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Mr. A's Writing Tools
writingtools.org
Writing Assignment
Buck's New World
Standard: Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
What to Do
Assignment OverviewJack London's powerful novel The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a The Call of the Wild (adapted excerpt)
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Buck had lived a life of lazy comfort on Judge Miller's estate in sunny California. He napped on the porch, splashed in the swimming pool, and wandered the grounds as if he owned them. He was strong and proud, but he had never needed to fight for anything.
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All of that ended the night a man lured him away and sold him to strangers heading north. Buck was caged, loaded onto a train, and shipped into a frozen world he did not understand. When the crate was finally pried open in the Yukon, the bitter cold hit him like a wall. Snow crunched under his paws for the first time. The other sled dogs snarled and snapped, testing him immediately.
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At first Buck stumbled. He did not know how to dig a sleeping hole in the snow, and he nearly froze his first night. He watched the other dogs burrow into drifts and copied them, pressing his nose under his tail for warmth. When a bigger dog stole his food, Buck did not cower -- he squared his shoulders and growled until the thief backed away. Each day on the trail, he grew leaner and tougher. His soft paws hardened. His senses sharpened until he could smell a moose a mile away.
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Something ancient was waking inside him, an instinct buried under generations of easy living. Buck began to lead the team, not because anyone told him to, but because the other dogs looked to him. He had arrived in the north as a pampered pet. Now he was becoming something wilder and more powerful -- something that belonged to this fierce, frozen land. Writing Steps
1
Map the Plot
List 3-4 key events (episodes) from the story in the order they happen:
- Event 1: What happens first? - Event 2: What happens next? - Event 3: What happens after that? - Event 4 (optional): How does the story end or reach a resolution? Focus on events that involve or affect the main character. Read the passage carefully. A story's plot unfolds in a series of episodes — key events that happen one after another and push the story forward.
As you read, pay special attention to the main character and how events affect them. Think about this question: How does Buck respond to the challenges he faces, and what do his responses reveal about his character?
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Look for:
Main Idea Detail / Evidence 1 Detail / Evidence 2 Detail / Evidence 3
2
How Does the Character Respond?
Choose 2 events from your plot map. For each one, describe how the main character responds:
Event 1: [Name the event] - How does the character respond? (What do they do, say, think, or feel?) Event 2: [Name the event] - How does the character respond? (What do they do, say, think, or feel?) Use details from the passage to support your answer about Buck's adaptation. Now look at how the main character responds to the events you mapped. Characters respond to events through their actions, words, thoughts, and feelings.
Think about: How does Buck respond to the challenges he faces, and what do his responses reveal about his character? Focus on what the character DOES, SAYS, THINKS, or FEELS at different points in the story.
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Look for:
What does the character DO when this event happens?
What does the character SAY or THINK?
How does the character FEEL — and how do you know?
Look for clues in the character's actions and words
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
3
How Does the Character Change?
Describe how the main character changes from the beginning to the end of the story:
1. At the beginning: What is the character like? What do they think, feel, or believe? 2. At the end: How is the character different? What has changed about them? 3. The change: In one sentence, describe the character's transformation — how did they grow or change? Be specific about Buck's adaptation and use details from the passage. As the plot moves toward its resolution (how the story wraps up), the main character often changes. They might:
- Learn something new - Change their attitude or beliefs - Grow braver, wiser, kinder, or more confident - See the world differently Think about: How does Buck respond to the challenges he faces, and what do his responses reveal about his character? Compare who the character is at the BEGINNING to who they are at the END.
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Look for:
How is the character DIFFERENT at the end compared to the beginning?
What did the character learn or realize?
Did their attitude, feelings, or behavior change?
Think about BEFORE and AFTER the key events
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
4
What Drives the Change?
Explain what drives the character's change:
1. Key moment: What specific event, conflict, or interaction is the biggest reason the character changes? 2. How it causes change: Why does this moment matter? How does it push the character to be different? 3. Evidence: What details from the passage support your explanation? Connect your ideas to Buck's adaptation. Characters don't change for no reason. Specific events, conflicts, or interactions in the plot push them to grow or develop.
Think about the events you mapped and the character responses you described. What specific moments in the story CAUSE the character to change? How does Buck respond to the challenges he faces, and what do his responses reveal about his character?
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Look for:
What is the TURNING POINT — the moment everything shifts?
Why does this event affect the character so deeply?
What would have happened if this event DIDN'T occur?
Look for the moment the character realizes something or makes a choice
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
5
Write Your Character Analysis
Write a complete character analysis paragraph (5-8 sentences) that includes:
1. Introduction: Name the character and briefly state how they change 2. Response to events: Describe how the character responds to key plot events 3. The change: Explain how the character is different by the end 4. What drives it: Identify the event or moment that causes the change 5. Conclusion: Wrap up your analysis of Buck's adaptation Use transition words to connect your ideas: - "At first... but later..." - "When [event] happens, the character..." - "This causes the character to..." - "By the end of the story..." Now put it all together! Write a character analysis paragraph that shows how the main character develops through the plot events in the story.
Your analysis should answer: How does Buck respond to the challenges he faces, and what do his responses reveal about his character? A strong character analysis: - Names the character and the story - Describes how the character responds to key events - Explains how the character changes - Identifies what drives that change - Uses specific details from the passage
Scoring Guidance — Step 5
Look for:
Start by naming the character and the story
Show the journey: who they were → what happened → who they became
Use specific details and examples from the passage
End with a statement about what the change means or shows
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
Self-Check Rubric
Before You Turn InI completed the planning step
I completed Step 2: How Does the Character Respond?
I completed Step 3: How Does the Character Change?
I completed Step 4: What Drives the Change?
I completed Step 5: Write Your Character Analysis
I re-read my writing and fixed any spelling or grammar mistakes
I am proud of this work
ReflectionWhat was the hardest part of this assignment? What would you do differently next time? Want the AI-coached version of this assignment?
Get step-by-step AI feedback on student writing — free for teachers at writingtools.org. Same assignment, with grade-level rubric scoring, revision coaching, and printable reports.
writingtools.org/printables/character6_call_of_wild_v1
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