COMPARISON/CONTRAST CHARACTER ANALYSIS

UNITY, FOCUS, AND ORGANIZATION

____Underline thesis and topic sentences

____No thesis statement in introductory paragraph.

____Thesis statement not focused on character traits or similarities or differences.

____Thesis statement must unite both characters.

____No plot summary in introductory paragraph to establish context. Introductory paragraph should establish a rationale for discussing the characters together.

____Topic sentence focus not on characters’ similarities or differences

____Sentences not focused on character traits or topic sentence.

____Use subordination to ensure that independent clause focus is on traits and that plot details, quotations, etc. appear in dependent elements. Avoid summary in independent clauses.

____Avoid inadvertently deemphasizing one character by discussing him in a dependent clause while discussing the other in an independent clause.

____Faulty organization. Ensure that each paragraph covers different ground. Ensure that matters discussed in the same paragraph logically belong together.

DEVELOPMENT

____Not enough specific evidence. Use examples, details, and direct quotations as specific evidence with which to develop your topic sentences.

____Not enough analysis and explanation. Explain clearly how the evidence reveals a similarity or a difference in character traits. Make reader see what you mean.

____ Identify characters, situations, contexts, etc. with which the reader may be unfamiliar. Don’t assume he’s read the work or already understands the point you are trying to make. Don’t expect reader to read your mind.

STYLE AND MECHANICS

____Choppy or stringy sentences. Combine related sentences by subordination.

____Vary beginnings of sentences.

____Vary sentence patterns. Vary phrasing of same or similar ideas.

____Establish transitions between paragraphs and between sentences

____Wordiness. Make statements more concise. Eliminate unnecessary words by choosing diction more carefully and by combining related sentences. Avoid passive voice; use strong, active verbs.

____Tense. Write about literature in present tenses. Do not shift tenses unnecessarily.

____Mishandled direct quotations. Make each quotation part of one of your sentences. Introduce each quotation, clearly identifying speaker, context, and any unclear references within the quotation. Put page number (for prose) or line number (for poetry) in parenthesis after quotation. Put period at end of sentence.

PROOFREAD.	____Error of Fact	Wrong Punctuation
____Fragment	____Miscopied quotation	____Quotation within quotation
____Run-on sentence	____Diction error or misused term	____Coordinating conjunction
____Misspelling	____Lack of parallelism	____Introductory element
____Garbled or wrong syntax	____Wrong or misplaced modifier	____Restrictive/non-restrictive element
____S-V disagreement	____Omitted or misused apostrophe	____Concluding adverb clause
____Wrong case	____Omitted or redundant words	____Title
____Wrong principal part	____Unclear or illogical pronoun reference	____Other
	____MLA Format