INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A gentleman knows how to listen to others. Teach him to wait his turn to speak instead of allowing him to interrupt others during a conversation. You also need to give your son the courtesy of listening to him when he is trying to tell you something. Your son might be a little on the shy side, but even if this is the case, he still needs to know how to be friendly with people who do come into contact with him. At minimum, let him know how important it is to make eye contact with others and to smile when greeting them. Explain why simple gestures, like smiles and eye contact, hold value. Smiling puts people at ease and eye contact creates a connection between two people. In today's world, there are so many bad influences that your son could easily fall prey to one if he is in the habit of being a follower instead of a leader. By teaching him to be a leader, you can help him to do that which he knows to be right instead of doing wrong just to blend in with the crowd. One way to encourage him to take a leadership role is to put him in that role from time to time. Have him make a decision that will affect the whole family. For instance, you might ask him to decide on what movie to watch or where to eat for dinner. Coax him into considering each family member as he makes his decision and gently guide him into making a smart choice. By the end, though, you need to let him feel that the choice was ultimately his. There will inevitably come a day when your son will have to deal with loss or disappointment. The first time this happens, you need to teach him about being a good sport to those who won out over him. A simple way to encourage good sportsmanship is to have him shake hands with the person he played against. Good manners are a physical manifestation of an attitude of respect. Manners can include formal issues, like the use of polite language or proper behavior at the table, but they also include more common issues, like listening to and respecting one's elders. A gentleman will be honest with those around him. Encourage your son to tell the truth and, on a similar note, also help him to understand the importance of keeping his word once he has made a promise.  When your son gets caught in a lie, talk to him about why lies are hurtful and why honesty would have been the better option. You should also make sure that the consequences of lying outweigh those that would have followed had your son been honest to begin with. Make sure that your son is not afraid of telling you the truth. You need to discipline him when he does wrong, of course, but you also need to be understanding. Generosity is one of the key components of gentlemanly behavior. Teach him to forgive wrongs committed against him. Encourage him to help others and to care for the weak, even if it means inconveniencing himself.  To build a sense of empathy, talk to him about considering how others might feel in a certain situation. Start with fictional situations by asking him how certain characters in books or on television might feel. Gradually move into real-life situations by asking him to consider the feelings of those around him at specific moments. Teach him about various forms of generosity. When an elderly person gets on a bus, offer your seat and encourage your son to do likewise. If a friend needs help moving, lend a hand and bring your son along to do the same. When your son is old enough and less wary of strangers, you and he can also volunteer a few hours at a soup kitchen or nursing home. Teach your son to try his hardest and to avoid quitting even when things get tough.  Once your son commits to a sport or other activity, make sure that he sticks it out for the season, even if he stops enjoying it halfway through. If he starts to have trouble in school, work with him on finding new ways to make the material more interesting and easier to comprehend. Temptations lurk in the shadows for everyone. If your son is to have any hope of becoming a gentleman, you need to instill in him the importance of resisting temptation and doing what he knows to be right. At its earliest stage, temptation can come in the form of losing his temper or taking a playmate's toy. Correct these behaviors as soon as you spot them. The earlier you begin, the easier it will be for him to resist other temptations later on.

SUMMARY: Promote good listening skills. Instruct him on being friendly and personable. Teach him to be a leader. Help him to be a good sport. Encourage your son to use good manners. Emphasize the importance of honesty. Let him develop a generous spirit. Foster a steady work ethic. Teach him to turn away from vice.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: On each page, create a category for “name,” “date of birth,” “height,” “physical characteristics,” “favorite food,” “favorite time of day,” and so on. Write the name of a character at the top of each page. Fill in the blanks for each character. Note whether each one is a minor or major character, and how they relate to one another in the story. Draw a family tree if you need help keeping all of the characters straight. Don’t forget to include diversity in your characters. Your characters should reflect real life in age, race, sexuality, gender, size, etc. Maybe they never shut the kitchen cabinets. Maybe they always hang up before saying “I love you.” Maybe they sing in the car, but never in front of people. Maybe they eat a bit too much cheese, and spend an entire paycheck in the cheese section of Whole Foods. What does your character fear? Maybe he doesn’t like spiders, or he’s afraid of the water. What motivates her? What keeps her awake at night? Maybe she can’t sleep because she always dreams of black cats. What makes him cry? What makes his heart stop beating for a moment? What’s his favorite china pattern? What does he want most in life? Where is her favorite place in the world? What medications does she take? For instance, what do her scars or tattoos say about her past? Maybe she got a tattoo that reminds her of a favorite pet that died. Why are his eyes brown? Maybe they’re his grandmother’s eyes, and he shares a passion for painting with her. When or why did she decide she liked strawberry-rhubarb pie? Maybe it was her mom’s favorite, who died when she was a kid. Why does she like mornings? Maybe that was the only time she really got to spend with her mom. Continue to dig. Ask “why” to every characteristic. Why is he afraid of spiders? Why does she dream about black cats? Write down the potential answers on your character’s biography page.

SUMMARY:
Create a biography page for each of your characters. Add general details about each character to their specific biography pages. Describe the physical appearance of your characters. Consider your characters quirks and flaws. Start thinking more in-depth about each character’s personality. Tie the characters deeper motivations and thoughts into their shallower characteristics.