Ambrose Bierce
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek
Bridge”
I CAN USE CONTEXT CLUES TO DETERMINE
THE MEANING OF VOCABULARY WORDS
I CAN ANALYZE A SHORT STORY USING THE
ELEMENTS OF PLOT
I CAN DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW AN AUTHOR DEVELOPS SUSPENSE
THROUGH FORESHADOWING, ALLUSION,
AND RISING ACTION.
I CAN DETERMINE THE AUTHOR’S POINT OF
VIEW
Writer’s Notebook
 Today is August 19, 2014.
 Respond thoughtfully to the following prompt in
paragraph format.
 Prompt: What is a hero? What qualities make a
hero? Why? What is a coward? What qualities make
a coward? Why? Can a person be both a hero and a
coward? Why? Explain.
Meet the Author: Ambrose Bierce
 http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit06/authors-
2.html
http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/bierce/ambrosebierce.html
Read and Annotate
 Read and annotate the story.
 Use the annotation sheet as a guide.
Vocabulary in Context
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sentinel
traversed
acclivity
adorn
subordinates
provision
ardently
perilous
inquired
elude
ramification
effaced
ludicrous
undulations
keenest
commingled
veranda
 Try to find the meaning of the words using the context clues.
 Check to see if you are right by looking up the definition in the dictionary or on your
phone.
 I can use context clues to determine the meaning of vocabulary words
Plot diagram
 Complete the plot diagram.
 I can analyze a short story using the elements of plot
Comprehension Questions
 With a partner, complete the comprehension questions.
 I can demonstrate understanding of how an author
develops suspense through foreshadowing, allusion, and
rising action.
 I can determine the author’s point of view