a specific character’s speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and their looks.
First, ask students to gather text evidence of a specific character’s speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks.
Once students have addressed these characteristics, ask them to create a character analysis statement.
Have students as themselves the following: “What do these pieces of evidence reveal about the character’s personality, motivations, or changes throughout the story?”
Consider providing students with the following example of a Character Analysis Statement: “Through her caring words (S), concerned thoughts (T), and kind actions (A), Maria is portrayed as compassionate and protective.”
Read, Write, Think. (2004). Defining characterization. https://www.readwritethink.org
Publisher
Downloads
Placement In Lesson
- Explore/Learning Activity
Intention/Purpose
- Analyze
- Identify
- Interpret
- Text analysis
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