+ Analying Narratives + Learning Targets Analyze the elements of a personal narrative. Identify the sequence of events in a narrative. Compare narratives to analyze effective beginnings and endings. Before Reading Think of articles of clothing that you remember because you especially liked or disliked them. In the personal essay you will read, author Gary Soto uses a simile to compare a hated jacket to “an enemy.” In a quickwrite, describe your article of clothing. Remember to use descriptive words to capture the image you are trying to portray and a simile or a metaphor to make a comparison. During Reading 2. In this activity, you will read two examples of personal narrative. Before reading the first piece, your teacher will assign you to an expert group. Do a close reading of “The Jacket” to find the elements of an effective narrative according to your expert assignment. About the Author Gary Soto grew up in Fresno, California, and now lives in Berkeley, California. In high school, he discovered a love of reading and knew he wanted to be a writer. Soto started writing while in college. He has written poems, short stories, and novels, which capture the vivid details of everyday life and which have won numerous awards and prizes. Of Mexican-American heritage, Soto speaks Spanish as well as English. After Reading Use the graphic organizer to take notes on your analysis of “The Jacket.” 4. You will next read an excerpt from the novel Kira-Kira. As you read, look closely at the opening. How does it set the time, place, and point of view for the story? Also make notes and mark the text for the sequence of events, sensory language, vivid verbs, and descriptive details. About the Author Cynthia Kadohata had published two novels for adults before she wrote Kira-Kira, which won the Newbery Medal in 2005. Kira-Kira and her next novel, Weedflower, explore the experiences of Japanese American families in the United States from a child’s viewpoint. In her book Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam, Kadohata shares her love of dogs. Kadohata earned a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. After Reading 5. How do the opening paragraphs describe the relationship between the two sisters? Write a sentence using an appropriate adjective that describes this relationship. 6. Use the following graphic organizer to identify the scenes in the order in which they happened in the incident. Write a sentence that explains what Katie may have been feeling. 7. Write a short summary of the main idea in this text. 8. Including "My Superpowers," you have now read three different personal narratives. Reread the openings for each of the narratives. Choose the opening that you think is the most interesting and effective, and explain why. 9. Now look at the endings. Which ending is most effective at closing the story? Explain why. Check Your Understanding With your group, choose one of the narratives you have read and make a poster that demonstrates your analysis of the story by creatively incorporating the following: Title and author of text. An ending to the sentence: This narrative is effective because … Examples of textual evidence that support the sentence. Pictures/symbols/colors that illustrate the elements of a narrative. As you complete your poster, think about the answer to the essential question: What makes a good story?