hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day one
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 15
He turned back in the seat, facing the front, and put his
hands—still trembling—on the control wheel, his feet
gently on the rudder pedals.
1. Why are there commas after “seat” and “front?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the punctuation after “hands” and “trembling” called? What is its purpose?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the pronouns in this sentence? Are they personal, indefinite, or possessive
pronouns?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What is another word the author could have used besides “trembling” that would still
communicate the same feeling to the reader?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What mood does the author create for the reader in this sentence? How does the
sentence structure add to that mood?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day one (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 15
He turned back in the seat, facing the front, and put his
hands—still trembling—on the control wheel, his feet
gently on the rudder pedals.
1. Why are there commas after “seat” and “front?”
There are commas to insert interrupting information into the middle of the sentence. “Facing
the front” could be eliminated from the sentence, and the sentence would still make sense.
The author inserted the phrase to give the reader more information.
2. What is the punctuation after “hands” and “trembling” called? What is its purpose?
The punctuation is called a dash. One of the ways authors use dashes is to add in interrupting
information into the middle of the sentence. “Still trembling” gives the reader more details
about what his hands were like on the wheel, but the sentence would still make sense if this
phrase was eliminated.
3. What are the pronouns in this sentence? Are they personal, indefinite, or possessive
pronouns?
The pronoun “he” is used. This is a personal pronoun. The pronoun “his” is used twice in the
sentence. This is a possessive pronoun.
4. What is another word the author could have used besides “trembling” that would still
communicate the same feeling to the reader?
Synonyms for “trembling” the author could have used to create the same feeling for the
reader would be: quivering, shuddering, jittering, or shaking.
5. What mood does the author create for the reader in this sentence? How does the
sentence structure add to that mood?
The author creates a mood of chaos and uncertainty for the reader in this single sentence. By
adding in the interrupting phrases, “facing the front” and “still trembling,” the sentence
structure itself helps to create a feeling of uncertainty and panic for the reader.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day two
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 17
The headset came easily, but the microphone switch at
the pilot’s belt was jammed in and he had to pull to get
it loose.
1. What kind of word is headset? What does it mean?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Identify an adverb in this sentence. How do you know it’s an adverb?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is there a comma after “easily?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is there an apostrophe in “pilot’s?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. “Loose” and “lose” are two words that are often confused and used incorrectly by
writers. Write a sentence containing both words to show that you understand the
difference between the two words.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day two (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 17
The headset came easily, but the microphone switch at
the pilot’s belt was jammed in and he had to pull to get
it loose.
1. What kind of word is headset? What does it mean?
Headset is a compound word. A compound word is two or more words combined to create
one single unit of meaning. A headset is a set of headphones with a microphone for two-way
communication.
2. Identify an adverb in this sentence. How do you know it’s an adverb?
An adverb in this sentence is “easily.” Adverbs modify or describe verbs. In the case of this
sentence, “easily” modifies the verb “came.”
3. Why is there a comma after “easily?”
There is a comma after “easily” because the sentence combines two independent clauses with
the coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) “but.”
4. Why is there an apostrophe in “pilot’s?”
There is an apostrophe in “pilot’s” to show possession. It is his belt.
5. “Loose” and “lose” are two words that are often confused and used incorrectly by
writers. Write a sentence containing both words to show that you understand the
difference between the two words.
Check students’ sentences to see if they were able to come up with a sentence to show the
difference between lose and loose.
Not only did my team lose the soccer game, but I also got an elbow to the mouth and now
have a loose tooth.
Hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day three
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 26-27
All so still looking, so stopped, the pond and the moose
and the trees, as he slid over them now only three or
four hundred feet off the ground—all like a picture.
1. The author uses the phrases, “so still looking” and “so stopped” in a row. Why would
Paulsen use this type of repetition?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is another way Gary Paulsen could have written, “the pond and the moose and
the trees?” Why do you think he chose to write it like this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why are there commas around, “the pond and the moose and the trees?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the punctuation after “ground” called? What is its purpose?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What does Gary Paulsen mean by the last phrase in the sentence, “all like a picture?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day three (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 26-27
All so still looking, so stopped, the pond and the moose
and the trees, as he slid over them now only three or
four hundred feet off the ground—all like a picture.
1. The author uses the phrases, “so still looking” and “so stopped” in a row. Why would
Paulsen use this type of repetition?
I can infer that the author used this type of repetition to emphasize that the narrator is almost
frozen as he looks at the scene below him. This writing technique of using two phrases in a
row that mean the same thing cues the reader into the importance of this frozen moment.
2. What is another way Gary Paulsen could have written, “the pond and the moose and
the trees?” Why do you think he chose to write it like this?
