Character Motivation
What is a character motivation?
The reason a character acts, makes a choice, or behaves a certain way.
What question does evidence answer?
WHAT?
What does the text actually say/show?
“ONE TEAM! ONE DREAM! ONE TEAM! ONE DREAM!”
Which propaganda technique is being used?
Repetition / slogan
Who is the character who frequently explains or defends the pigs' decisions to the other animals?
Squealer
Complete:
INFERENCE = EVIDENCE + ______
REASONING
Lena volunteers to organize every group project and becomes frustrated when someone else tries to lead.
What might you infer about Lena?
She may like being in control or feel responsible for how the group performs.
Claim:
Jordan is becoming more responsible.
Which is better evidence?
A. Jordan is responsible.
B. Jordan begins completing his work before playing video games.
B. Jordan begins completing his work before playing video games.
A school campaign describes its plan as:
“The exciting, powerful, courageous choice for our future.”
What technique is being used?
Loaded/emotional language
Which character has been presented as hardworking and extremely dedicated to the farm?
Boxer
Which is stronger?
A. Napoleon wants power.
B. Napoleon's repeated choices suggest that gaining greater control over the farm is becoming increasingly important to him.
B
Why?
Marcus usually avoids difficult tasks. After failing an assignment, he begins asking questions and checking his work before turning it in.
What does this pattern suggest?
Marcus may be becoming more responsible, persistent, or thoughtful about his work.
“Maya returned the wallet even though nobody saw her find it.”
A student writes:
“This reveals that Maya values honesty because she makes the honest choice even when nobody would know if she kept the wallet.”
Is that evidence or explanation?
Explanation
A speaker tells students:
“If we don't make this change immediately, our school could become a complete disaster.”
Which technique is being used?
Fear
Why should readers pay attention when the animals remember something differently from what they are later told?
Because it creates questions about truth, memory, and who controls information.
“Only I can protect you.”
What TWO things should a strong reader ask?
What is the character trying to make the audience believe?
and
What evidence shows whether the statement is trustworthy?
or
Who benefits if the audience believes it?
Which gives us stronger information about a character?
A. One action
B. A repeated pattern of actions
B - a repeated pattern, because repeated choices provide stronger evidence about motivation or character traits.
Claim:
Nina is becoming more independent.
Evidence:
Nina begins solving problems herself instead of immediately asking her sister for help.
Give an explanation.
This shows Nina is becoming more independent because she is beginning to rely on her own abilities.
A campaign poster lists five successes of a leader but doesn't mention any mistakes or failures.
What technique is being used?
One-sided information
As the pigs gain more influence, what should a reader pay attention to besides what the pigs say?
Their actions, who benefits from their decisions, and whether their behavior matches their earlier ideas/promises.
MESSAGE → TECHNIQUE → ______
EFFECT ON AUDIENCE
A character says, “I only want what is best for everyone,” but repeatedly makes choices that benefit himself.
What should a strong reader analyze?
The difference between what the character says and what the character does.
CLAIM → EVIDENCE → ______
EXPLANATION / ANALYSIS
TRUE or FALSE:
A propaganda message can contain true information and still be propaganda.
TRUE, why?
Why might Orwell have animals disagree about what they remember?
It helps show how people can become easier to influence when they aren't confident about what actually happened.
A leader repeatedly tells a community that every success happened because of his leadership. When something goes wrong, he blames someone who is no longer part of the community.
What TWO concepts from this unit could you use to analyze this situation? Explain
Possible answers include:
character motivation
character patterns
propaganda
repetition
one-sided information
influence
evidence/inference