Can anyone help me with this?

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I'm sorry if I'm in the wrong sub-forum, but I don't know where else to put this.

I have trouble reading people and analyzing. I can manage the whole social aspect of it; I've found work-arounds. However, English class is exceptionally difficult as a result of this problem.

I used to do really well in English- I'm a quick, diligent reader and I remember what I read. However, I cannot analyze characters and their motivations very well. Like today, I got a paper back in English that was an analysis on a character. I spent literally hours figuring this dude out. Still, my teacher commented that my analysis was "shallow". This is not a one-off. I cannot analyze fictional characters. I don't know what makes them tick.

Due to worries about stigmatization, my parents opted not to tell my high school that I currently attend about my HBI. It is too late to tell them now, nor do I wish to tell them. So, accommodations on this front are not feasible.

Does anyone know a good work-around for analyzing characters?

Thanks

Thanks I will read up on analysis's (is that how you put that in the plural?) for homework assignments

Idk what to do about the SATs though....it's keeping my English composite scores in the 600s.

Hi jpr11011

I am a very analytical person who nevertheless managed to excel at an English/humanities degree.

I did this by using my strengths in analysis to counteract my deficiencies in intuitive understanding.

At the time I did not know that I was ASD, so this technique developed without me realising what I was doing, which I find interesting.

What I did was *understand the question* that the assignment was requiring me to answer.
The question required a *particular structure* to be made in the answer: usually an introduction, middle section with supporting evidence, and a conclusion.
In other words, I did not have to understand the motivations of the characters, or their inner worlds, only the structure of the essay that I was required to write.

This is basically a "call and answer" mechanism: they say this, you reply that.

So when the teacher refers to your homework assignment as a "shallow" interpretation, I do not think that this reflects on how genuine your soul is (!) or even how good you are at "reading people".
What it means is that you did not put enough structure and detail in your essay.

Try drawing a picture or diagram of the characters and their interactions, or a timeline of their story.
This may give you clues to what you are supposed to say in your English assignments.

Good luck

What is HBI?

I've found it easier to analyze a character based on their actions rather than their described personalities. A good way to practice this is reading books like Of Mice and Men and The Great Gatsby. Both of them use colors and symbols to sort of tell you what's going on, and the associations between characters and the objects/symbols can really tell you about the characters.

I wish you luck.