Gary Paulsen could have just written this in a list by saying, “ the pond, moose, and trees.”
Instead, he added “and the” in between each item in the list. I think he wrote it like this to
give the sentence more of a rhythm and to emphasize what he saw as he looked down.
3. Why are there commas around, “the pond and the moose and the trees?”
There are commas around “the pond and the moose and the trees” to insert additional
information into the middle of the sentence. The sentence would still make sense if this
additional information were removed.
4. What is the punctuation after “ground” called? What is its purpose?
The punctuation after “ground” is called a dash. The purpose of the dash in this sentence is to
add in extra information at the end of the sentence.
5. What does Gary Paulsen mean by the last phrase in the sentence, “all like a picture?”
I can infer that he means everything was so still below him that, for the narrator, it was like
looking down at a picture rather than an actual place in nature.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day four
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 32
He rubbed his arms; nothing seemed to be shattered
or even sprained all that badly.
1. What are the subject and verb of the first simple sentence? What are the subject and
verb of the second simple sentence?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Gary Paulsen uses a semi-colon after “arms” to join two complete sentences together.
What are two other ways Gary Paulsen could have written these two sentences instead
of using the semi-colon?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you think the author joined these two sentences together with a semi-colon?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What are synonyms for the word “shattered?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Write two simple sentences that are related to one another and use a semi-colon in
between the two sentences.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day four (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 32
He rubbed his arms; nothing seemed to be shattered
or even sprained all that badly.
1. What are the subject and verb of the first simple sentence? What are the subject and
verb of the second simple sentence?
The subject in the first sentence is “he” and the verb is “rubbed.” The subject in the second
sentence is “nothing” and the verb is “seemed.”
2. Gary Paulsen uses a semi-colon after “arms” to join two complete sentences together.
What are two other ways Gary Paulsen could have written these two sentences instead
of using the semi-colon?
Gary Paulsen could have also joined the two independent clauses together with a comma and
a coordinating conjunction. The coordinating conjunctions “but” and “and” would make sense
to combine these two independent clauses. Gary Paulsen could have also put a period after
“arms” and capitalized “nothing” to make it two complete sentences.
3. Why do you think the author joined these two sentences together with a semi-colon?
I think the author joined these two sentences together with a semi-colon because they are
both short, simple sentences, and they relate to one another.
4. What are synonyms for the word “shattered?”
Synonyms for the word “shattered” are fragmented, broken, cracked, and fractured.
5. Write two simple sentences that are related to one another and use a semi-colon in
between the two sentences.
*Students’ answers will vary. Check to make sure they use two short sentences that are
related to one another and joined together with a semi-colon.
She raised her eyebrows; it definitely wasn’t the decision she would have made.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day five
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 33
He pulled the torn remnants of his windbreaker, pieces
really, around his shoulders and tried to hold what
heat his body could find.
1. What does the word “remnants” mean in the context of this sentence? Why do you
think this?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are there commas after “windbreaker” and “really?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you notice about how the word “pieces” is spelled? What other words have a
similar spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why isn’t there a comma after “shoulder” before the conjunction “and?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What imagery does this sentence evoke for you as a reader?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day five (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 33
He pulled the torn remnants of his windbreaker, pieces
really, around his shoulders and tried to hold what
heat his body could find.
1. What does the word “remnants” mean in the context of this sentence? Why do you
think this?
The word “remnants” means what remains. I think this because the adjective “torn” is used to
describe the noun “remnants,” and the sentence says that he take the remnants of his
windbreaker and pulls them around his shoulders for warmth. The sentence also defines the
torn remnants as “pieces really” so the reader gets a visual that the torn remnants are what
remains of his windbreaker.
2. Why are there commas after “windbreaker” and “really?”
There are commas after “windbreaker” and “really” to add in the phrase “pieces really.” This
phrase is additional information that could be omitted and the sentence would still make
complete sense. The phrase defines/clarifies what the “torn remnants” are.
3. What do you notice about how the word “pieces” is spelled? What other words have a
similar spelling pattern?
The long “e” sound in “pieces” is written “ie.” This follows the spelling rule, “i before e except
after c.” Other words that follow this spelling rule are: field, shield, relieve, and believe.
4. Why isn’t there a comma after “shoulder” before the conjunction “and?”
The comma rule for a compound sentence is that the writer should place a comma before the
coordinating conjunction when the coordinating conjunction combines two independent
clauses together. In this sentence, “tried to hold what heat his body could find” is not an
independent clause, so that comma before the “and” is not needed.
5. What imagery does this sentence evoke for you as a reader?
This sentence makes me visualize the narrator pulling shreds of his jacket around his
shoulders. I can also feel the cold and being unsatisfied by the warmth of the torn jacket.
Hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day six
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 38
Traffic, people talking, sounds all the time—the hum
and whine of the city.
1. Why are there commas after “traffic” and “talking?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the punctuation after “time” called? What is its purpose?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you notice about how “whine” is spelled? What other words follow the same
spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the author mean by, “the hum and whine of the city?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Gary Paulsen listed three sounds, used a dash, and then defined the sounds to the
reader. Use a similar writing style to create a sentence that does the same thing.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: day six (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 38
Traffic, people talking, sounds all the time—the hum
and whine of the city.
1. Why are there commas after “traffic” and “talking?”
There are commas after “traffic” and “talking” because the author is listing items in a series.
Gary Paulsen is listing the sounds of the city.
2. What is the punctuation after “time” called? What is its purpose?
The punctuation after “time” is called a dash. The dash is used in this sentence to separate the
list of sounds from the definition of what the sounds are (the hum and whine of the city).
3. What do you notice about how “whine” is spelled? What other words follow the same
spelling pattern?
I notice that the “wh” makes the “w” sound in “whine.” Therefore, the “h” is silent. Other
words like this are whatever, while, whale, and when.
4. What does the author mean by, “the hum and whine of the city?”
This phrase made me think that there are continuous noises in the city. Some of the noises
are like a “hum” and background noises that you hardly notice while others are like a “whine”
and more annoying or noticeable.
5. Gary Paulsen listed three sounds, used a dash, and then defined the sounds to the
reader. Use a similar writing style to create a sentence that does the same thing.
Students’ answers will vary but check to see that they included a list, a dash, and definition of
the initial list.
Example Sentence: Changing leaves, crisp air, and a feeling of change—fall in Wisconsin.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Seven
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 42
He drank until his stomach was swollen, until he nearly
fell off the log with it, then he rose and stagger-tripped
his way back to the bank.
1. The name of the main character is Brian. Rewrite one part of this sentence replacing a
pronoun with Brian’s name.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are there commas after “swollen” and “it?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you notice about how the word “stomach” is spelled? What other words have
a similar spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What type of punctuation is in “stagger-tripped?” What is the purpose of this
punctuation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. The author combined two words to describe how Brian was walking when he used
“stagger-tripped.” Come up with a few hyphenated words to describe how a character
could walk that you could use in your own writing.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Seven (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 42
He drank until his stomach was swollen, until he nearly
fell off the log with it, then he rose and stagger-tripped
his way back to the bank.
1. The name of the main character is Brian. Rewrite one part of this sentence replacing a
pronoun with Brian’s name.
Possible Student Answers: Brian drank until Brian’s stomach was swollen, until Brian nearly fell
off the log with it, then Brian rose and stagger-tripped Brian’s way back to the bank.
2. Why are there commas after “swollen” and “it?”
There are commas after “swollen” and “it” to list items in a series. The author is listing off the
actions Brian took in chronological order.
3. What do you notice about how the word “stomach” is spelled? What other words have
a similar spelling pattern?
I notice that “stomach” ends with “ch,” and it makes the hard “k” sound. This is odd because
the “h” is silent. Other words that follow a similar spelling pattern where the “ch” makes a
hard “k” sound are: ache, chemistry, chorus, echo, monarch, anchor, chaos, orchid, scheme,
character, orchestra, mechanic, technical, technology, and school.
4. What type of punctuation is in “stagger-tripped?” What is the purpose of this
punctuation?
The type of punctuation in “stagger-tripped” is a hyphen. The purpose of a hyphen is to join
two or more words together into one word.
5. The author combined two words to describe how Brian was walking when he used
“stagger-tripped.” Come up with a few hyphenated words to describe how a character
could walk that you could use in your own writing.
*Students’ answers will vary. Check to see that they have combined two words with a hyphen
to describe how a character could walk. Examples: run-skipped, shuffle-limped,
prowl-sauntered
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Eight
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 48
A mental picture of hamburger, the way they showed
it in the television commercials, thundered into his
thoughts.
1. What part of speech is the word “mental” in this sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Why are there commas after “hamburger” and “commercials?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2.
Is this a simple, compound, or complex sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3.
What does the author mean by, “thundered into his thoughts?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4.
5. Gary Paulsen uses additional, interrupting information to clarify what he means by “a
mental picture of a hamburger.” Use a similar writing style to create a sentence that
uses interrupting information to clarify an object of your choice.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Eight (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 48
A mental picture of hamburger, the way they showed
it in the television commercials, thundered into his
thoughts.
