"My First Free Summer"
What is the author’s attitude toward school in “My First Free Summer”? Use the organizer below to indicate how she feels at the beginning, middle, and end of the selection. Then, below the organizer, tell how her attitude changes over the course of the selection.
Beginning: hates going to the American school
Middle: straightened out in the 5th grade but only to escape summer school.
End: tells the American official she is ready for school. She goes from hating the American school to realizing that what she has already learned in school will help her in her new country.
"Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back." Explain this quote in your own words
One decision leads to another one and it is impossible in life to go back to the point when one made the decision.
How many paragraphs do you write when writing an essay?
5
I have decided to pursue journalism as a career. I have always liked interviewing and writing about people.
The best definition of pursue is:
to try to obtain
Reasoning or support that is in direct opposition to a claim.
What word does this definition describe?
Counterclaim
At the beginning of “My First Free Summer,” the author says she vowed to become a better student. Since she vowed to take on this task, what can you assume about the outcome? Use the definition of vowed to explain your answer.
Vowed means to make a promise. Julia worked hard to learn English so that she could earn a ‘free summer’.
What is the setting of this poem?
a wood with two roads in it
What are the four parts of argument?
Claim, counterclaim/rebuttal, evidence, reason
My teacher was stifling a laugh. It was clear she did not want the class to think she found the comment amusing.
What is the best meaning of stifling
to withhold
Makes a direct comparison between two typically unlike things, without the use of linking phrases.
What word does this definition describe?
Metaphor
In “My First Free Summer,” the author explains that it was unlikely that she would ever be thrown out of the American school. Why was that an unlikely possibility? Use details from the selection to support your response.
The author’s grandfather donated the land on which the school was built on. Her grandmother convinced the founder of the school to build it. Due to this fact, Julia was one of the only Dominicans allowed to attend the American school.
Based on the information in the poem, why might the second road have “wanted wear” and been “grassy?
because few people had taken the second road
What is the annotation sign for setting?
*
The monkey bars were starting to deteriorate. I could see the rust chipping away at the metal.
What is the best meaning of deteriorate?
break down
When there is a struggle between two opposing things, like two people on opposite sides of an argument, or a character struggling over a difficult decision.
What word is the definition describing?
Conflict
In “My First Free Summer,” some of the children at the American school had parents who were diplomats. The diplomats had to know more than one language as part of their jobs. Why was this knowledge important in their jobs?
Diplomats work in foreign countries. Therefore, it makes sense that they need to speak at least two languages.
What is the theme of this poem?
making a choice
What does RACE stand for?
Restate the question
Answer the question
Cite evidence
Explain
Our teacher accidentally omitted a question on the exam. The class was more than happy to answer fewer questions, however?
What is the best meaning of "omitted"
left out
Presents steps or events in time order.
What word does this definition describe?
Chronological
Toward the end of “My First Free Summer,” the author finally understands that theirs “was not a trip, but an escape.” She uses a specific phrase to explain the “light” that went on in her head. What phrase does she use, and for what purpose?
She uses the phrase “freedom and liberty and justice for all”. The phrase shows that she has finally made a connection between the American ideals she has been studying in school and the country in which she is going. Her family must go to America to be safe.
What does “this” (line 16) refer to?
the explanation of why the speaker chose the second road
The grass looks like spiky green hair.
This simile is what type of language?
I will supersede Michael as president of the student government. It was time for him to move on anyway.
The closest meaning to supersede is?
take the place of
All the components of a story or article that are not the main body of text. These include the table of contents, index, glossary, headings, bold words, sidebars, pictures and captions, and labeled diagrams.
What phrase does this definition describe?
Text Features