English 10

Building Understanding

keishan2015

 

After watching a movie or listening to a TEDtalk or reading a piece of literature, a poem, or any other piece of writing, fill in the chart below. When complete, file into your “Inquiry” folder OR print and keep for future reference. You teacher may ask to keep your work as an example to expand understanding in the class
Title:house      Your name: Keisha Nagorr
Which Essential Question(s) is addressed in this piece of literature?

Is giving up something and trying something new the right Choice?

What leads to happiness?

Content:
a) What happens in the text/movie/Talk?
b) What is the main message/theme? Understanding:

a) They lived in an apartment and in order to fit into society they gave up their boat.
b) Fitting into society

A) They lived in an apartment and were used to being close to each other, then weren’t used to the large spaces in their house.
B) Fitting into society
How does the text answer the EQ?
Answer in full sentences. Record relevant quotes and page numbers/lines if needed.

a) Harry had decided that they should buy a house so they could fit into society, in order to do so they gave up the boat. After giving up the boat Harry realized that it wasn’t the right choice.

b) This answers the question because they realized that as long as they were together and had fun they could adapt to things and enjoy life. As long as they were together they could be happy.

The Right Choice

keishan2015

The Right Choice

“Almost anyone can be comfortable in a skirt.” “Sam the Athlete” is a short story written by Stuart McLean, the story is about a boy named Sam who tries out for the field hockey team at his school. He decides to wear a skirt as a part of his team uniform. Sam made the right decision to continue to wear the skirt because it helped him feel like he was a part of the team, and because he had enjoyed wearing it. Sam had talked about how “everyone on the team [had worn] one,” when he said that it had meant that if all the girls on the team were wearing one then it was okay that he was also wearing one. Sam was so happy when he received the skirt that when he got home he “put his skirt on and [had] spent an hour working out some game moves in front of his mirror,” this just goes to show how happy he was to have received the skirt. When asked by his dad if he liked it he had said that he “loved it,” when he had said that it showed how he had felt towards wearing the skirt and if he did not enjoy wearing the skirt then would not have worn it in the first place.Sam made the right choice to wear the skirt because it helped him fit in with his teammates and because he had enjoyed wearing the skirt whenever he wore it.

Pathways to a Theme From Children’s Stories

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In class we worked on inquiries  involving children’s stories, we then filled out a worksheet based on the books we read.

 

Pathways to a Theme #1:

Title: The Lion and the Bird             Author: Marianne Dubuc

 

When you have read your chosen story, respond to the following questions:

1. What is happening in the story? Answer in point form or full sentences. 

* The lion is working and hears a noise, he finds an injured bird

* Nurtures the bird back to health the flock of birds fly away leaving the injured bird behind

* The lion lets the bird stay for the whole winter

* When spring comes the flock of birds return and the bird joins them, the lion starts to feel lonely

* When winter returns the bird comes back and spends winter with the lion again

2. Identify and describe the conflict in the story. 

* Person vs nature, Due to the weather the flock of birds had flown away leaving the bird behind with the lion.

3. Brainstorm words or phrases that connect to the class discussion on the human condition.

* Friendship, kindness, loneliness

4. What are 2-3 the theme or big idea of the story? Create a theme statement. You can create a theme statement by using the formula topic+treatment (+/-) = result. Eg. In Macbeth, one could say that “ambition + too much = destruction”. Therefore the theme statement would be “Too much ambition can lead to destruction” A theme statement has no absolutes, no cliches and no conversational language. Eg. “I think its to never judge a book by its cover” is NOT a good theme statement.  

Topic: karma + treatment(+/-): good = result: friendship

Theme Statement: good karma results in friendship

Topic: solitude  + treatment(+/-): plenty  = result: loneliness

Theme Statement: Plenty of solitude results in loneliness

Topic: kindness + treatment(+/-): constant  = result: happiness

Theme Statement: constant kindness leads to happiness

Change the theme statements into a deep questions.  Eg. What can be the result of too much ambition? OR Can too much ambition lead to destruction? 

  • Can true happiness be achieved through kindness.
  • Can good karma really result in kindness
  • Does solitude always result in loneliness

 

Pathways to a Theme  #2:

Title: Four Feet Two Sandals                   Author: Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed

 

When you have read your chosen story, respond to the following questions:

  • What is happening in the story? Answer in point form or full sentences.
  • Relief workers bring clothing to the refugee camp
  • Everyone scrambles to get what they can, ten year old Lina finds a single scandal that fits her foot, she then meets a girl with the other shoe
  • They agree to share the shoes
  • Lina’s name is on. A list of people who get to go live in America, her friends name isn’t on the list
  • Lina gives her friend the shoes before she leaves for America

Identify and describe the conflict in the story.  

  • No conflict

Brainstorm words or phrases that connect to the class discussion on the human condition.  

  • Friendship, happiness, sharing, sadness, caring, strength, courage, hope, refugees, loss

What are 2-3 the theme or big idea of the story? Create a theme statement. You can create a theme statement by using the formula topic+treatment (+/-) = result. Eg. In Macbeth, one could say that “ambition + too much = destruction”. Therefore the theme statement would be “Too much ambition can lead to destruction” A theme statement has no absolutes, no cliches and no conversational language. Eg. “I think its to never judge a book by its cover” is NOT a good theme statement.  

Topic: searching + treatment(+/-): carefully = result: a new perspective

Theme Statement: Searching carefully can result in a new perspective

Topic: friendship+ treatment(+/-):solid  = result: strength

Theme Statement: A solid friendship creates strength

Topic:sharing  + treatment(+/-):kindness  = result: friendship

Theme Statement:  sharing and kindness leads to friendship

Change the theme statements into a deep questions.  Eg. What can be the result of too much ambition? OR Can too much ambition lead to destruction? 

  • Does sharing and kindness always lead to friendship 
  • Could searching carefully always result in a newfound friendship?
  • Can a solid friendship give a person strength?