1. What part of speech is the word “mental” in this sentence? How do you know?
“Mental” is used as an adjective in this sentence. Adjectives modify or describe a noun or
pronoun. The adjective “mental” describes the noun “picture.”
2. Why are there commas after “hamburger” and “commercials?”
There are commas after “hamburger” and “commercials” to add additional, interrupting
information into the middle of the sentence. In this sentence, the phrase “the way they
showed it in the television commercials” clarifies what type of hamburger Brian had a mental
picture of.
3. Is this a simple, compound, or complex sentence? How do you know?
This is a simple sentence. I know this because it contains a subject (picture), a verb
(thundered), and a completed thought.
4. What does the author mean by, “thundered into his thoughts?”
The author means that the mental picture of the hamburger came fast and powerfully (like
thunder) into his thoughts.
5. Gary Paulsen uses additional, interrupting information to clarify what he means by “a
mental picture of a hamburger.” Use a similar writing style to create a sentence that
uses interrupting information to clarify an object of your choice.
*Students’ answers will vary.
Example: I all of a sudden longed for a slice of apple pie, homemade by my father, as I dreamt
of how much I missed my family and my home.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day nine
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 57
If his mother hadn’t begun to see him and forced the
divorce, Brian wouldn’t be here now.
1. What part of speech is the word “if?” How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What part of speech is the word “his?” What does it replace?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do the words “hadn’t” and “wouldn’t” have apostrophes? What other words have
something in common with these words?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is “him” in italics?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What point of view is this book written in? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day nine (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 57
If his mother hadn’t begun to see him and forced the
divorce, Brian wouldn’t be here now.
1. What part of speech is the word “if?” How do you know?
“If” is a subordinating conjunction. I know this because it begins the dependent clause, “if his
mother hadn’t begun to see him and forced the divorce.” This is a complex sentence that
contains a dependent clause followed by an independent clause.
2. What part of speech is the word “his?” What does it replace?
“His” is a possessive pronoun because it replaces the possessive noun “Brian’s” in reference to
“Brian’s mother.”
3. Why do the words “hadn’t” and “wouldn’t” have apostrophes? What other words have
something in common with these words?
“Hadn’t” and “wouldn’t” have apostrophes because they are contractions meaning “had not”
and “would not.” The apostrophe in both contractions replaces the “o” in “not.” Other
contractions that are formed with the word “not” are can’t, hasn’t, shouldn’t, won’t, couldn’t
and haven’t.
4. Why is “him” in italics?
“Him” is in italics in this sentence because the author wants readers to emphasize the word as
they are reading this sentence. The author uses “him” in italics to show the reader that Brian
is not fond and holds a lot of disdain for “him.” He dislikes “him” so much that he doesn’t
even want to mention his name.
5. What point of view is this book written in? How do you know?
This book is written in the third person point of view because the author is using names (Brian)
and pronouns (his) to refer to the main character. I know as a reader this means the book is
not written in first person. I can also infer from this sentence that the point of view in this
book could be third person limited omniscient where the author reveals only the main
character, Brian’s, thoughts and feelings to the reader through the third person point of view.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day ten
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 68
Here the trees were not all the way down but twisted
and snapped off halfway up from the ground, so their
tops were all down and rotted and gone, leaving the
snags poking into the sky like broken teeth.
1. What verbs in this sentence help you visualize the scene Gary Paulsen is describing?
Why?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Identify the compound word in this sentence. What do you know about compound
words?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is “their” used in this sentence instead of its homophones “there” and “they’re?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is there a comma after “gone?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Identify the figurative language used in this sentence. What type of figurative language
is it?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day ten (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 68
Here the trees were not all the way down but twisted
and snapped off halfway up from the ground, so their
tops were all down and rotted and gone, leaving the
snags poking into the sky like broken teeth.
1. What verbs in this sentence help you visualize the scene Gary Paulsen is describing?
Why?
Gary Paulsen uses vivid verbs in this sentence such as twisted, snapped, and poking. These
verbs help me visualize the broken, destroyed trees he is describing.
2. Identify the compound word in this sentence. What do you know about compound
words?
The compound word in this sentence is “halfway.” Compound words are two separate words
that are joined together to make one new word with a new meaning.
3. Why is “their” used in this sentence instead of its homophones “there” and “they’re?”
The possessive form of “their” is used in this sentence because the sentence is referring to the
tree’s tops.
4. Why is there a comma after “gone?”
There is a comma after gone to add additional information onto the end of the sentence. Gary
Paulsen could have ended the sentence after gone, but he decided to give the reader an
additional visual image about the broken trees.
5. Identify the figurative language used in this sentence. What type of figurative language
is it?
The figurative language in this sentence is “the snags poking into the sky like broken teeth.”
