Tuesday,
September 15th
Please take out your Writer’s notebook, a highlighter,
and a pen.
Learning Targets for Tuesday,
September 15th:
Today, I will:

Analyze and discuss the function and the incorporation
of appositive phrases into my writing by actively
participating in the mini – lesson.

Demonstrate my understanding of appositive phrases by
revising and editing a created paragraph to include
appositive phrases in order to elevate my writing.

Analyze and discuss why an author chooses to utilize
weather in order to convey meaning by critically
reading “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow” from How to
Read Literature Like a Professor.
Write a well-developed paragraph
that analyzes how the artist conveys
meaning through this picture.
Diego Frazão Torquato, 12 year
old Brazilian playing the violin at
his teacher’s funeral. The
teacher had helped him escape
poverty and violence through
music
Activity: Exchange your paragraph
with a partner. Once you have
received a paper, read it carefully.
Select one sentence that captivates
you. Highlight it. At the bottom of the
paper, please explain to the writer
why you chose this sentence, and why
it stood apart from the rest.
How do we improve our
writing? What valuable
resource should we utilize to
improve the way we write?
Appositive Phrases
Mini-Lesson
What are they?
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames
another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a
short or long combination of words.
This technique is commonly found in the work of
sophisticated writers.
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/appositive.htm
Why do we use them?
Keeps your writing
from being boring!
Where do we place them?

Beginning (Sentence Openers)

One of eleven brothers and sisters, Harriet was a moody, willful child.
Langston Hughes, “Road to Freedom”

Whom does the appositive rename?
Where do we place them?

Middle (Subject-Verb Splits)

A man, a weary old pensioner with a bald dirty head and
a stained brown corduroy waistcoat, appeared at the
door of a small gate lodge.
Gordon Parks, “My Mother’s Dream for Me”

Whom does the appositive rename?
Where do we place them?

End (Sentence Closers)

The boy looked at them, big black ugly insects.
Doris Lessing, African Stories

Whom does the appositive rename?
Essential versus Optional

Subject + Verb = Sentence

Appositives are NOT essential parts of a sentence.

If you remove the appositive from the sentence, what
remains will still be a complete thought.
Example #1: Compare these
two sentences:


It went away slowly.
It went away slowly, the feeling of
disappointment that came sharply after the
thrill that made his shoulders ache.
Ernest Hemingway, “Big Two-Hearted River: Part I”
Example #2: Compare these
two sentences:


That night in the south upstairs chamber Emmett lay in a kind of trance.
That night in the south upstairs chamber, a hot
little room where a full-leafed chinaberry
tree shut all the air from the single window,
Emmett lay in a kind of trance.
Jessamyn West, “A Time of Learning”
Activity:

Look at your paragraph that you wrote about the
picture.

Where could you add appositive phrases?

Rewrite your paragraph to incorporate at least 2
appositive phrases.

Exchange with your partner from earlier.

Re-read each others’ paragraphs.

Discuss how the addition of appositive phrases has
elevated your writing.
Homework: Due Friday

In a well – developed paragraph, explain how the author
of “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” employs
characterization, symbolism, setting or tone to convey
meaning. In this paragraph, you must incorporate 5
vocabulary words correctly as well as 3 appositive
phrases. Please highlight the appositive phrases and
underline the vocabulary words.

You will have a quiz over the vocabulary and appositive
phrases on Monday, September 21st.
How To Read
Literature Like a
Professor
Consider the importance of weather in “A Very Old
Man with Enormous Wings,” not in terms of plot.