Lesson 1:
Lesson Objective: To analyse the overall structure of a text to identify how key areas are developed (for example – through the organisation of content and the patterns of language used)
The Power Of One
Reading Strategies we will need to use: – Skimming – to get the overall gist of the text – Scanning – to search rapidly for specific information – Reading closely and rereading – to check for details and to make sure that important information has not been missed or misread.
On the morning of 31 October 2003, Bethany Hamilton was surfing off the coast of her home island of Kauai in Hawaii. The 13-year-old surfing prodigy was with her friend, Alana, at the area known as Tunnels when, dangling her arms in the water, she was grabbed by a 14- foot tiger shark. She was juggled briefly back and forth before her left arm was torn off. Young expert
As Bethany started paddling in with one arm, her companions initially thought she was messing around. Then they saw what had happened and whipped into action. Alana’s father Holt and brother Byron came to her rescue, kept her talking and got her to shore, where Holt used his surf leash as a tourniquet. Bethany had passed out by the time she reached hospital and before local lifeguards and surfers had set off in a forlorn hunt for the severed arm. At first
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Bethany’s first thoughts were: I need to get to shore to be safe – and will I lose my sponsors? She did indeed make it to the shore and was back surfing within a week of having her stitches removed. She has made light of the loss of her limb, declaring that God must have had a purpose for her, and she made it back into the finals of a major surfing competition on 10 January, finishing fifth.
As for her second concern – well, the sponsors and the entertainment industry have come sailing in: there are grocery stores and clothes manufacturers seeking to have their names associated with her fresh-faced pluck. There are surfboard manufacturers and resorts who want to talk to her. Already there is a website and a CD extolling her virtues. She has opened the state legislature in Honolulu and thrown the first pitch in a baseball game for the Oakland Athletics. There have been appearances on the big American talk shows of Oprah Winfrey and Ellen de Generes. There have been interviews with Entertainment Tonight and on CNN. She posed for a fashion shoot in Glamour magazine, styled ‘Love Your Body’. Soon there will be a film and a book. From there will follow the tours of Europe and Australia and the world.
OHT 2/Page 5 of reading booklet Which of the following details from the first four paragraphs are true and which are false? 1.The shark attack happened in the afternoon on 31 October It happened in the sea off the coast of an island in Hawaii 3. Bethany was alone when it happened 4. Her friend’s father and brother helped to save her life 5. She never surfed again until the following January 6. She was 13 years old at the time of the attack 7. She was attacked by a 14-foot basking shark 8. She has appeared on TV since the shark attack 9 She has lost all of her sponsors since the shark attack
OHT 3 True/false statements – answers Details True or false? 1. The shark attack happened in the afternoon on 31 October 2003False ( a.m.) 2. It happened in the sea off the coast of an island in HawaiiTrue 3. Bethany was alone when it happenedFalse (friend) 4. Her friend’s father and brother helped to save her lifeTrue 5. She never surfed again until the following JanuaryFalse (6 wk.) 6. She was 13 years old at the time of the attackTrue 7. She was attacked by a 14-foot basking sharkFalse (tiger) 8. She has appeared on TV since the shark attackTrue 9. She has lost all of her sponsors since the shark attackFalse
OHT 4/Page 6 of reading booklet Sequence the events in time order Order in whichEventsReal Time we are told about them in the article Bethany is attacked by a shark A film is written about Bethany’s story Bethany becomes famous and appears on TV Bethany’s parents move to Hawaii Bethany begins surfing in competitions Bethany returns to surfing
OHT 5. Not in pupil reading booklet Sequence the events in time order: Answers Order in whichEventsReal Time we are told about them in the article 1Bethany is attacked by a shark3 6A film is written about6 Bethany’s story 3Bethany becomes famous and5 appears on TV 4Bethany’s parents move1 to Hawaii 5Bethany begins surfing2 in competitions 2Bethany returns to surfing4
Lesson 2:
Lesson Objective: To analyse the overall structure of a text to identify how key areas are developed (for example – through the organisation of content and the patterns of language used)
Non-chronological Writing
NOW … NOW.. You will need your reading booklet and answer booklet Turn to Question 2. Think about the way the article is structured. YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES - to answer this question independently. Remember everything we have said about the order of information
You are now going to answer the remaining questions. Re-read the text again and attempt all questions. Remind them that they may wish to return to their answer to Question 1 from the previous lesson.
A non-chronological structure allows the writer to prioritise events in the order of his choice rather than the order in which they happened – It allows him to foreground the shark attack which has triggered the media interest in Bethany and made her famous – It allows him to fill in the detail of Bethany’s family background later in the article since this is not the focus of the article – By beginning with the shark attack, he immediately captures the readers’ interest.