Character Diary Instructions & Rubric printable pdf download

Character Diary Instructions & Rubric

Write at least five substantial journal entries from the perspective of a character in your book. At

the beginning of each entry, state the name of the featured character and the chapter after which

the entry would be written.

Put yourself in the character’s shoes, and consider the following questions to get you going:



What are you most afraid of or worried about? What is making you anxious? Describe the

person, object, or event that bothers you.



Who has impressed, annoyed, or pleased you most so far? What other character has had

the strongest effect on you? Describe the interaction you've had, and why you feel the way

that you do.



What do you want to accomplish in your life? What big goals have you set for yourself, and

why? What obstacles stand in your way?



If you could relive a moment, what moment would you like to relive, and why? What event

do you think about? Why is it such a strong memory for you? Do you have any regrets about

this moment?



What lesson(s) have you learned? What have the events that you've been through taught

you? How have you changed?



Choose a value or ideal that is important to you--honesty, courage, faithfulness, and so

forth. Define your value, and explore how it relates to your life. Why is this ideal important

to you?

Character’s name and

Format

Each entry is titled

Most entries are

Entries may be missing

the character’s name

neatly with the

titled with the

relevant chapter(s)

character’s name

and/or the relevant

are not stated

and the relevant

chapter(s)

Entries demonstrate

Entries demonstrate a

Entries demonstrate

Content

deep insight into

a clear

basic understanding of

confusion about

characters’ feelings

understanding of

characters’ feelings

and values along

along with knowledge

and plot

with knowledge of

along with

of plot events; entries

the plot’s key

knowledge of the

may consist mostly of

plot’s key events

events and themes

plot summary

Journal includes

Journal includes five

Fewer than five

Length

more than five

entries; entries are

entries that are 10-15

entries are fewer than

entries; entries are

15-20 lines long

lines long

10 lines

20+ lines long

Entries are written

Entries are sometimes

Entries are not

Conventions

in first person

written in first person

consistently written

perspective and

perspective and contain

in first person

contain few errors

contain occasional

several errors in

perspective and/or

in grammar,

errors in grammar,

grammar, spelling, and

contain several errors

spelling, and

punctuation

in grammar, spelling,

punctuation

and punctuation that

interfere with

meaning

Character Diary Instructions & Rubric

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories