How to Make a Wanted Poster

Choose Your Antagonist

In order for you to create a wanted poster, there has to be a "bad guy" or an antagonist in the story, novel or play. An antagonist works against the protagonist or the hero. This person is also sometimes called the villain and will sometimes deceive or frustrate the hero.

The character that you choose for the wanted poster does not necessarily have to have committed a crime in the story. They just need to have done something that was very negative towards another character in the story, novel, or play.

Here is the template in Microsoft Word  wanted-poster-template.docx

Here is the template in Microsoft PowerPoint wanted-poster-template.ppt
Note: This method is much easier to do since the picture can be exchanged for the test picture where with Word the test picture must be deleted and then add the new picture.

Step 1: Select a character. Write the name of the character on notebook paper and begin a list of items to write on the wanted poster.

Research Character

Step 2: Search the text and find if there were any aliases used in the novel for the character.

Step 3: Make a physical description of the character and include any outstanding or distinguishing traits about a character. For example, you should list the following: height, weight, sex, hair color, eye color, scars, clothing, nationality, etc.

Step 4: Describe why the character is "wanted." What terrible thing did the character do? Is the character hiding? Is the character with another character? Is the character "armed and dangerous"?

Step 5: What is the character like? What does the character like to do? What skills or hobbies does the character have?

Step 6: Write where the character was last seen.

Making the Wanted Poster

You can make your wanted posters on the computer or you can use a large piece of construction paper. For the included directions, you will be using a large piece of construction paper.

Materials Needed: Construction paper, markers, scissors, colored pencils, glue sticks, old magazines, computer, printer, computer generated titles or clip art.

Step 7: You need a picture of your character. The picture can come from old magazines. You need to select a model or person who looks like the character. Or, you can search the Internet for a picture or photo.

Step 8: You need to put together all of the parts of the wanted poster:

• The words "Help Wanted" need to go at the top of the poster in big and bold letters.
• The name of the character need to be written below in bold letters as well. If you found an alias, please write that too.
• The picture of the character needs to be glued neatly in the center.
• You can type or neatly write the physical description. The words "physical description" should be written in bold letters before the description.
• Write or type why the character is wanted. You can write the word "crime" before the description.
• Write or type any special skills or hobbies the character has.
• Write or type where the character was last seen.

Sample Rubric for Wanted Poster
4

• Content provides enough description and is accurate.
• Very few writing convention errors.
• Titles, description and picture are neatly written, placed and cut.
• Color and creativity make the poster attractive and interesting.

3

• Content mostly provides enough description and is mostly accurate.
• A few writing convention errors.
• Titles, description and picture are mostly neatly written, placed and cut.
• Color and creativity mostly make the poster attractive and interesting.

2

• Content somewhat provides enough description and is somewhat accurate.
• Some writing convention errors.
• Titles, description and picture are somewhat neatly written, placed and cut.
• Color and creativity somewhat make the poster attractive and interesting.

1

• Content does not provide enough description and is not accurate.
• Many writing convention errors.
• Titles, description and picture are not neatly written, placed and cut.
• Color and creativity do not make the poster attractive or interesting.