READ SILENTLY
either your independent SEM-R novel or your
Literature book
October 3, 2011 - Role Playing and Discovery /
The Life and Adventures of Nat Love
Narrative nonfiction and Language / Tone
Homework:
None
Lesson Essential Questions:
How do authors use descriptive language and tone to engage readers?
Warm Up:
Read the paragraph on pg. 264 under "What makes a memory last?" and in your notes,
write a paragraph discussing an
activity that means so much to you that you might include it
in your own life story.
Turn in your Literature book to
pg. 265
To
day we will be focusing
on two skills:
Text analysis: Narrative nonfiction
Reading skill: Identifying descriptive language and tone
TEXT ANALYSIS: Narrative nonfiction
- a true story
told by the author - Woodsong - memoir
In what way is narrative nonfiction
similar to fiction? it tells story - has characters, setting,
plot
In what way is it different? the characters, setting and
plot are all real
2 types of narrative nonfiction
autobiography a book length story written
about the author's own life
personal narrative - an essay
in which the author presents
his/her own feelings about a
topic.
MODEL THE SKILL: Narrative
nonfiction
Let's read the following passage together...
Mowing the lawn every weekend is my least favorite chore. It's a huge waste of
time. I think that replacing the lawn with a wildlife habitat would conserve water
and save energy (especially my own)!
What does the writer draw from to express his feelings?
from personal experience
What words identify the writer's feelings?
least favorite chore, waste of time
READING SKILL: Identifying language
and tone
Define descriptive language - language that helps a reader imagine something, and
appeals to the 5 senses (touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight)
Define tone - the writer's attitude, how he/she feels about the topic.
MODEL THE SKILL: Identifying language
and tone
Let's read the following passage together...
The sky was pale and sickly, like it had some contagious
disease. But I knew a storm would come and I felt excited.
What are some examples of descriptive language?
pale, sickly - sight
What is the tone of the author? excited
Think of a powerful sight. Use descriptive language and personal tone to describe it.
As we read these two passages, look for connections and differences between the
authors and narrative nonfiction types. Fill in both sides of the sheet for your
passage.
Narrative nonfiction
Jerry Pinkney's thoughts and feelings
Role Playing and Discovery
Nat Love's thoughts and feelings
The Life and Adventures of Nat Love
thought
thought
5 - I dreamed of exploring the early frontier
22 - I do wonder though...
4-5 I noticed many things to which others
attached no significance
46-47 The interest of nearly all of us
centered in...
feeling
feeling
6-7 - With much enthusiasm and intensity...
3 - I was most excited when they were
Westerns
16-20 These long rides and much
traveling over the country were of great
benefit to me...
73 - He is not supposed to know what fear
means...
Identify descriptive language and tone
Title
Descriptive language
Tone
"Role-Playing
and Discovery"
hearing
excitement
16 - my answer would have been a
resounding NO
3-4 I was most excited when
they were Westerns
2 - Off we would rush to the
movies
inspired
21 - that discovery was moving
and profound
The Life and
Adventures of
Nat Love
sight
67-68 he runs, jumps, pitches
sideways, backwards, forwards, up
and down and then over the prairie
like a streak of lightning...
proud, confident about his
knowledge
47, 69, 74 I can assure you
Homework
None