Thank You, M’am by Langston Hughes Feature Menu Introducing the Story Literary Focus: Character and Dialogue Reading Focus: Making Inferences Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Tech Focus

What life lessons change the way you think about yourself? Thank You M’am What life lessons change the way you think about yourself?

Thank You, M’am Introducing the Story Click on the title to start the video.

Thank You, M’am Introducing the Story “She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails. . . .” from “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes From “Thank You, M’am” from Short Stories by Langston Hughes. Copyright © 1996 by Ramona Bass and Arnold Rampersad. Reproduced by permission of Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC.

Thank You, M’am Introducing the Story It’s late at night when a boy runs up behind Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. He grabs her purse in an attempted robbery. How she reacts might surprise you. A Slice of Life What makes Hughes’s characters seem so real? Click here to find out. [End of Section]

Thank You, M’am Literary Focus: Character and Dialogue In fiction, as in real life, what characters say can reveal a lot about them. To get to know the characters in a story, pay close attention to the dialogue—the conversation between characters.

Thank You, M’am Literary Focus: Character and Dialogue As you read “Thank You, M’am,” notice what the characters say to each other—and what they don’t say. Then, decide what you think of them. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones Roger From “Thank You, M’am” from Short Stories by Langston Hughes. Copyright © 1996 by Ramona Bass and Arnold Rampersad. Reproduced by permission of Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC. [End of Section]

Your inference about a character Thank You, M’am Reading Focus: Making Inferences Writers often don’t tell you directly what their characters are like. Therefore, you have to make inferences about characters based on what they say and do. Your prior experience with people and situations Your observations of characters’ speech and actions Your inference about a character

Thank You, M’am Reading Focus: Making Inferences After you’ve read “Thank You, M’am,” skim through it again and jot down clues that you think reveal something important about the characters. Pay close attention to characters’ actions and the dialogue. Discuss the subtext—what characters don’t say aloud but may be thinking, feeling, or communicating without words.

Thank You, M’am Reading Focus: Making Inferences Into Action: Use a character’s words or actions, plus your own ideas, to make inferences about the character. Complete a chart like this one: Into Action: Character Inference Chart Text Clue My Ideas My Inference Roger says “yes’m” when Mrs. Jones first talks to him. “Yes’m” is a contraction of “Yes” and “Ma’am,” and “Ma’am” is a term of respect. Although his actions are aggressive, Roger is polite. + = [End of Section]

Thank You M’am Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Find It in Your Reading Notice how Hughes uses dialogue to bring characters to life. “If I turn you loose, will you run?” asked the woman. “Yes’m,” said the boy. “Then I won’t turn you loose,” said the woman. She did not release him. As you read, pay close attention to the story’s dialogue. Take special note of dialogue that reveals information about each character. [End of Section]

Thank You M’am TechFocus As you read this story, think about how the dialogue might sound if you were to speak the characters’ lines. Would the characters sound the same ten years from now? Why or why not? [End of Section]

Vocabulary

Thank You M’am Vocabulary permit v.: allow. frail adj.: thin and weak; delicate. barren adj.: empty; deserted.

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary If you permit something, you are giving permission or consent, allowing it to happen. According to the sign, what is not permitted in this park?

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Ana’s parents would not permit her to go to the dance after they saw her report card. What did they see on her report card? an improvement over last term’s grades a decrease in her grades an encouraging comment from her teacher

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Ana’s parents would not permit her to go to the dance after they saw her report card. What did they see on her report card? an improvement over last term’s grades a decrease in her grades an encouraging comment from her teacher

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Frail is often used to describe the appearance of someone who is weak because of poor health or age. Which of these people looks most frail?

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary When Joe’s mother told him that his grandmother looked very frail, he felt ______________ concerned; he hoped she was feeling okay. happy; he was pleased to hear that she was doing well. excited; he was looking forward to visiting her during school vacation.

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary When Joe’s mother told him that his grandmother looked very frail, he felt ______________ concerned; he hoped she was feeling okay. happy; he was pleased to hear that she was doing well. excited; he was looking forward to visiting her during school vacation.

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary A place that is barren is lacking or unable to produce life. In what ways does this scene fit the definition?

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Which of the following is the best example of a barren place? a garden in bloom the surface of the moon a forest trail

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Which of the following is the best example of a barren place? a garden in bloom the surface of the moon a forest trail [End of Section]

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