Character One-Pager Script

Introduction & Hook (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to become super-sleuths of the stage! We're going to dive deep into understanding characters in drama."

(Display Slide 2: What Makes a Character Tick?)

"Think about your favorite stories, plays, or even movies. What makes a character truly memorable? What makes them feel real to us?"

"Let's brainstorm for a minute. What kind of things do we notice or look for when we try to understand a character? What are their strengths? Their flaws? What drives them?"

(Allow students to share ideas. Guide them towards internal and external traits, motivations, and changes.)

"Exactly! We look at their actions, their words, how others react to them, and what they truly desire."

Introducing the One-Pager (10 minutes)

"Now, how can we capture all of that amazing insight in a creative, powerful way? Today, we're going to create something called a 'Character One-Pager'!"

(Display Slide 3: What's a Character One-Pager?)

"A one-pager is exactly what it sounds like: a single page where you combine words and images to show your deep understanding of a topic. In our case, it's about a character! It's a way to synthesize all your thinking onto one powerful sheet, without writing a long, traditional report. It's about being both artistic and analytical."

(Display Slide 4: One-Pager Must-Haves)

"Here are the essential elements your character one-pager needs to include:"

• "Character Name & Play Title: Make this stand out! It should be big and bold."
• "Key Quotes: Choose two to three really important lines that your character says. These quotes should reveal something crucial about their personality or their journey. Make sure to include who said it and what play it's from."
• "Symbols/Images: Think metaphorically! What objects, colors, or images could represent this character? Draw them or use abstract symbols. For example, if a character is very protective, you might draw a shield."
• "Important Traits: List three to five adjectives that truly describe their personality. Are they brave? Cunning? Loyal? Give us those key words!"
• "Main Goal/Motivation: What is the one thing this character wants more than anything else? What drives their actions in the play?"
• "A Question for the Character: If you could ask this character one question, what would it be? Or, what is a big question that this character makes you think about?"
• "Key Theme Connection: What major theme or idea in the play is this character most connected to? How do they help us understand that theme?"

"Let's try a quick example. Imagine a character who is always trying to make people laugh, but deep down, they're quite sad. What might be a symbol for them? Maybe a mask, right? Or a broken smile."

(Briefly guide them through one more quick example if time allows, or clarify any element they seem confused about.)

Independent Work (10 minutes)

(Display Slide 5: Remember!)

"Now it's your turn! You'll be creating a one-pager for [insert specific character here, or allow students to choose from a provided list/current text]. Remember to:

• Be Creative! Use colors, drawings, and different fonts to make your page visually engaging.
• Be Specific! All your choices should be backed up by evidence from the play or character description.
• Be Clear! Make sure your ideas are easy to understand.
• No empty spaces! Fill the page with your awesome ideas!"

"I'm handing out your Character One-Pager Activity sheets, and you can grab some blank paper or cardstock. You have about 10 minutes to work independently on your one-pager. I'll be walking around to answer any questions and offer help."

(Distribute Character One-Pager Activity and materials. Circulate and provide support.)

Wrap-Up & Share (5 minutes)

"Alright, let's bring our creativity to a close for today. Who would like to share one element from their one-pager? Perhaps a symbol, a quote, or a trait, and explain why you chose it?"

(Invite 2-3 students to share briefly.)

"Fantastic work, everyone! You've shown some incredible insight and creativity today."

"To wrap things up, please complete this quick Cool Down activity before you leave."

(Distribute Cool Down and collect materials.)

Character One-Pager Activity: Unlocking Your Character!

Objective: Create a single-page visual representation of a character from a play or dramatic scenario. Your one-pager should combine words and images to demonstrate your deep understanding of the character.

Character for this activity: [Your Teacher Will Tell You / Choose from Current Play]

What to Include on Your One-Pager:

Make sure your one-pager includes all of the following elements. Be creative with your layout, colors, and drawings!

1. Character Name & Play Title: Make this the central focus or a prominent part of your page! Write it big and bold.
   
   
   
   
2. Key Quotes (2-3): Choose two or three significant quotes spoken by your character. These quotes should reveal something important about their personality, beliefs, or journey. Include the speaker and act/scene if possible.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Symbols/Images (at least 2): Draw or use symbolic images that represent your character. Think about objects, animals, colors, or abstract shapes that relate to them. Explain why you chose each symbol.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Important Traits (3-5 adjectives): List three to five adjectives that best describe your character's personality. Briefly explain why each adjective fits them.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Main Goal/Motivation: What is the primary thing this character desires or is striving for throughout the story? What drives their actions?
   
   
   
   
6. A Question for the Character: Write one thought-provoking question you would ask this character, or a significant question their actions raise for you.
   
   
   
   
7. Key Theme Connection: Identify one major theme (e.g., justice, love, betrayal, courage) present in the play and explain how your character connects to or helps illustrate that theme.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Tips for Success:

• Fill the Page: Don't leave large blank spaces. Use the entire page creatively.
• Use Color: Colors can add meaning and make your one-pager visually appealing.
• Be Neat: Make your writing and drawings clear and easy to understand.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Your visual choices should complement your written explanations.
• Refer to the Text: Your ideas should be supported by evidence from the play or character description.

Character One-Pager Rubric

Student Name: __________________________

Character: ____________________________

Character Warm-Up: Your Symbolic Self!

Instructions: Take a moment to think about yourself as a character. If you were in a play, and you could choose one everyday object to represent your core personality, what would it be and why?

Object:

Why this object represents me:

Character One-Pager Cool Down

Instructions: Please answer the following question before you leave.

What was the most challenging part of summarizing a character on a single page? What did you learn about character analysis by doing this activity?