Weekly Informational/Nonfiction, Question Set B

Transcription

1 Weekly Informational/Nonfiction, Question Set B Keep this sheet with you. You will need it every week until further notice. Directions for every week: To become a more critical reader and thinker, you are expected to read one informational or nonfiction print text (an article, interview, essay, etc.) per week. Cut out/print your nonfiction text. It may come from any acceptable print/online source publication, but the words on the page must total approximately one half-page or more in length (around 300 words or more). Set up a sheet of notebook paper like this: Your Name Date It s Due WIN (B) 1. Instead of handwriting, you may type your answers and print them (just keep this same heading-and-title format). Answer all questions as they relate to your text. You do not have to write the question. Staple your annotated text behind your answers. If you cut the text from a magazine/newspaper, glue/tape it to a new sheet of paper and add the name of the publication (Newsweek, People, etc.) if it s not visible already. Turn in the stapled pages every Monday (Tuesday in the event of a Monday school holiday). 1. One or two sentences Write a sentence that identifies A) the article title, B) the author, C) the publication, and D) the publication s intended audience. If no author is given, communicate that. Make sure to put quotation marks around the article title; make sure to underline the name of the publication (e.g., People, Wilson County News, Fox News, BBC, Teen Ink, etc.). 2. One mini outline Outline the text's thesis and its main points with support. At minimum, you must outline the Thesis, Point A with one support, and Point B with one support. (Note: If you can't do this, then you probably need a new text. This is why it's important to select texts that contain 300+ words!) 3. One sentence Transitions! Think about the outline you made for number 2. above; when the author moves from one point to another, he/she uses transition words. Name these transition words/phrases the author uses. Remember that when you refer to a word itself, you underline/italicize that particular word. 4. Two or more sentences Go beyond literal; look for the figurative! Give one piece of evidence of figurative language used by the author; then, identify what figure of speech (see the resource pages) it is, and explain how it enhances the meaning of the concept. If no figurative language is employed by the author, write your own figurative sentence that describes an aspect of the text or that could be added into it; then, identify what figure of speech you used (see the resource pages), and explain how it enhances the meaning of the concept. 5. You printed your text now, annotate it! Within your text, complete at least five separate annotations (4 points each!). Possible focus for WIN (B): figurative language/rhetorical devices.

2 1. For example: Hints by Question Luby s at North Star Mall Closes Forever is written by Valentino Lucio and comes from MySanAntonio.com, a website that targets San Antonio area residents. John Wendle has written Chernobyl and Other Places Where Animals Thrive Without People for National Geographic, a publication meant for anyone interested in facts about our planet, as well as world cultures and geography. No author is credited, but Popular New Exercise App Just Tells Users They Ran 5 Miles A Day No Matter What appears on TheOnion.com. The Onion describes itself as a farcical newspaper featuring world, national and community news. Being a publication that deals entirely in farce (intentionally-overdone humor) and satire (using subtle humor to mock something), they write only fake news. Most of The Onion s articles are sarcastic, and, therefore, persuasive. Notice the pattern: Establish author s name, establish the title he/she gave his/her article, establish the source he/she is writing for, and note the type of demographic interested in that publication (not the type of people interested in the article itself! The publication, the news agency; the type of person that news agency has as its loyal readers.). 2. For example: Thesis = The South China Mall stands as a symbol of China's failure to stimulate spending. Point A = Having low wages, most Chinese cannot afford to shop there. Support = Stephen Liu: "All the Chinese in this town are factory workers." Support = "The Chinese save about half their income." Point B = The mall was built too large to sustain itself. Support = Its "9.6 million square feet makes it more than twice the size of the biggest U. S. shopping center, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota." Support = Thomas Consultants: No place in China, even one of its richest cities, could support such a retailing behemoth. Note that the above outline includes two supports per point. Two is good; if you can only get one point per support, that will be fine. One point per support is the minimum.

3 3. Transition words/phrases signal relationships among ideas. Here are some of the many examples: Therefore, you might write: This news article features the transitions nevertheless, likewise, to conclude, and furthermore. More transitions on the next page.

4 Writers Transition and Signal Words 182 Time/Sequence Words after afterwards ago already always at last at that time at the same time before during eventually finally first first of all following further immediately in the first place in the meantime much last lastly later meanwhile next now once presently second secondly several sometimes soon soon after some subsequently suddenly then thereafter third to begin with today until while Conditional Words even though as though whereas unless Illustration/ Example Words for example for instance namely that is to illustrate Place/Direction Words above across from adjacent to ahead around away from below beneath between beyond close to down far farther here horizontally in close proximity inside near nearby next to on the opposite side opposite outside over parallel there under underneath vertically within Cause and Effect Words accordingly as a result as if as though because consequently for that reason hence in order to it follows that on account of provided that since so so that then therefore thereupon thus Emphasis Words certainly indeed moreover obviously of course Order of Importance/ Listing Words additionally another at first also and as well as besides first former furthermore in addition last latter likewise many moreover much next primarily second secondarily several some the following then third Connecting Words again also and at length besides in addition in any event indeed in spite of for instance further moreover to this end with this in mind Additional Thoughts Words and moreover further furthermore also likewise similarly too in like manner again in the same way besides Comparison/ Contrast Words although but by comparison compared with conversely despite differing from even though equally important however in comparison to in contrast in like manner in the same way just as like likewise nevertheless on the contrary on the other hand otherwise rather than similarly still unfortunately unlike yet Summary/Conclusion Words accordingly as a result as has been noted as I have stated consequently for this reason hence in brief in other words in short it follows that in fact on the whole so that is that is to say therefore thus to conclude to summarize to sum up 22

5 4. Figurative language is anything that is not meant to be taken literally (e.g. The band had a meltdown! ). Simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and allusion are some of the many types:

6 5. Annotations ideas: Or, write a higher-level question in the margin. Here are some sentence stems; just fill in what applies to your text! How is... (similar to/distinguishable from) (specific personal, textual, or world connection)? If... happened, how might... have been different? Just how does the theme of... enter the picture? How does (specific cultural group) define (concept)? What implications does this create regarding...? How will... changes alter perceptions regarding...? What would happen if...? How many ways can...? How effective are...? How can... be redefined? Could... defend (his/her/its) position regarding... to a group of...? Is there a better solution to...? Is... helpful or harmful, based on...? Based on..., will... ever be the same? What does the future hold for...?

7 Abraham Lincoln 10/19/2015 WIN (B) 1. Many Savers, Few Spenders Leave South China Mall Almost Empty is written by Matthew Benjamin and Nipa Piboontanasawat. It appears on Bloomberg.com, a global financial news wire. 2. Thesis: The South China Mall stands as a symbol of China's failure to stimulate spending. Point A: Having low wages, most Chinese cannot afford to shop there. Support: Stephen Liu: "All the Chinese in this town are factory workers." Support: "The Chinese save about half their income." Point B: The mall was built too large to sustain itself. Support: Its "9.6 million square feet makes it more than twice the size of the biggest U. S. shopping center, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota." Support: Thomas Consultants: No place in China, even one of its richest cities, could support such a retailing behemoth. 3. This expository article features the transitions instead, typical of, though, and, and yet. 4. An allusion is apparent in the phrase retailing behemoth. To refer to the South China Mall as a behemoth is to liken it to a massive, mythological beast one that has the power to crush Dongguan s economy. 5. Annotations on text.

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