This is a simile because the author compared two unlike things (snags from the trees to broken
teeth) using the word “like.”
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day eleven
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 69
His tongue, stained with berry juice, stuck to the roof
of his mouth as he stared at the bear.
1. What do you notice about how the way “tongue” is spelled? What other words follow a
similar spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are there commas after “tongue” and “juice?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What kind of image does a tongue “stained with berry juice” bring up for you as a
reader?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Where is the roof of your mouth located? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Re-write this sentence by replacing “stained with berry juice” with another image that
would fit with the sentence.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day eleven (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 69
His tongue, stained with berry juice, stuck to the roof
of his mouth as he stared at the bear.
1. What do you notice about how the way “tongue” is spelled? What other words follow a
similar spelling pattern?
I notice that the “ue” at the end of the word is silent. When “ue” is after “g” at the end of a
word, it is usually silent. Other words that contain a silent “ue” at the end of them are:
fatigue, league, colleague, dialogue, epilogue, monologue, morgue, plague, prologue,
synagogue, vague, etc.
2. Why are there commas after “tongue” and “juice?”
There are commas after “tongue” and “juice” to add additional information into the middle of
the sentence. Gary Paulsen gave the reader an additional detail about Brian’s tongue.
However, the sentence makes complete sense without the additional information and would
read, “His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth as he stared at the bear.”
3. What kind of image does a tongue “stained with berry juice” bring up for you as a
reader?
It makes me think about how tongues change color depending on certain things that a person
eats. For Brian, his tongue was probably a purplish red from the berries. I also like Gary
Paulsen’s use of the word “stained” because when your tongue changes color from food it
does almost feel like it has been stained.
4. Where is the roof of your mouth located? How do you know?
One of the definitions of “roof” reads, “something that in form or position resembles the roof
of a house, as the top of a car, the upper part of the mouth, etc.” Therefore, I know that roof
refers to the top of the mouth.
5. Re-write this sentence by replacing “stained with berry juice” with another image that
would fit with the sentence.
His tongue, dry from his lack of water, stuck to the roof of his mouth as he stared at the bear.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day twelve
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 92
It was not unlike the sound of the porcupine,
something slithering and being dragged across the
sand, but when he looked out the door opening it was
too dark to see anything.
1. List at least three other words that begin with the prefix “un” like “unlike.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What part of the sentence is considered “extra information” where if it was removed
the sentence would still make sense?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Is this a simple, compound, or complex sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What type of imagery does Gary Paulsen include for the reader in this sentence?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Why is “too” used in this sentence instead of its homophones “to” and “two?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day twelve (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 92
It was not unlike the sound of the porcupine,
something slithering and being dragged across the
sand, but when he looked out the door opening it was
too dark to see anything.
1. List at least three other words that begin with the prefix “un” like “unlike.”
Other words that begin with the prefix “un” are: unable, unapproved, unbelievable,
unacceptable, unafraid, unblemished, unachievable, unambitious, unbearable, unbreakable,
unchained, undecided, unhelpful, unreliable, unforgettable, unkind, unwind, unwell, etc.
2. What part of the sentence is considered “extra information” where if it was removed
the sentence would still make sense?
If the phrase “something slithering and being dragged across the sand” was removed, the
sentence would read, “It was not unlike the sound of the porcupine, but when he looked out
the door opening it was too dark to see anything.”
3. Is this a simple, compound, or complex sentence? How do you know?
This is a compound sentence because two independent clauses are being joined together with
a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) “but.”
4. What type of imagery does Gary Paulsen include for the reader in this sentence?
Gary Paulsen gives the reader an image of the sound Brian was hearing as it was pitch black in
the middle of the night. As a reader, I began to think about what type of animal would sound
like it was slithering and being dragged across the sand.
5. Why is “too” used in this sentence instead of its homophones “to” and “two?”
When there is an excess of something, “too” is used. In this sentence, it was “too dark.”
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day thirteen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 94
The hunger, always there, had been somewhat
controlled and dormant when there was nothing to eat
but with the eggs came the scream to eat.
1. Why did the author put commas around the phrase, “always there?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the definition of the word “dormant?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What does the author mean by a “somewhat controlled and dormant” hunger?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. “Somewhat” is a compound word. What other compound words are formed with the
word “some?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What does the author mean by “the scream to eat?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day thirteen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 94
The hunger, always there, had been somewhat
controlled and dormant when there was nothing to eat
but with the eggs came the scream to eat.
1. Why did the author put commas around the phrase, “always there?”
Gary Paulsen put commas around “always there” because it’s extra information about the
narrator’s hunger that interrupts the flow of the sentence.
