Active learning ideas
Characterisation and Motivation focuses on the 'who' and 'why' of prose. In the MOE Literature syllabus, students learn to look past surface-level descriptions to understand how authors build complex individuals. This involves distinguishing between direct characterisation (what the author tells us) and indirect characterisation (what we infer from speech, thoughts, and actions). For Secondary 1 students, this is a vital step in developing empathy and critical thinking as they analyze why characters behave in specific ways.
Activity 01
One student takes on the persona of a character while the rest of the class asks questions about their motivations. The 'character' must answer based on evidence from the text, explaining why they made certain controversial choices.
How do writers reveal a character's personality?
Activity 02
Groups draw a character outline on large paper. Inside the body, they write the character's internal thoughts; outside, they write external descriptions and actions, citing specific quotes for each.
What motivates characters to make certain choices?
Activity 03
Students are given a character's action and must brainstorm three possible motivations. They compare with a partner to decide which motivation is most supported by the text's earlier chapters.
How do characters change throughout a story?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Characters are real people with lives outside the book.
Students often treat characters as real friends or enemies. Active learning helps them see characters as 'constructs' by focusing on the author's specific word choices and techniques used to create that 'person' for a purpose.
A character's personality is fixed from the start.
Many students miss character development. By using 'Character Body Maps' at different points in the story, students can visually track changes in a character's motivations and traits, realizing that development is a key part of narrative craft.
Methods used in this brief
Understanding Plot and Conflict
Students will examine the narrative arc, identifying how conflicts drive the plot forward in short stories or novels. They will learn to map exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
8 methodologies
Setting and Atmosphere
Students will explore how physical and temporal settings contribute to the atmosphere of a narrative. They will analyse how setting influences character behaviour and plot development.
8 methodologies
Identifying Themes in Narratives
Students will learn to extract overarching themes and central messages from prose texts. They will connect these themes to real-world contexts and personal experiences.
8 methodologies