CA State Standards Writing 2.2 Reading 3.3, 3.4 Mrs. Lutz 7 th ELA

Today we will …learn how to identify theme, characterization, and turning point in a passage CFU

Reviewed :major themes in literature such as Good vs. Evil, Humility, Respect, Love Std. 3.4 Direct Characterization : When author states what character is like and Indirect Characterization : Where you find out about the character through his thoughts, words and actions. Std. 3.3

Definition Response to Literature (with essay writing) is Analyzing a passage to determine :  Theme  Character’s Traits  Turning Point  Why it was written

Previous Example from Writing for Excellence

Lazy/Arrogant Compassionate/Helpful Turning Point

Humble/Respectful

 Theme: Humility, Respect, Treating Others How You Want to be Treated  Character Traits at Beginning Lazy/Arrogant  Turning Point Helpful/Compassionate  End Humble/Helpful/ Respectful  Why written: To teach it’s better to be humble and helpful than arrogant and lazy.  CFU

The most important event in Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia is when Jess and Leslie build their fort. Jess is a shy boy who wants to be an artist, and Leslie is the new girl in the neighborhood. They don’t fit in with the other kids, but they get along with each other. Together, Jess and Leslie create Terabithia, a secret meeting place in the woods. (cont.)

 To get there, they must cross a creek by swinging on an old rope. Jess and Leslie build a wooden fort in Terabithia and spend a lot of time there. Their little wooden fort takes them to a thousand places. The day Jess and Leslie create Terabithia is the day they began to build their friendship.  There are few character traits and no turning point even though it does have a theme.

The adventure in Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter is very exciting. In the story, Peter sneaks into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Mr. McGregor sees Peter and chases him all around the garden. Peter looses his shoes and jacket. He is a naughty bunny, but I don’t blame him. Sneaking into the garden is more fun than gathering blackberries.

A. District Benchmark Assessment B. California State Test(s) C. District Writing Assessment

Read the passage carefully 1. Take Notes or underline 2. Look for what the character does or feels (verbs/adverbs/adjectives)  A. Beginning, Middle, End  Look for a place in the story where the character changes (evolves) attitude/action  Identify Theme  CFU

 Teacher models “To Sleep Under the Stars”

 Students read with partner “Gabriella”

 Closure:  1. How do you find the turning point in a story?  2. Characterization lets us know what the character is thinking and ___________.  3. Do Themes have meaning?