The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I

Writing a Constructed Response

Focus: Character Traits

Writing Prompt

In the play, The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I, the author develops several strong characters, each with very different personalities. Write a short essay analyzing the personality of one character based on his/her thoughts, actions, and speech. Cite textual evidence to support your analysis of the character, and be able to explain how your evidence supports your inference.

Steps to Drafting a Well-Written Constructed Response

• Step 1: Choose a character to analyze .• Step 2: Infer: Determine which personality

trait best describes the character.• Step 3: Provide textual evidence to support

the trait.• Step 4: Decide on the strongest pieces of

evidence.• Step 5: Explain why evidence supports the

trait.• Step 6: Tie it altogether.

LET’S PRACTICE CHOOSING A PERSONALITY

TRAIT!

Name the Personality Trait

Registered Nurse

Name the Personality Trait

Construction Worker

Name the Personality Trait

Plastic Surgeon

Name the Personality Trait

Middle School Teacher

Name the Personality Trait

Professional Athlete

Name the Personality Trait

Vegetable Farmer

Name the Personality Trait

Your Phantom Tollbooth Character(from Act I)

Name the Personality Trait

Miss Lederman’s Phantom Tollbooth Character:

Milo

Personality Trait indecisive

Making Inferences: Choose a Trait

Once you choose a character to analyze, you need to decide which personality trait best describes your character.

This is the driving force of your essay. Therefore, you must have several pieces of evidence to support your inference. Your evidence should range from the character’s thoughts to his/her feelings to his/her actions. Having a variety will strengthen your essay.

Making Inferences: Dictionary Definition

Dictionary Definition: It is important to define the character trait so you are entirely sure of its meaning.

Milo Example: indecisive: (adjective) not having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly or effectively

Ask yourself: Does this definition entirely fit my character [Milo]?

Making Inferences: In Your Own Words

Rewrite the Definition: Write your definition as a complete sentence, avoiding all words from the original definition. You never know – you may want to incorporate this into your essay!

Making Inferences: In Your Own Words

Original: indecisive: (adjective) not having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly or effectively

My Own Words: indecisive: Indecisive means to be unsettled in making choices.

Making Inferences: Explain the Trait

In 2-3 sentences, explain how someone with that personality trait would act, speak, and think.

Don’t use evidence from the text just yet, but be sure this description is suitable for your chosen character. Otherwise, this may not be the best trait.

Making Inferences: Explain the Trait

Someone who is indecisive: An indecisive person will often sit with a blank stare. Rather than producing words, he or she will say, “umm” a lot. Thoughts may be running through his or her mind, but one idea never stands out due to uncertainty or lack of confidence. Being indecisive might cause someone to not participate in many activities because he or she can never make a decision on what to do.

In this response, you should “show, not tell”.

Making Inferences: How Does This Fit Your Character?

Now, consider. Does this personality trait truly fit your character? Explain in 2-3 sentences.

Making Inferences: How Does This Fit Your Character?

At the beginning of the play, Milo proves he is indecisive. He often has difficulty making a decision. When he is in one place, he wishes he were somewhere else, and when he is doing one thing, he wishes it were another.