What motivates a character to act the way they do?

1. What motivates a character to act the way they do? Why did my character do that?

2. In this lesson, you will learn how to determine character motivation by asking “Did my character do this because he or she feels a certain way?”

3. Let’s Review Let’s Review Readers pay attention to characters’actions, thoughts, and words Because she stopped to talk to him, she’s friendly.

4. Readers track patterns in character behavior to see if there are similarities Let’s Review Let’s Review Page 35 Free stomped into the lunchroom, fists clenched, not looking where he was going-again. He bumped into Jordan, this tiny third-grader. What did the character do the last time this happened?

5. Let’s Review Let’s Review Dyamonde didn’t like that Free was being mean to kids who couldn’t stand up for themselves and she decided to do something about it.

6. Forgetting to think about why a character might have done something He just did that because. I don’t know why.

7. Pause after an important event or a strong reaction.

8. Page 43 “Who are you so mad at?” “Who said I was mad?” “Oh, puleeze! All you do is stomp around and glare at people, even teachers, and I have not seen one person do anything bad to you since you got here. Not one. So who are you mad at?”

9. Did my character do this because he or she feels a certain way? Page 43 “Who are you so mad at?” “Who said I was mad?” “Oh, puleeze! All you do is stomp around and glare at people, even teachers, and I have not seen one person do anything bad to you since you got here. Not one. So who are you mad at?”

10. Dyamonde confronted Free because she was tired of seeing him be mean to other kids. Maybe Dyamonde is feeling like she wants to be a friend to Free, she gives him advice

11. Did my character do this because he or she feels a certain way? Page 53 “Hey” said Dyamonde, sliding in across from him. “Hay is for horses,” said Free. Dyamonde smiled. “You sure you want to sit here? You see how everybody’s looking at you like you’re crazy.” Immediately, Dyamonde stood up and faced everyone who was staring in her direction.

12. Dyamonde sat next to free because she realized they had something in common. She stood up to everyone because she doesn’t care what the other kids think.

13. Pause after an important event or a strong reaction. 1 2 • Ask: “Did my character do this because he or she feels a certain way?” Jot down your ideas on a sticky note. 3

14. In this lesson, you have learned how to determine character motivations by asking “Did my character do this because he or she feels a certain way?”

15. Read a section of your book. • Pause after an important event or strong reaction. • Ask yourself: “Did my character do this because he or she felt a certain way?” 3. Jot your ideas on a sticky note.

16. Look through your sticky notes to see if you can find other important events or strong reactions. After asking “Did my character do this because he or she felt a certain way?” then think about what the character could have done differently.

17. Page 53 The next day at lunch, Free did his usual thing. He carried his tray to the empty table farthest from the entrance and sat alone. He wasn’t alone for long, though. “Hey,” said Dyamonde, sliding across from him. “Hay is for horses,” said Free. Dyamonde smiled. Read this excerpt from Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel. Ask: “Did Dyamonde do this because she felt a certain way?” Jot your ideas down on a sticky note.