(1) Dee is characterized by what she does. (2) Dee is further characterized by what she says. (3) Dee is also
characterized by what others say about her. These must be the opening sentences of paragraphs two through
four.
Your final paragraph—a conclusion—must begin with (one of the following) In conclusion, Finally, or In
summary, or even another equally conspicuous and emphatic transition to a concluding statement/paragraph.
Clearly, what you have to do is fill in your paragraphs with the appropriate materials. In paragraph one you
should introduce your topic in a general way, concluding with an explicit thesis. Your body, the three interior
paragraphs, must provide adequate “proof” through particular instances—explicitly quoted from the text—that
substantiate the assertion of the topic sentence. You must include explicit things the person says and does, as
well as important things others say about the person in order to satisfy these requirements. Your conclusion
must conclude. In other words, you must give no further support—the province of the interior paragraphs—the
body of the essay. You must pull things together, remind the reader what you have attempted to do, and be
certain to revisit the key words in your thesis—and title as well—(here at least—your character’s name and the
word characterization).