Providing Context – 22 March 18 Writing Lesson 27.4 Providing Context – 22 March 18

Journal 27.4 Fill in the blanks to practice using appositive phrases. ________________, ________________, loves ____________. (person you know), (appositive phrase), (noun phrase). Mr. Myers, a social studies teacher at Skyline High, loves reading about creepy historical figures.

Check your rubric—where does it talk about context? Adding Context Check your rubric—where does it talk about context?

Check your rubric—where does it talk about context? Providing Context Check your rubric—where does it talk about context? EXCEEDS: Includes appropriate context for evidence MEETS: Context is present but at times inconsistent APPROACHING: Attempts to use context, but often too much or too little used

Providing Context Remember: You are essentially writing for an audience who has not read the book. HOWEVER, you are not giving a full summary of the plot. Quick note: ‘however’ is not a coordinating conjunction. I love my dog however she drives me crazy. INCORRECT I love my dog. However, she dries me crazy. CORRECT

Providing Context Do I have the right amount? Use your intro wisely. Your intro should give a basic overview of the book’s plot. Tailor your intro to the focus of your essay. If your essay is about Catholicism, that should be in your intro! If your essay is about magical realism, that should be reflected in your intro!

Do I have the right amount? Providing Context Do I have the right amount? Introduce characters with appositive phrases. This gives your reader context—who are you talking about? Florence, a non-believing friend of Antonio, remarks that “blah blah blah…” Use plot context and transition phrases to set up quotes. After his First Communion, Antonio observes that “blah blah blah…”

Do I have the right amount? Providing Context Do I have the right amount? Read your essay to a friend who has not read the book. (First, this helps you hear if your phrasing and language is awkward, or if it flows.) Ask them to stop you if you ever mention an event or a person without some sort of context. They can say things like “Who?” or “Where?” or “When?”