ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT

Creating a character

Assessment Criteria and What A Good One Looks Like

Below you will find the Skill Check assessment criteria for this skill, and underneath you will find an example of what a good one looks like, with a brief explanation of how it fits the criteria.

Assessment Criteria for Creating a character

minus
any of these things

Basic task instructions have not been followed

Very little written or very poor written expression / technical accuracy

Simply tells who the character is (name, age, physical description) without any kind of story

Creates a character who is not relevant to the task in the question

equals
all of these things

Acceptable written expression and accuracy

Starts some kind of story while introducing the character

Introduces most of the core details of a character (name, age, gender) who generally fits the task

plus
all of these things

Accuracy and style is somewhat effective

Starts some kind of story while introducing the character

Introduces all of the core details of a character (name, age, gender) who clearly fits the task

Gives the character at least one thought or feeling to suggest an inner life

star
all of these things

Accuracy and style is effective

Starts a clear story while introducing the character

Introduces all of the core details about a character who clearly fits the task.

Gives the character some effective thoughts and feelings and some details which convey a sense of their personality

Doesn’t pointlessly describe the character’s hair

What a good one looks like

Example task

Write the opening of a story in which you introduce the protagonist to the reader. Your character needs to be sad about something. You don’t need to worry too much about plot – just focus on creating a believable character who has some individuality. Try to use ‘show don’t tell’ where possible. Aim to write around 6-10 sentences.

Example response

Billie looked out of her bedroom window as the midday sun lit up the garden of the AirBnB she was staying in with her mum. It was, she knew, a perfect summer’s day — something her mum had tediously said several times that day already — but for Billie there was nothing ‘perfect’ about it. In fact, there had been nothing even good about the entire summer holiday, not since she’d seen Trent’s post on Instagram. Why would he do that to her? It was as if a black cloud had settled over Billie then, and no summer sunshine, no homework-free evenings, no holiday with her mum to Dorset could dispel the gloom — not even the particularly effective evening she’d had playing Apex last night. Trent — that wretched little toad — had ruined everything, she thought, as she stabbed her pencil repeatedly on the gnat that had foolishly landed on her desk.

Notes on this response

  • It’s only 6 sentences long.

  • It clearly fits the requirements of the task by involving a character who is sad about something.

  • It starts to tell a clear story through Trent’s mysterious Insta post.

  • It establishes all of the core details of the character: Billie, female, school age.

  • It includes plenty of Billie’s thoughts and feelings about what has happened, creating an inner life for her, with details to imply her personality (e.g. Apex Legends reference)

  • It uses varied and complex sentence structures accurately to create an effective style. It is also technically accurate.

  • It doesn’t pointlessly describe Billie’s physical appearance (e.g. her shiny hair).