2. What is the definition of the word “dormant?”
“Dormant” is an adjective that means, “having normal physical functions suspended or slowed
down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep.” The definition usually refers to an
animal during hibernation, but Gary Paulsen uses it in reference to the main character, Brian,
as he is trying to survive in the Canadian wilderness.
3. What does the author mean by a “somewhat controlled and dormant” hunger?
Gary Paulsen means that when Brian had not had the option to eat anything, his body and
mind had helped him not feel so hungry by controlling the hunger, almost as if his body was in
hibernation mode.
4. “Somewhat” is a compound word. What other compound words are formed with the
word “some?”
Other compound words formed with the word “some” are: somebody, someday, someone,
somehow, something, sometimes, someway, somewhere, etc.
5. What does the author mean by “the scream to eat?”
Now that Brian has the turtle eggs and has the option to eat something, his hunger has
awakened, and his body is literally almost screaming at him to eat the eggs and quench his
intense hunger.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day fourteen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 101
Remembering the crash he had a moment of fear, a
breath-tightening little rip of terror, but it passed and
he was quickly caught up in the beauty of the scenery.
1. Gary Paulsen begins this sentence with the verb “remembering.” Look in a book you
have and copy down a sentence that begins with a verb.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How does Gary Paulsen describe Brian’s “moment of fear?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What type of punctuation is in “breath-tightening?” What is its purpose?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the coordinating conjunction in this sentence? What does the coordinating
conjunction do in this sentence?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What do you notice about how the word “scenery” is spelled? What other words follow
this same spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day fourteen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 101
Remembering the crash he had a moment of fear, a
breath-tightening little rip of terror, but it passed and
he was quickly caught up in the beauty of the scenery.
1. Gary Paulsen begins this sentence with the verb “remembering.” Look in a book you
have and copy down a sentence that begins with a verb.
*Students’ answers will vary.
Example from Rules: “Leaning into it, faster, harder, my feet slap the pavement, until it
comes—that weightless, near-to-flying fastness” (Lord 122).
2. How does Gary Paulsen describe Brian’s “moment of fear?”
Gary Paulsen describes Brian’s moment of fear as, “a breath-tightening little rip of terror.”
3. What type of punctuation is in “breath-tightening?” What is its purpose?
“Breath-tightening” contains a hyphen. The purpose of a hyphen is to join together to two or
more words to create a new word with a new meaning. Gary Paulsen created the hyphenated
word “breath-tightening” as an adjective to help describe Brian’s fear.
4. What is the coordinating conjunction in this sentence? What does the coordinating
conjunction do in this sentence?
The coordinating conjunction in this sentence is “but.” The purpose of the coordinating
conjunction “but” in this compound sentence is to join together two independent clauses with
a comma.
5. What do you notice about how the word “scenery” is spelled? What other words follow
this same spelling pattern?
I notice that the “sc” at the beginning of “scenery” makes an “s” sound, and the “c” is silent.
Other words that contain an “sc” to make the “s” sound are: scented, science, scientist,
scissors, ascent, ascend, descend, crescent, fascinate, etc.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day fifteen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 103
While he stood, some of the small, roundish fish came
quite close to his legs and he tensed, got ready, and
made a wild stab at grabbing one of them.
1. Why is there a comma after “stood?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why is there a comma after “small?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What happens when a writer adds “ish” to the end of a word like “round” to
“roundish?” Does it change the part of speech of the word?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Some writers confused the words “quite” and “quiet.” What is a good way to
remember the difference between these words?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Gary Paulsen lists actions that Brian took at the end of this sentence. Describe the
effect reading about Brian’s actions had on you as a reader.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day fifteen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 103
While he stood, some of the small, roundish fish came
quite close to his legs and he tensed, got ready, and
made a wild stab at grabbing one of them.
1. Why is there a comma after “stood?”
There is a comma after “stood” to separate an introductory phrase from the rest of the
sentence. “While he stood” gives the reader a context as to how the narrator is positioning
himself in this sentence.
2. Why is there a comma after “small?”
There is a comma after “small” to separate two coordinate adjectives that describe the same
noun. The adjectives “small” and “roundish” both describe the noun “fish.”
3. What happens when a writer adds “ish” to the end of a word like “round” to
“roundish?” Does it change the part of speech of the word?
The suffix “ish” is used to form adjectives and can mean “having the characteristics of,” “like,”
and “near or about.” Round and roundish are both adjectives, but a lot of times “ish” changes
a word from a noun to an adjective like “girl” to “girlish.”
4. Some writers confuse the words “quite” and “quiet.” What is a good way to remember
the difference between these words?
*Students’ answers will vary. Check to make sure they came up with a way to remember the
difference between “quite” and “quiet.”
