Character Diary

This reflective writing worksheet helps students in Grades 8, 9, and 10 develop character analysis, narrative voice, perspective-taking, emotional expression, and interpretive writing skills through a diary-entry format based on A Good Man Is Hard to Find. By writing from the viewpoint of a selected character, learners closely examine motivation, tone, inner conflict, and personal response to key events in the story.

Targeted Skills

• Narrative & Creative Writing (Grades 8-10): Students craft a diary entry using first-person voice, descriptive detail, and reflective language.
• Character Voice & Perspective: Learners maintain consistency with character traits, attitudes, and emotional responses from the text.
• Interpretive Reading: Students infer unspoken thoughts, motivations, and feelings based on textual evidence.
• Empathy & Emotional Insight: Writers explore how different characters experience fear, pride, regret, or understanding.

Educational Value

• Teacher-Created Resource: Designed by educators to support secondary ELA literature standards.
• Flexible Character Choice: Students may write as the grandmother, Bailey, the Misfit, or June Star.
• Supports Differentiation: Open-ended format allows varied depth, creativity, and complexity.
• Multiple Uses: Suitable for classwork, homework, enrichment, journaling, or formative assessment.

This character diary worksheet encourages students to deepen their understanding of narrative perspective, character development, emotional tone, and reflective writing. By stepping into a character’s mindset, learners strengthen close reading, creative expression, and interpretive reasoning skills. Whether used in a classroom or homeschool setting, this printable activity offers a meaningful way to connect literary analysis with personal, thoughtful writing.

This worksheet is part of our A Good Man is Hard to Find collection.