Characterisation Ideas Bank - Improving Narrative Writing in KS2

This was a bank of ideas that I put together for a very able Year 4 writer. It includes lots of techniques that pupils can use in their narrative writing to make their fictional characters more believable and three-dimensional. Perhaps most suitable for Upper Key Stage 2, but could be used with talented younger writers and with pupils in KS3 also.

Resource is provided in PDF format and also Word format so that you can edit it. I have also provided it in black and white and full colour.

Ideas for use:

• Provide pupils with a black and white A4 version to stick in their exercise books; when they have tried a technique in their writing they can colour in the bubble.
• At the beginning of a piece of writing encourage pupils to decide on a characterisation technique that they will try to include.
• Enlarge to A3 an display on working wall.
• Laminate and position in literacy toolkit or table trays; encourage pupils to go and grab it when they want to improve their writing or are struggling for ideas.
• Provide pupils with a black and white A4 version in their reading journal; when they spot that an author has used a particular characterisation technique they can colour in that bubble.