5. Gary Paulsen lists actions that Brian took at the end of this sentence. Describe the
effect reading about Brian’s actions had on you as a reader.
The way Gary Paulsen lists Brian’s actions builds the suspense of the sentence. It almost made
me as a reader hold my breath as I pictured what it would be like to be in Brian’s position and
trying to spear a fish.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day sixteen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 106
It was crude, but it looked effective and seemed to
have good balance when he stood outside the shelter
and hefted the spear.
1. What is the definition of “crude?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why is there a comma after “crude?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What other words end in “ance” like in “balance” when the “ce” makes an “s” sound?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What are the pronouns in this sentence? What nouns do they replace?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What does the word “hefted” mean? What are synonyms of “hefted” that would hold a
similar meaning in this sentence?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day sixteen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 106
It was crude, but it looked effective and seemed to
have good balance when he stood outside the shelter
and hefted the spear.
1. What is the definition of “crude?”
The definition of crude is, “in a natural or raw state, not yet processed or refined.”
2. Why is there a comma after “crude?”
There is a comma after “crude” to combine two independent clauses with the coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS) “but.”
3. What other words end in “ance” like in “balance” when the “ce” makes an “s” sound?
Other words that end in “ance” or “ence” like in “balance” are: clearance, guidance,
acceptance, relevance, ignorance, importance, resemblance, instance, allowance, insurance,
distance, substance, maintenance, appliance, disturbance, assistance, fragrance, circumstance,
grievance, dominance, and attendance.
4. What are the pronouns in this sentence? What nouns do they replace?
The pronoun “it” replaces the noun “spear” two times in this sentence. The pronoun “he”
replaces the name of the main character, Brian.
5. What does the word “hefted” mean? What are synonyms of “hefted” that would hold a
similar meaning in this sentence?
“Hefted” means to lift or carry, often times something heavy. Synonyms that would hold a
similar meaning in this sentence are lifted, raised, heaved, and hoisted.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Seventeen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 117
He had no feathers so he just left them bare, figuring
for fish they only had to travel a few inches.
1. What do you notice about how the word “feathers” is spelled? What other words
follow the same spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. “Bare” and “bear” are homophones. Why are these two words homophones?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Is this a simple, compound, or complex sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is there a comma after “bare?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. This sentence is referencing arrows that Brian is making. Re-write the sentence
replacing all of the pronouns with the nouns they replace.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Seventeen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 117
He had no feathers so he just left them bare, figuring
for fish they only had to travel a few inches.
1. What do you notice about how the word “feathers” is spelled? What other words
follow the same spelling pattern?
I notice that the “ea” in “feathers” makes the short “e” sound. Other words that follow this
same spelling pattern are: jealous, sweat, thread, dread, leather, sweater, weather, meadow,
steady, and treasure.
2. “Bare” and “bear” are homophones. Why are these two words homophones?
“Bare” and “bear” are homophones because they sound the same but are spelled different
and mean different things. “Bare” means not clothed or covered, and “bear” is an animal.
3. Is this a simple, compound, or complex sentence? How do you know?
This is a simple sentence because there is a subject (he), a verb (had), and a completed
thought.
4. Why is there a comma after “bare?”
There is a comma after “bare” to add additional information onto the end of the sentence.
The author could have ended the sentence with a period after “bare” but decided to add on
more information to give the reader a better picture of why it was okay to leave the arrows
without feathers.
5. This sentence is referencing arrows that Brian is making. Re-write the sentence
replacing all of the pronouns with the nouns they replace.
Brian had no feathers so Brian just left the arrows bare, figuring for fish the arrows only had to
travel a few inches.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Eighteen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 132
When he had gone halfway around the lake, and had
jumped up twenty or so birds, he finally gave up and
sat at the base of a tree.
1. What is the dependent clause in this sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the independent clause in this sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What could be considered “extra information” in this sentence where it could be
removed and the sentence still would make sense?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What is a compound word in this sentence? How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What is the definition of “base” as it is used in this sentence? How else can this word be
used?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Eighteen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 132
When he had gone halfway around the lake, and had
jumped up twenty or so birds, he finally gave up and
sat at the base of a tree.
1. What is the dependent clause in this sentence? How do you know?
The dependent clause in this sentence is, “When he had gone halfway around the lake.” I
know this is the dependent clause because it contains the subordinating conjunction “when”
and could not stand alone as its own sentence.
2. What is the independent clause in this sentence? How do you know?
The independent clause in this sentence is, “he finally gave up and sat at the base of a tree.” I
know this is the independent clause because it can stand alone as its own sentence.
3. What could be considered “extra information” in this sentence where it could be
removed and the sentence still would make sense?
