Introduction to The Glass Castle A memoir by Jeannette Walls

Sign out your book! Sign out your book on the sheet as it’s passed around. Write your first and last name & my name on the inside BACK cover.

Essential Questions Discussion Reflections on Identity: How can obstacles we face both hinder and help us develop our character? What qualities allow people to move on after facing hardship? What role do our experiences play in making us who we are? How can we reflect on experiences in order to learn and grow as people?

What does a MEMOIR do? Explores an event or series of related events that remain lodged in the author’s memory Describes the events and then shows, directly or indirectly, why they are significant Centers on a problem or focuses on a conflict and its resolution

What are the characteristics of a MEMOIR? Focuses on a brief period of time or related events Employs a narrative structure Includes many of the usual elements of story telling such as plot, setting, imagery, conflict, characterization, foreshadowing, flashback, irony, symbolism, etc. Presents the writer’s contemplation of the meaning of the events in retrospect (looking back, reflection)

The Glass Castle First published in 2005 Written by Jeannette Walls Story of her life Written in a straightforward, fiction-like style Easy to read, but difficult subjects explored: Alcoholism, physical & sexual abuse, poverty, dysfunctional family.

Cover Analysis

Analyzing Media View Jeannette Walls’ interview with Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report) from 2007. Write down important notes. Keep the following questions in mind: Who is Jeannette Walls? Why did she write The Glass Castle? http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report- videos/85068/april-10-2007/jeannette-walls

Active Reading: Why do it?

Active Reading: As you read The Glass Castle, you will take notes instead of answering study guide questions. You should have five notes per reading. You may do this in post-its in your text, on a sheet of notebook paper, or in folded note format. Keep all notes in one place over the course of the readings.

Active Reading Strategies Summarize key information and main ideas Identify and briefly explain important quotations or passages Ask questions and attempt answers Predict what will happen next Infer meaning by reading between the lines Make judgments Make connections

Task 1: The Glass Castle pre-reading & predicting