Text Analysis-Point of View--No Book Allowed
Text Analysis-Characterization--No Book Allowed
Close Reading
Story Questions
Grammar-Fragments & Run-ons
100
Describe the 4 ways a reader can be sure that a writing piece is written in 1st person.
* is a character in the story • uses the pronouns I and me to refer to himself or herself • describes his or her own thoughts, feelings, and impressions • does not know what other characters are thinking and feeling
100
What method of characterization is being used? And what can you learn about the character? The fairy godmother was wearing greasy overalls with a rusty garden fork sticking out of one back pocket. She brushed some dirt off her hands and smiled.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE A narrator’s description can tell you about a character. Ask: • What does the character look like? • What are his or her expressions, gestures, or body language?
100
PAGE 188 ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY Close Read 1. Does Gracey Pearson like Cassie? Explain. 2. Reread the boxed sentence about Miss Crocker, Cassie’s teacher. How does Miss Crocker feel about Cassie? 3. What impression do you get of Cassie from other characters’ reactions to her?
1. Possible answer: Gracey Pearson doesn’t seem to like Cassie, since she objects to Cassie sitting next to her, claiming that the seat is saved for another classmate (line 3). 2. Possible answer: The way in which Cassie describes Miss Crocker glaring down at her (line 6) with an accusatory expression (lines 7–8) suggests that Cassie may have had problems with the teacher. 3. Possible answer: It seems as if Cassie is a bit of a troublemaker and has a history of confrontations with both her classmates and her teacher.
100
PAGE 131 SCHOLARSHIP JACKET How does the 1st person point of view limit your understanding of what the principal is thinking?
Readers know only what Martha knows. She can see only the back of the principal’s head, so readers don’t even know what his facial expression is.
100
Complete, Fragment, or Run-on? The interior designer styled our living room with fashionable new decor.
Complete
200
What are 2 characteristics of 3rd Limited? What are 2 characteristics of 3rd Omniscient?
-is not a character in the story -tells the thoughts and feelings of only one character -Is called all-knowing -reveals the thoughts and feelings of all the characters
200
What method of characterization is the author using and what is being revealed about the character? The fairy godmother thought to herself, “I’d better get to work! I have only eight hours to get Cinderella ready for the ball. And from what I’ve seen of her, I’ll need every second of it.”
thoughts, speech, and actions A character’s words and actions can reveal his or her personality. Ask: • What does the character think, say, or do? • How does he or she treat others? • What kinds of things are important to him or her?
200
PAGE 188 KITTY AND MACK On the basis of the narrator’s comments, how would you describe Mack? 2. Do you think the narrator admires Mack? Support your opinion with evidence.
1. Possible answers: • Mack is a promising and talented baseball player (lines 1–3). • He is well-liked, but mainly because of his athletic success (lines 4–5). • He is arrogant and expects recognition for his talents wherever he goes (lines 5–7). • He is smart but he makes a point of showing that he is not concerned with his grades (lines 8–9). 2. Possible answers: • Yes, the narrator admires Mack for his athletic ability and intelligence. • No, the narrator thinks Mack is shallow and arrogant.
200
Page 239 Retrieved Reformation Reread lines 84–89. What information does the narrator share with you that the main character, Jimmy, doesn’t know?
Ben Price is chasing Jimmy
200
Layers of lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Tell what type is the above sentence and fix it if it has any problems.
Fragment. Answers will vary.
300
From what point of view is this told: Cinderella was the last girl in the world I would want to marry. I mean, who wears glass slippers to a ball? I only picked up that lost slipper because it was a safety hazard. And it seemed like a princely thing to do.
1st person
300
What method of characterization is being used? Cinderella’s wicked stepsister shrieked when she saw the fairy godmother. “What is this disgusting woman doing in my home? Have her removed at once!”
other characters Other characters’ reactions to a character can also serve as clues. Ask: • What do others think and say about the character? • How do they treat him or her?
300
PAGE 189 BIRTHDAY BOX . From what point of view is this story told? Explain how you can tell. 2. Reread the boxed paragraph. How does Katie react to her mother’s death? 3. What do you learn about Katie’s mother from what Katie tells you in lines 6–13
1. Possible answer: The story is told from the daughter’s first-person point of view. The narrator is a character; uses first-person pronouns; describes her own feelings; and is unaware of her mother’s thoughts (lines 11–13). 2. Possible answer: Katie is distraught over her mother’s death, feeling “empty and angry” (lines 4–5), and often becoming depressed on anniversaries (lines 1–2). She stops doing things she once enjoyed (lines 2–3). 3. Possible answer: Katie’s mother was a high school English teacher and a published writer (lines 8–9). She became very sick as her death neared (line 10), and before she died had given her daughter something and forced out the carefully chosen last words, “It’s you” (lines 11–13)
300
Page 242 Retrieved Reformation What do you know that Jimmy doesn’t know at this point?
Readers know that Ben Price is in Elmore and is ready to arrest Jimmy
300
The restaurants in the vicinity are expensive, Braden can't afford them. Tell what type of sentence this is and fix anything that might be wrong.
Run-on. Answers will vary.
400
What method of characterization is being used? The fairy godmother knew how to handle wicked people! In fact, she was frighteningly clever.
narrator’s comments Sometimes the narrator tells you directly about a character. Ask: • What does the narrator say about the character? • Does the narrator respect the character or criticize him or her?
400
PAGE 189 BIRTHDAY BOX 4. Reread lines 23–27. Given what you know about the characters, why do you think Katie’s mother would have chosen to deliver her message in this way?
Possible answer: Katie’s mother probably knew that Katie would reflect on the words later. She may have felt that Katie was not ready to hear the message at the time but would make the discovery on her own as part of the healing process
400
Page 196 ZEBRA What are your first impressions of this new character?
Possible answer: Students’ answers should be based on the detailed description of the character’s dress, appearance, and actions. • He may be a former soldier (“khaki army jacket,” lines 83–84). • He probably spends a lot of time outside ( face and neck “reddened by exposure to the sun,” line 85). • He may be homeless (he poked around in the trash can, line 77); he’s carrying a “bulging brown plastic bag” (line 83). • He is feeling warm (he wipes his face with his handkerchief, line 94). Students may also express opinions about some of these characteristics.
400
It started raining, we ran inside. Tell what type of sentence this is and fix any issues necessary.
Run-on
500
From which point of view are EACH of these written? 1--Cinderella ran down the steps, losing a slipper along the way. The prince thought to himself, “She’s going to break an ankle.” 2-- Cinderella hated to lose her slipper but knew she was running out of time. Watching her, the prince shook his head and thought, “There’s an accident waiting to happen!”
1- 3rd Limited 2-3rd Omniscient
500
PAGE 189 BIRTHDAY BOX How would you describe the character of Katie? Support your answer.
Possible answer: Katie’s relationship with her mother and her guilt about treating her family badly show that she is caring and sensitive. Her ability to decipher her mother’s message shows her inner strength, and her writing shows that she is creative
500
P. 211 ZEBRA Reread lines 618–631. Why is it important for Zebra to walk along Franklin Avenue again?
It will take some courage for Zebra to walk along the street where he once loved to run and then had the accident. If he can do this, it will be one more step toward healing after the accident.
500
Flea medicine for our cat is expensive, we order it online. Tell what type of sentence this is and fix any necessary issues.
Run-on
M
e
n
u