- Pick up your composition book.
- In the purple textbook, see page 657 and study the sentence diagrams.
- Find Exercise 2 on page 658, and in your composition book under "Editing," diagram sentences 1, 2, and 3 only.
If you have extra time, read your contemporary realistic fiction book, or work on your Literary Letters #1 and #2.
__________________________________
2) Activity: Four-Part Sentences (subject, verb, adjective, and adverb)
- Receive one word or phrase.
- Get together with three other people to create a sentence.
- Tape or glue your words onto a sheet of blank paper to make the sentence. (You may add "the" or "a" or "an." Also add punctuation and correct capitalization.)
- Label parts of speech.
- On that same sheet, diagram the sentence.
- Put all of your names on the front of the paper.
- Tape up your paper in the hall.
- Selected students will "grade" the sentences --
- One point each for correctly using the words in a sentence. (up to 4)
- One point each for correctly identifying the parts of speech of the words. (up to 4)
- One point each for correctly placing the words on a diagram. (up to 4)
Example:
words: students quickly
eager
work
sentences: Eager students work quickly.
(or) Eager students quickly work.
adjective noun adverb verb
adjective noun adverb verb
Diagram:
___students _ / work___
\eager \quickly
\eager \quickly
Introduce Literary Letter #3 Theme
Literary Letter #3:
Write about a theme in your individual book, and
Write about a theme in your individual book, and
tell how you can apply it to your own life.
Remember that
a theme is stated as a complete sentence.
Remember that
a theme states a big idea about life.
More information about theme:
Remember that
a theme is stated as a complete sentence.
Remember that
a theme states a big idea about life.
More information about theme:
More About Theme
- Literary Letter #3 Sample
Use letter format, including
heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature.
Don't forget to italicize the title of your book, or underline it if you are
handwriting this letter.
American
Fork Junior High School
Room
206
Period
A2 [Replace with your own period.]
May 9,
2012 [Replace with today's date.]
Dear Ms.
Dorsey,
I’m reading Stand Tall by Joan Bauer. A
major theme in my book is this: “You can find meaning and purpose in your own tough
times by helping others.”
In Stand Tall, Tree is going through a tough time because his parents just got divorced. Even though the changes that go with that are hard for him, he finds meaning and purpose and even fun and happiness by helping other people. For instance, Tree is able to help his grandfather a lot when the grandfather has his leg amputated. When he visits Grandpa in the hospital, that cheers up Grandpa, and Tree has fun there putting together the ugly lamp. Because Tree is big and tall, he can help his grandfather with his therapy and help him get around. Because Tree is smart, he can help by designing and building a device that helps his grandfather get things he needs. Also, Tree helps Sophie Santack by being her friend even though the popular kids treat her badly. He invites her to eat lunch with him and his friends after the other girls are so mean to her. He spends time with her and she turns out to be a good friend. He is there to help his grandfather when they find out a flood is coming, and Tree helps many people in his neighborhood by protecting their pets. And at the very end of the book, he helps his community in a way only someone who is nicknamed Tree could. All of these times that he helps others bring him purpose and happiness. For me, when I'm unhappy, I can look around for other people who are having problems. An example of this would be when I'm lonely at school, I can watch for other people who seem to be alone, and go talk with them, and perhaps become their friend. Also, I can look for ways that I can serve other people. Maybe the widow in my neighborhood needs her lawn mowed or her flowers watered. Or perhaps a young mother I know could use a babysitter to help her out or someone to do her dishes even. By helping others, I could be happier, even if I'm going through tough times myself. This is a lesson I've learned from the novel Stand Tall.
Sincerely,
Suzy
Quillen
|
Grading for Literary Letter #3 from
___________ Period _____
o
_____/5
In letter format
o
_____/5
What book are you reading and who is the author?
o _____/5 What is one of the
major themes?
o _____/5 How is this theme shown in the book?
o _____/5 How could you apply this theme in your own life – now or
later?
o _____/5 Handed in by May 11.
Quote from the study guide for Stand Tall:
"Sometimes reading a book about someone who is working through problems can help you think
about your own life. Do you know why? It’s because people are born storytellers. We tell about our
lives by telling the stories of what has happened to us and to others. In your family or with your
friends, you might have special stories or memories that you tell over and over. These stories
become part of your history together. They help you to understand where you’ve come from."
Read Stand Tall.
