The following short stories provide excellent examples of characterization. Use them to teach literature or as a template for creative writing.

Teaching characterization in short stories may cover the following ELA Common Core Standards.  This is for your administrator, not your kids.  Kids need student-friendly worded objectives.

1. RL.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
2. RL.9-10.10 By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
3. RL.9-10.3  Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Here's a good characterization lesson plan you can use with any of the short stories listed and many not listed.

There are four ways an author develops characters: (1) direct description; (2) character's actions; (3) character's words and thoughts; (4) other characters' words and thoughts.

As you read a literary work, instruct students to fill out a chart like the one here.

Short story writers do not have the luxury that novel writers have in regards to character development. The character development in short stories requires conciseness and clarity. Following is a list of short stories with excellent examples of characterization.

1. "Billy Budd" by Herman Melville - The narrator says of Billy Budd, "my forecastle was a rat-pit of quarrels...But Billy came, and it was like a Catholic priest striking peace in an Irish shindy...a virtue went out of him, sugaring the sour ones...Anybody will do anything for Billy Budd; and it's the happy family here" (433). Notice how the narrator describes the effect Billy has on his crew more than he actually describes Billy. Teaching Billy Budd--be forewarned--is difficult, even with high level students, but it is worth the effort.
2. "The Cat Bird Seat" by James Thurber - Mr. Erwin Martin, the mild-mannered head of the filing department, despises his new boss, so he plots to kill her. He arrives at her apartment, smoking, drinking, and toting a weapon. Thurber develops his most ironic madman in "The Cat Bird Seat" demonstrating just how far Erwin will go to make his life run smooth. "The Cat Bird Seat" makes an excellent short story for teaching irony as well. If your class enjoys Thurber, try "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" also.
3. "Leiningen vs. the Ants" by Carl Stephenson - a hard-headed plantation owner refuses to abandon his plantation despite the encroachment of a swarm of Brazilian killer ants. Leiningen presents a meaningful opportunity to examine the qualities of a strong leader--he gives his workers a choice; he's prepared; he does the most dangerous jobs himself; he never panics. Instruct students to analyze the pros and cons of Leiningen's decision to fight the ants and whether or not they would follow him.
4. "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" by Jack Finney - Actions speak louder than words. Use this axiom to analyze Tom Benecke--he stays home on Friday night to work; he crawls out on a window ledge several stories up to retrieve a piece of paper...
   

Understanding literary elements is necessary for literary analysis.  These short stories will help you teach literary elements.

• The Best American Short Stories
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Theme
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Irony
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Symbolism
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Conflict
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Foreshadowing
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Imagery
  
• Short Stories for Teaching Characterization