The extra information in this sentence is, “and had jumped up twenty or so birds.” The
sentence could be read, “When he had gone halfway around the lake, he finally gave up and
sat at the base of a tree.”
4. What is a compound word in this sentence? How do you know?
The compound word in this sentence is “halfway.” I know this is a compound word because it
combines the words “half” and “way” to create a new word with a new definition.
5. What is the definition of “base” as it is used in this sentence? How else can this word be
used?
The definition of base as it is used in this sentence is, “the lowest part or edge of something,
especially the part on which it rests or is supported.” It is used as a noun in this sentence.
“Base” can also be used as a verb to mean the foundation for something or the point from
which something can develop.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Nineteen
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 140
Brian jumped on it and grabbed it and slammed it
against the ground once, sharply, to kill it.
1. In this sentence, Brian is hunting a bird. What is the pronoun in this sentence that
replaces the bird?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Gary Paulsen lists Brian’s actions in this sentence, but he doesn’t use commas to do it.
What does he do instead? What is the effect of this for the reader?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Why are there commas after “once” and “sharply?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What part of speech is the word “sharply?” Why?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What kind of mood is created in this sentence for the reader? How does Gary Paulsen
create this mood?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Nineteen (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 140
Brian jumped on it and grabbed it and slammed it
against the ground once, sharply, to kill it.
1. In this sentence, Brian is hunting a bird. What is the pronoun in this sentence that
replaces the bird?
The pronoun in this sentence is “it.” Gary Paulsen uses “it” four times across the sentence to
refer to the bird.
2. Gary Paulsen lists Brian’s actions in this sentence, but he doesn’t use commas to do it.
What does he do instead? What is the effect of this for the reader?
Gary Paulsen describes Brian’s actions as, “jumped on it and grabbed it and slammed it.” He
uses “and” instead using commas to list items in a series. The effect of this writer’s choice is it
makes Brian’s actions feel more dramatic and bold.
3. Why are there commas after “once” and “sharply?”
There are commas after “once” and “sharply” to insert additional information into the
sentence. “Sharply” describes how Brian slammed the bird against the ground.
4. What part of speech is the word “sharply?” Why?
“Sharply” is an adverb because it described the verb “slammed.” Adverbs often end in -ly.
5. What kind of mood is created in this sentence for the reader? How does Gary Paulsen
create this mood?
The mood that I felt as a reader in this sentence was intensity. Gary Paulsen makes Brian’s
hunting very matter-of-fact. It is something he must do to survive. The addition of the adverb,
“sharply,” shows the intensity of what he had to do in order to hunt his prey. Using “and” to
join Brian’s actions together at the beginning of the sentence make his actions seem dramatic.
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Twenty
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 153
The fish were real and his stomach, even his new
shrunken stomach, was sending signals that it was
savagely empty.
1. What do you notice about how “stomach” is spelled? What other words follow the same
spelling pattern?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are there commas after “stomach” and “stomach?”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What part of speech is the word “shrunken?” How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What are the pronouns in this sentence? What nouns do the pronouns replace?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Using context clues, create a definition or write possible synonyms for the word
“savagely.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Stalking Extension:
hatchet
Name: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Sentence stalking: Day Twenty (Teacher Page)
Mentor Text and Author: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Page Number: 153
The fish were real and his stomach, even his new
shrunken stomach, was sending signals that it was
savagely empty.
1. What do you notice about how “stomach” is spelled? What other words follow the same
spelling pattern?
The word “stomach” ends with a “ch” to make the “k” sound. Other words that have “ch” in
them and make the “k” sounds are ache, echo, monarch, orchid, scheme, anchor, chaos,
chemist, character, orchestra, mechanic, technology, and school.
2. Why are there commas after “stomach” and “stomach?”
There are commas after “stomach” and “stomach” to add in additional information about how
Brian’s stomach has changed from the beginning of the book to after being alone in the
Canadian wilderness trying to survive for weeks. The sentence could have read, “The fish were
real and his stomach was sending signals that it was savagely empty.”
3. What part of speech is the word “shrunken?” How do you know?
“Shrunken” is an adjective because it describes the noun “stomach.” Adjectives describe
nouns.
4. What are the pronouns in this sentence? What nouns do the pronouns replace?
The pronouns in this sentence are “his” and “it.” The pronoun “his” is a possessive pronoun
that replaces “Brian’s,” and the pronoun “it” replaces “stomach.”
5. Using context clues, create a definition or write possible synonyms for the word
“savagely.”
Synonyms for “savagely” would be wildly, violently, or furiously. The definition for “savagely”
is with brutal force, cruel intentions, or animal-like.