Read the following excerpt and identify at least
one cause-effect relationship present.
Formaldehyde is used to make many
household products, such as paneling and
particle board, and can escape from these
as a colorless gas. This gas is the most
common indoor pollutant. In a recent
experiment, a spider plant was placed in a
chamber filled with formaldehyde gas.
Levels of the gas were reduced by more
than ninety percent in one day, proving
that plants can be an extremely effective air
purifier.
Agenda
• Cause/Effect Identification practice
• Cause/Effect writing prompt discussion
• Symbolism in a narrative presentation and
practice
• Small-group discussion and practice
• Whole-class text discussion and check
journals (time allotted)
• Student on the Spot Interview (time
allotted)
• Grammar focus closure
Writing Prompt- Changing the Story
Choose TWO of the conflicts that we have
discussed from our text.
1. Using your first conflict from the text as an
effect, reinvent the cause for this event.
Brainstorm, create, and write a paragraph
changing the events leading up to that conflict.
2. Using your second conflict from the text as a
cause, reinvent the effects of this event.
Brainstorm, create, and write a paragraph
changing the events following this conflict.
In the context of narrative,
what is symbolism?
• A symbol is any literal object, action, place,
person, or idea that has figurative meaning
so that it represents some important abstract
idea below the surface.
Interpret this definition
• In other words, something physical in the
story that stands for more than what it
simply is.
The American flag is literally fabric and dye.
But it represents our freedom, history, and spirit.
A heart is literally an organ that pumps blood.
But it represents love.
Symbolism
What about these symbols?
Symbolism
How do we know what they represent?
Read the following excerpt and identify at least
one cause-effect relationship present.
Researchers are finding that fish are one
of the best foods to prevent heart attacks.
Studies show that fish oil lowers cholesterol
and triglycerides, the blood fats associated
with heart disease. That in turn helps prevent
blood clots, a major cause of heart attacks,
and retards development of arteriosclerosis.
Objectives
• Understand and identify
symbolism in a narrative passage.
• Practice symbolism recognition
and interpretation.
• Discuss story elements, conflict,
cause/effect, and style in text.
Agenda
• Cause/Effect Identification practice
• Symbolism in a narrative presentation and
practice
• Small-group discussion and practice
• Whole-class text discussion and check
journals (time allotted)
• Student on the Spot Interview (time
allotted)
Homework
Pre-AP: Complete journals and
Complete “Symbolize My Life”
assignment
Honors: Complete journals and
Complete “Symbolize My Life”
assignment
Traditional: Complete “Symbolize My
Life” assignment
Symbolize My Life
1. Brainstorm and choose one item that you
use, own, or have owned that acts as a
symbol for your life, one that BEST
represents you and who you are.
2. Photograph (and print), draw, or write a
description of this item to bring to class.
3. Write a short summary of why this item
best represents you as a symbol.
4. Be prepared to present this in class.
Symbolism
How do you identify a symbol to begin with?
• A symbol can be anything in the story that
the reader can assign meaning to.
How do you interpret the meaning of a
symbol?
• Identify what the author associates the
symbol with in the story to form a
conclusion.
• A simple equation:
Symbol + Association = Significance
For example, in A Gathering of Old Men
Symbol + Association = Significance
Tractor
+
Beau and the Cajuns, Silas’s race and
death, modern farming, and
destruction of the land
=
An eraser of culture that could wipe the
way of life for Marshall from history
For example, in The Glass Castle
Symbol + Association = Significance
Fire
+
Jeanette’s accident, Tinkerbell, hotel and
laboratory fires, Rex’s zone of heat
=
A tangled mess of emotion toward her
family that has the power to both
devastate and revive.
Practice
Identify and Interpret the symbol here:
Symbol + Association = Significance
Practice
Identify and Interpret the symbol here:
Symbol + Association = Significance
Maya stared out the broken window at
the dark, gloomy clouds as her finger traced
the single raindrop making its way down the
glass thinking about the argument she had
with her boyfriend Mike which caused them to
break-up.
Watch the following short film and
identify and interpret at least one
symbol present.
Agenda
• Cause/Effect Identification practice
• Symbolism in a narrative presentation and
practice
• Small-group discussion and practice
• Whole-class text discussion and check
journals (time allotted)
• Student on the Spot Interview (time
allotted)
Small-Group Practice
• First, as a whole-group, let us identify 5
major symbols from the text:
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
3. ______________________
4. ______________________
5. ______________________
Each group will be assigned one symbol.
Small-Group Practice
Now, each small group needs to discuss,
identify and present the significance of
their symbol using our symbolic equation:
Symbol + Association = Significance
Small-Group Presentation
Symbol + Association = Significance
___________________ + _____________________
= _______________________________________
Listen to the following report from
NPR and identify the forms of conflict
and cause-effect relationships
present.
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
•
NPR report analysis
Agenda
Homework
Whole-class text discussion
Cause-Effect, Conflict, and POV review
Student on the Spot Interview (time
allotted)
Homework
Study for tomorrow’s test AND bring
your literature textbook to class
tomorrow.
Can we chart our story on
Freytag’s Pyramid?
4. Climax:
3. Rising Action:
5. Falling Action:
7. Resolution:
1. Exposition:
2. Inciting Incident:
6. Final Event:
Text Discussion
Sharing from your journals, notes, or
memories, what scenes, events, characters,
conflicts, or ideas from the text would you
like to discuss?
Now
Take out a sheet of paper to follow along the
review for tomorrow’s test.
As each question is presented, I will select a
student to answer.
Do Not raise hands or volunteer and Do Not
blurt answers.