Making Inferences
What type of sentences does Jay Bennett use to help create a tense mood throughout the story, "My Brother's Keeper?"
HINT: Page 271
Short and simple, sometimes even fragments.
What are we referring to when we talk about a writing's style? What is it?
HINT: Page 238, 243
In writing, style is the manner of writing. It's HOW the writing is written.
What events lead up to Ted's telephone call?
HINT: Page 279 - 280
A hit-and-run accident.
A complete sentence needs what two things?
A subject and a predicate (or verb).
If you are this for yourself or someone else, you are providing support.
HINT: Page 270
What is an advocate?
Find an example in the story when Bennett uses repetition to emphasize something.
Answers will vary, but a perfect example is on page 276 when Bennett repeats "all" three times.
The style of a piece of writing is created by its what? Name two things that would help shape a writing's style.
HINT: Page 239-240
Must have two from the following list:
Sentence Structure
Word Choice
Plot, Setting or Character Details
Tone
Why does Ted run away from the accident?
HINT: 281
He's worried about his career as a professional football player.
To check if you've correctly found or written an "elaborator," or absolute phrase, which two words should you add, and why?
Was or were, to see if it becomes a complete sentence.
You might use this word to describe a desert or the way you feel after a tragedy.
HINT: Page 270
What is desolate?
When the story reveals that a "guy came over to get [Ted]'s autograph" and that "the clock Ted had given [Jamie] as a birthday present along with a thousand-dollar check," what can we infer about Ted?
That he's famous and possibly wealthy!
How would we be able to tell if a writer' style was effective? In other words, how would we know if the style worked?
HINT: Page 239
If we were...
- drawn into the story
- thought the story was interesting
- appreciated the story more
What does Carmody know about Jamie that he thinks will help with the alibi he's created?
HINT: Pages 285 - 286
That he has a clean record, valedictorian of his class, going to Yale
Identify and label the elaborator in the following sentence:
Matthew, his ears ringing like endless church bells, drove home from the concert.
Matthew, his ears ringing like endless church bells, drove home from the concert.
Subject-Verb Split
This word describes how someone does something on purpose or with intent.
HINT: Page 270
What is deliberately?
Find a visual detail that adds meaning to the dialogue in the story. What do we understand better because of that visual detail?
Answers may vary.
An informal writing style might be the result of what choices by the writer? Name 1 and refer to an example in "My Brother's Keeper."
HINT: 243
Slang words, improper grammar, sentence structures meant to mimic human speech.
Find a clue (an example) in the story that suggests Jamie would choose honesty over loyalty in the end.
HINT: 278, 283, 287
Answers may vary.
What would happen if you deleted an elaborator from its sentence?
You would use this word to describe the morally right thing to do.
HINT: Page 270
What is ethical?
Bennett describes Ted's physical movements as graceful (like on page 278 and 284). Why? How do these descriptions help us better understand Ted?
Answers may vary.
What point of view is "My Brother's Keeper" told from?
Hint: Page 243
3rd Person Omniscient
When Ted is describing the hit-and-run, why does Bennett include the detail that Jamie's hands touched the top of the stove but couldn't feel how hot it was?
HINT: Page 280
It shows how shocked and/or angry he was by what Ted was telling him.
Add a Closer Elaborator to the following sentence:
Alberto started eating breakfast.
This word describes things like ideas and emotions that aren't physical.
HINT: Page 270
What is abstract?