Character Obituary writing activity for literature units, PDF & Google Drive

Give a fresh spin to the standard obituary characterization writing activity with this easy-to-use worksheet where students choose a character who died in a work of literature and submit an obit information summary sheet to the town’s local newspaper.

Instead of writing a typical newspaper obit, students will assume the identity of another character in the novel and complete an “Obituary Request Form.” This writing activity not only requires depth of knowledge about the deceased character, but also requires students to dig back into the book to find textual support for their answers.

This 2-page file (printable PDF and Google Drive versions, both uneditable) includes a blank form and a completed sample to show students, if you wish. The sample is from my students’ study of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, showing an obituary request on behalf of Lennie Small placed by Slim, but you could use this worksheet with ANY book or short story that includes the death of a character.

Hope you enjoy this activity, which works with sixth graders through high school seniors.

Note: This item is also included in my discounted Literature Supplemental Activity 10-pack at a 20% discount. To avoid a double-purchase, please do not buy the item on this page if you also intend on purchasing the discounted bundle.

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