Characterisation: from 'Picture Story' to 'Storied Picture'

Back in March 2018, I began a short unit on 'Characterisation' with my young Creative Writers, who are about 8-10 years old.

"What is Characterisation?"

That is a big word for the young creative minds. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the only adult in the classroom to break it down for them. "It's the way we make up a person in the story. We got to describe him or her in such a way that the readers can picture him or her in their minds. Think of it like an Instagram picture, except that this picture must move and speak."

So, what are the keys to make up a character?

I introduce an acronym for them to remember: A.P.B.

This has got nothing to do with police criminal investigation but everything to do with Creative Writing. Each letter in 'A.P.B.' represents an attribute of the character crafted in the story.

A-Appearance & Attitude

P-Personality

B-Behaviour

Most students have no problem understanding what constitutes behaviour: the way the character talks, walks, plays and eats. They know what appearance is about.

However, most of them tend to struggle with 'Attitude' and 'Personality'.

"Attitude is a way of thinking and feeling about something or someone; it is a point of view. For example, how you think and feel about your parents, your friends, your teachers, and even your schoolwork. Basically, it can fall into two categories: positive or negative attitude, an optimist or a pessimist."

"Personality is about about the character himself or herself when others are not looking. Is she a self-driven a person? Is she enthusiastic and eager? Is she sad most of the time? Is she assertive? Is he kind and helpful? Or is he mean and self-centred?"

To help the students apply 'A.P.B.' in crafting a character, I introduce them to a simple picture story, "As Still as a Statue". It is about a very active boy who cannot stay still. His love for speed and fun got him into trouble with his aunt. So his dad decides to help him to learn to be as still as a statue.

What I like about this story is, besides its colourful pictures, that it demonstrates the use of alliteration technique in writing. Even the main character's name, "William Withers", is an alliteration. Such a writing technique makes a character memorable and a story interesting.

After 'Shared reading' session, I guided the children to write a short paragraph based on one character in the story: Aunt Ada, the one whom William had got into trouble with. Before writing, I showed them the following picture of Aunt Ada:

It drew hue and cry.

"Oh! She looks scary!"

"William's a menace? She is a menace!"

"Look at those eyebrows!"

"Look at those sharp pointed teeth! Look like a vampire!"

"Very good, children. Now, let's put your words on the board. Hopefully we can use all of them in the writing later," I said.

I encouraged them to use imagery technique, incorporating expression , "...looks like..." to embellish their character. Below is an excerpt of the above class writing:

This is a simple, ready-to-use lesson outline that employs a powerful tool: pictures. A picture speaks a thousand words. It is the flint and stone that, when used appropriately, can spark off a thousand imaginative minds.

Try it!