Understanding the Essay
Using your notes from the Nonfiction Worksheet, define the term essay.
Working with a partner, list and define the four types of essays then think of at least 2
example topics about which you could write for each type.
Essay Type
Definition
Example Topics
“Nameless, Tennessee”
by ______________________________
Author Notes:
*
*
*
Literary Terms:
metaphor –
summary -
Vocabulary:
commenced (477)–
salves (478)–
blight (478)–
ailment (479)–
lore (479)–
gaunt (479)–
geodes (480) -
Questions:
1. What question brings the author to the little town of Nameless, Tennessee?
2. Recount the story that Mr. and Mrs. Watts tell to answer this question.
3. Describe the Wattses’ “old store.”
4. How does the story about the doctor show the customs of an older time?
5. Why does the writer find his visit to this tiny town so satisfying?
6. Find two ways other than storytelling in which Mr. Watts reveals his past.
1.
2.
7. What clues to the writer’s personality can you find in this essay. State the clue and the page
number on which it’s found.
Summarizing an Essay
A summary of a narrative essay is a retelling that includes only the vital points:
*the main idea
*important events
*essential descriptions
Review each of the following sections of “Nameless, Tennesse.” List the essential events, the
main idea, and the essential descriptions. Mentally cross out any extraneous details. Use your
list to write a one- or two-sentence summary of the section.
1. Section: page 477, column 2, paragraph beginning “I stepped in…”
Main idea: ______________________________________________________________
Events: _________________________________________________________________
Descriptions: ____________________________________________________________
Summary: _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Section: page 479, column 2, paragraphs 1 and 2
Main idea: ______________________________________________________________
Events: _________________________________________________________________
Descriptions: ____________________________________________________________
Summary: _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Section: page 480, column 2, from “When it was time to go” to the end
Main idea: ______________________________________________________________
Events: _________________________________________________________________
Descriptions: ____________________________________________________________
Summary: _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________