Character Analysis | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	"Nervous" is a FEELING, not a trait. It describes how someone feels at one moment. Feelings change throughout a story, while traits stay consistent.
2	Trait: Hardworking, Honest, or Helpful Evidence will vary based on trait chosen: Hardworking: She worked for three weeks testing mixtures. Honest: She wouldn't let Mia copy. Helpful: She offered to teach Mia instead.
3	Elena refused to give Mia her notes because she wanted Mia to actually learn. She cared about Mia's real learning, not just getting a good grade.
4	B. What the character says, does, and thinks Actions, dialogue, and thoughts reveal character traits. Physical appearance (A, D) and setting (C) don't show personality.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	"Nervous" is a FEELING because it describes how Jordan felt at that specific moment. Feelings change - Jordan felt nervous at first but became more confident later.
2	B. Brave - He did the right thing even when it was hard. Jordan showed bravery by making the unpopular decision to enforce the laps, even though he wanted to be liked.
3	Jordan's motivation was to help the team succeed/prepare for the championship. He wanted the team to build stamina and be their best.
4	C. "'I'll run with you.' He started jogging, and one by one, the whole team joined him." This shows leadership through example - he didn't just give orders but participated alongside his team.
5	Jordan changes from being worried about being liked to understanding that a good leader does what's right, not what's easy. He gains confidence in his leadership.
6	Trait: Impatient Evidence: She complained after only three days, saying "This is taking forever!" She wanted results immediately.
7	B. She goes from being impatient to learning patience.
8	Maya feels guilty because she realizes she may have hurt the seed by digging it up. This shows she cares about the garden more than she admitted and is starting to develop patience.
9	C. Waiting weeks and finally seeing a sprout grow This experience taught her that waiting was worth it - the reward of seeing growth helped her understand patience.
10	B. Bossy - She takes charge without asking Marcus's opinion.
11	Marcus's detailed drawings show he is hardworking, talented, and creative. Even though he's quiet, he put a lot of effort into the project and has artistic skills.
12	Destiny changed her attitude when she saw Marcus's amazing drawings. She realized she had judged him unfairly and that he had worked harder than she had.
13	B. She learns to appreciate others' strengths and not judge too quickly.
14	Both Jordan and Destiny learn to become better people by the end. Jordan learns that leadership is about doing what's right, not being popular. Destiny learns not to judge others and to appreciate different strengths. Both show growth in understanding and respecting others.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. Determined - He practiced every day and didn't give up.
2	B. Feeling, because it describes his emotion at that specific moment. Kenji wasn't always shaking/nervous - this was his emotion during tryouts specifically.
3	C. "Kenji took a deep breath and focused... he had scored more points than anyone else." This shows his transformation from wanting to quit to succeeding.
4	B. His sister's encouragement and remembering all his hard work.
5	B. She goes from disliking dogs to having a more positive view of them.
6	B. Compassion - She helped even though it was inconvenient for her. Ava chose to help despite muddy conditions and ruining her sneakers.
7	B. She saw how worried and upset Mrs. Patterson was.
8	C. "Biscuit licked her face gratefully, and despite herself, Ava laughed." "Despite herself" shows she didn't expect to feel positively toward the dog, but she did.
9	See rubric and sample response below.
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric (ACE Method)

Score	Criteria
2	States trait clearly (Answer), provides specific quote or detail (Cite), AND explains how evidence proves the trait (Explain)
1	States trait with evidence but weak/missing explanation, OR strong explanation but vague evidence
0	Incorrect trait, no evidence, or response doesn't address the question

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Kenji shows the character trait of determination (Answer). In the passage, it says "He practiced every day after school, shooting hoops until the sun went down" and even when he wanted to quit, he kept playing and ended up scoring the most points (Cite). This shows determination because he kept working toward his goal even when things were hard and he felt like giving up (Explain).

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Comparison)

Score	Criteria
2	Identifies a clear similarity in how both characters change AND explains what both learn with support from both passages
1	Identifies similarity but only discusses one character in depth, OR comparison is vague
0	No clear comparison, focuses on only one character, or inaccurate information

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
Both Kenji and Ava are similar because they both face challenges and end up changing their attitudes. Kenji starts out wanting to give up during tryouts but pushes through and discovers he can succeed. Ava starts out not liking dogs but ends up having a positive experience with Biscuit. Both characters learn that trying new things or pushing through difficulties can lead to good outcomes. They both grow by being open to change instead of giving up or staying stuck in their old way of thinking.

Quick Reference: Traits vs. Feelings

Character Traits (Consistent)	Character Feelings (Change)
Determined, Brave, Kind	Nervous, Scared, Excited
Honest, Creative, Stubborn	Frustrated, Happy, Worried
Compassionate, Hardworking, Loyal	Embarrassed, Relieved, Angry