The process of characterization is that which every author uses to make, build, or create a character. In most cases this process is carried out in three ways: 1) the author has the character say things that tell us what kind of person he or she is, 2) the author has the character do things that reveal what sort of person we are reading about (or hearing, or seeing), and 3) the author also often has other people reveal things about the character (the closer to the person another character is the better—more reliable—is the information).
First, use the following title: (but put nothing in bold–I use bold here only for emphasis)
The Characterization of Dee in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”
Your thesis—the final sentence in your first paragraph—must be something like the following:
In “Everyday Use,” Dee is characterized by what she does, what she says, and what others say about her.
or
In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” Dee is characterized by what she does, what she says, and what others say about her.
Your next three topic sentences—the first sentence in each of the next three paragraphs must be—(1) Dee is characterized by what she does. (2) Dee is further characterized by what she says. (3) Dee is also characterized by what others say about her. These must be the opening sentences of paragraphs two through four.
Sample Solution
