Narrative (ex: Bronx Masquerade)
What is the point of view in which "Bronx Masquerade" is told?
First-person from the perspectives of Diondra, Tyrone, and Devon.
How is "Outsmart Your Smartphone" structured?
Cause-and-effect
How are the stanzas in "Hanging Fire" structured. Name at least 2 noticings.
1. 3 stanzas
2. All end in the same refrain: "and momma's in the bedroom with the door closed"
3. Stanzas are about the same length
4. Lines vary from long to short
How can you identify a sentence in the interrogative mood?
How can you identify when an author is using "direct address" in an argument?
You can identify direct address in an argument by looking for places where the author speaks directly to the reader or audience, usually using second-person pronouns such as "you," "your," and "yours."
How is Diondra characterized in paragraphs 3-4 of "Bronx Masquerade"?
Diondra is characterized as talented but insecure about sharing her talent artwork with others. She does not like being noted as the tallest girl in school, and people assuming that because she is tall, she must be good at basketball.
What is the purpose of the analogy comparing learning social skills to learning how to drive a car in paragraph 11 of "Outsmart Your Smartphone"?
The analogy is used to show that social development requires real-life practice, just as driving requires actual hands-on experience, emphasizing that texting alone is not enough to build important life skills.
What can we infer about what the speaker believes in "Hanging Fire"?
The speaker believes that adults, particularly her mother, do not understand or care about the struggles teenagers face.
Which sentence is in the interrogative mood?
A. The door is closed.
B. Is the door closed?
C. Close the door.
D. The door should be closed.
B. Is the door closed?
WHY? Interrogative mood is used specifically to ask a question.
What is a gerund?
A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and acts like a noun in a sentence.
How is Devon characterized in paragraph 15 of "Bronx Masquerade"?
Devon is characterized as a thoughtful and intelligent student who enjoys reading, but he hides that interest because he feels pressure to act tough and fit in with his peers. He wants to be recognized for more than his athletic ability.
Find one sentence in "Outsmart Your Smartphone" that shows a cause-and-effect structure.
Answers vary.
What does the speaker’s repeated focus on her worries and unanswered questions in "Hanging Fire" reveal about her?
They reveal how overwhelmed and uncertain the speaker feels.
What is the gerund phrase in this sentence:
After finishing the marathon, Maya felt proud of herself.
after finishing the marathon
*Finishing is a gerund because it ends in -ing and acts like a noun within the phrase.
How are the stanzas and lines structured in "Summer of His Fourteenth Year"?
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a regular rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is divided into 7 stanzas of varying lengths, and the lines also vary in length rather than following a fixed pattern.
Find a quotation from "Bronx Masquerade" that best demonstrates Diondra's understanding of Raul's character and perspective?
Ex:
"If only I was as bold as Raul." (p.1)
"You should have seen him hang that thing. You'd think he was handling a million-dollar masterpiece the way he took his time placing it just so." (p. 2)
What is the purpose of the author using direct address in paragraphs 5 and 6 of "Outsmart Your Smartphone"?
The author's use of direct address helps establish a relationship with the reader, making them more likely to believe her. By addressing readers, the author compels them to imagine particular experiences.
Find a line in "The Summer of His Fourteenth Year" that shows the speaker's belief that growing up changes relationships between parents and children.
Ex:
Lines 18-19: "He tears at the seems that hold us together"
Lines 20-21: "And sees in mother only ties to childhood choking him with nagging chores"
Lines 24-25: "Surliness is his knife cutting away the bonds."
Is this sentence written in active or passive voice? How can you tell?
Students decorated the hallway for spirit week.
Active voice.
"Students decorated the hallway” (or simply “decorated”) is the active voice because the subject, students, performs the action.
What is dopamine? (from "Outsmart Your Smartphone")
Dopamine is a natural chemical that produces a pleasurable sensation that most brains crave to repeat.
How do writers reveal their character's perspectives?
Writers can reveal their characters' perspectives by stating the characters' opinions and thoughts directly, their effect on others, actions, and attitude towards their looks.
According to paragraphs 14–17 of "Outsmart Your Smartphone", what is one effect of multitasking on social media?
Multitasking:
Identify and compare the treatment of a theme in both "Hanging Fire" and "Summer of His Fourteenth Year".
One important theme in both "Hanging Fire" and "Summer of His Fourteenth Year" is the challenges of adolescence and the growing distance between parents and children. In "Hanging Fire", the speaker feels alone as she navigates adolescence, stating repeatedly that she feels her mother is not available, while in "Summer of His Fourteenth Year", the speaker is a mother who is struggling as her son becomes more independent and pulling away from her through adolescence.
Rewrite this sentence to be in the active voice:
The mural was painted downtown by a local artist.
"A local artist painted the mural downtown."
What is the author's claim in "It's Complicated..."
The author's claim is that people can be so focused on the risks of social media that they forget teens are just trying to connect with others. (paragraph 2)