Question

genre / text elements direct and indirect characterization
like fiction writers, profile writers use characterization, the art of describing someone in words, to show what their subjects are like. sometimes a writer uses direct characterization. the writer directly tells readers what a person is like. other times, a writer shows what a person is like through indirect characterization. a writer can indirectly characterize someone using anecdotes (brief stories), quotations (a persons exact words, set in quotation marks), dialogue (conversation), and description (details about the persons actions, thoughts, ways of dressing).

• direct characterization: ida was a generous man who cared a lot about the well - being of other people.
• indirect characterization (anecdote): max lived next door to an old man named alex. every week, he picked up alexs groceries. he also visited him every few days. alex thought of max as a son.
• indirect characterization (quotation): \can we change our dinner plans to seven oclock?\ mike asked lucy. \i have a chess game with alex in the afternoon, and i dont want to miss it.\
• indirect characterization (dialogue): \hey, alex,\ said max, \why dont we do something different this weekend? maybe we can go to a basketball game.\ alex replied, smiling, \a great idea! you know how to make an old basketball fan happy.\
• indirect characterization (description): whethers nice, as max must be summing up a bad day on his emotional scale. whethers moody, as he must be beating someone in a chess match (poor alex), or hes off to dinner and the movies with lucy. does he ever stop?

directions: read the excerpts below. then, on the line, write d if the excerpt contains direct characterization. write i if it contains indirect characterization.

1. dr. lee was the best dentist in the city. she had a warming smile, a gentle demeanor, and a sunny disposition. she put her patients at ease - even those with rooted cavities filled.
2. the man settled in the parked suv had shaggy cropped hair and piercing eyes illuminated by the backlight of the cell phone. his face was worried as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. he pulled at the knot of his expensive tie as a worried frown creased his brow.
3. \coach, im going to try the drill one more time,\ kim said. \i think i figured out how i can beat my best time.\
4. when kelly asked for a puppy for her birthday, her parents did not object. they knew kelly was a responsible girl who would love the puppy and devote herself to caring for it.
5. on a cold october morning, donnas phone alarm chimed at six oclock. she pulled on her boots and leggings and headed for the door. donna adjusted her ear buds and pulled the sleeves of her hoodie over her hands to keep out the cold. have gone 3 miles, she thought as she tugged at her hat. i have to be ready for the spring marathon.
6. eve loved to watch cooking competitions on tv and often re - created the winning recipes. she tried out new flavors every saturday when she cooked dinner for her family and, once a month, she has a dinner party for her friends. they are all amazed at her expertise when it comes to various cuisines.

Explanation:

1. The text directly states Dr. Lee's qualities, so it's direct characterization (D).
2. Describes the man's appearance and actions indirectly showing traits, so it's indirect characterization (I).
3. The quote is an example of indirect characterization through dialogue (I).
4. Tells what parents think about Kelly, indirectly showing her responsible - like trait, so it's indirect characterization (I).
5. Describes Dempsey's actions and thoughts, indirectly showing her punctuality and preparedness, so it's indirect characterization (I).
6. Describes Eve's actions and habits, indirectly showing her love for cooking and socializing, so it's indirect characterization (I).

Answer:

1. D
2. I
3. I
4. I
5. I
6. I