The purpose of this course is to gain a better understanding of the surrounding world through the study of its literature and culture while also focusing on four writing modes: narrative, informative, definition and argument.
Name: ______
Making sense of the four styles of writing:
1)Narrative:
2)Informative:
3)Definition:
4)Argument:
Remembering the Elements of a Story:
1)Setting:
2)Characters:
3)Plot:
climax
Rising actionfalling action
Exposition – background infooutcome
4)Theme:
Practice Makes Perfect!
Select a book you have recently read (in its entirety). Practice summarizing the plot by creating a short comic strip with simple illustration and narrative. Use a separate sheet of paper to complete this assignment. A sample has been done for you based on the bookGone Girl
by, Gillian Flynn
Let’s get writingby completing a ‘one-pager’!
Directions:
1)Please respond to the following prompt using lots of detail in no more than
one page (front and back).
2)If you are hand writing your essay and have large print, you may extend your essay
to two pages (front and back).
3)Double spaceyour essay!
4)This is your opportunity to demonstrate what you know…how will you organize your thoughts? How will you add interest to your essay?
The writing prompt (narrative/descriptive):
Imagine you have unlimited funds to travel the world to see other cities, continents and islands. Respond to the following questions in an organized, detailed and well thought-out essay.
- Where would you travel?
- How would you travel?
- What would you bring with you and why?
- What do you expect to find on your journey (think…sights, people, cultural differences, smells, sounds)?
- What is one fear you have about exploring new territory…what is one danger you might encounter?
* You may add additional information as you see fit to make your essay unique!
My planning (you may use another sheet of paper if you prefer):
(blank page for notes)
Let’s begin our journey!
World Classics are stories written years ago that continue to entertain or influence today. The tales
offer exciting plots, important themes, fascinating
characters, and powerful language. They are stories to
which many people can connect. As we continue our
journey, you will be asked to evaluate classic short
stories and make connections to the real world.
Our first destination: The Middle East
Purpose: to explore the travels of Sindbad
How: through reading the short story, The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor from The Arabian Nights
Author: no one knows who wrote the stories or when they were first dreamed up
Background Information
- This story is fictional! (fictional means ______)
- This story is a folk tale (stories told by common people of a country, generation to generation)
- Existed first as oral stories
- Not found in written form until the 1400’s (15th century)
- The origin is unknown…perhaps from Israel, North Africa, Persia, India or Greece
- Why are the tales of The Arabian Nights also referred to as The Thousand and One Nights?
- A king is betrayed by his wife.
- He kills her and claims he will never again keep a wife.
- He marries a new woman each day and kills her the next morning.
- One woman is determined to stop the murders.
- She marries the king and tells him stories throughout the night to keep him from killing her.
- The king is fascinated by her stories and spares her life.
- She continues to tell the king stories for the next 1001 nights…by then, she has won his love.
The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
Pre-reading Activity
Vocabulary
These words are used throughout the story and knowing their meaning will help with your comprehension of the story. Study the words and meaning shown in the box. Then complete each sentence below by writing the correct word on the line.
- Li used glue to make the label ______to the folder.
- Mrs. Chung never ______into the Singhs’ yard because she was afraid of their dog.
- Linda decided three pieces of chicken per person should ______for the class picnic.
- The scout troop is ______with other troops, trying to exchange hiking gear for camping gear.
- Joe is so ______with the idea of becoming an NBA star that he plays basketball four hours every day.
- The earthquake was a ______which left thousands homeless.
- The tough math problem ______the class, and even the top student couldn’t solve it.
- China, with its millions of people, is the most ______country in the world.
- Anna tried ______the toddler’s attention away from the candy so he would stop crying for it.
- Dr. Grieg put drops in Joan’s eyes to ______the pupils so he could examine her inner eye.
Retold World Classics;The Perfection Form Company
The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
Pre-reading Activity
Setting the Stage
These questions will help you get ready to read The Voyages of Sindbad. Prepare to discuss the questions by jotting down answers on the lines.
- The hero of the story, Sindbad, is an adventurer living in a city in the ancient Middle East. These questions will help you understand Sindbad’s time and culture.
- “Know, O my brothers, that after I returned from my third voyage, I rejoined my friends. I forgot all my perils and hardships in my new comfort and ease…. Soon the bad old man within me yearned to go traveling and enjoy the sight of strange countries.”
What does the quote tell you about Sindbad’s attitude?
______
- “At once I began to blame myself for what I had done. I said to myself, ‘By Allah, I deserve all that has happened to me and all that shall happen to me!’”
What does the quote tell you about Sindbad’s beliefs?
______
- “I arrived at home with a great wealth of diamonds, money and goods. There I reunited with my friends and relations. I presented alms (gifts to the poor) and gifts to all my friends.”
What does the quote tell you about how Sindbad treats others?
______
Retold World Classics;The Perfection Form Company
The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
Post-reading Activity
It Happened Like This
Recall facts from the story by responding to each question.
1)Why does Sindbad make his voyage?
2)How does Sindbad get left behind on the island?
3)How does Sindbad escape the island?
4)What does Sindbad do to escape from the valley of the diamonds?
5)In what way do the diamond merchants help Sindbad?
6)What happens to Sindbad’s ship on the fourth voyage?
7)Why do the cannibals give the merchants strange foods?
8)Where does Sindbad travel after his escape from the cannibals?
9)How does Sindbad come to be married?
10)How does Sindbad escape from the cave of death?
The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
Post-reading Activity
Literary Focus: Characterization
Sindbad is an unusual man. He gets into wild adventures and then escapes just when all hope seems lost. In part, Sindbad owes his success to his skill and cleverness. Yet, often, luck is just as important to his success.
Read these story scenes. For each scene, give an example of how Sindbad is lucky. Then give an example of how he is clever or skillful. The first scene is done for you.
To help in your response, you may need to define the following terms:
Lucky:
Clever:
Skillful:
Scene 1 (example): Sindbad is abandoned on an island paradise. But he escapes on the leg of a rukh. (pages 4-7)
How is Sindbad lucky? He is lucky to have stumbled onto the giant bird’s nest.
How is Sindbad clever or skillful? He unwraps his turban to use as a rope. He then ties himself to the rukh’s leg.
Scene 2: Sindbad lands in the valley of the diamonds. Huge snakes inhabit the valley. Sindbad escapes, carried by an eagle. (pages 7-9)
How is Sindbad lucky? ______
How is Sindbad clever or skillful?
______
continued on next page
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Scene 3: The merchant’s ship runs into a terrible storm. The ship is wrecked. But Sindbad is able to get to dry land. (page 13)
How is Sindbad lucky? ______
How is Sindbad clever or skillful?
______
Retold World Classics;The Perfection Form Company
The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
Post-reading Activity
The Reading Writing Connection: Unlocking Passages
Answer the questions about these passages taken from “The Voyages of Sindbad.”
“I had left the ease of my house in my own land, where the pleasures of good meat, drink, and clothing had been mine. I had lacked nothing, neither money nor goods. And I repented of having left Baghdad.” (page 5)
- What does the passage mean as used in the story?
______
- Sindbad enjoys his adventures until he runs into trouble. Then he regrets ever having left home. Do you sympathize with Sindbad? Or do you dislike him for being a weak person? Explain your answer.
______
- Journal Writing: Describe a time when you regretted a decision or act and wished you could return to the way things were before. Use a separate sheet of paper for your response.
“Know, O my brothers, that after I returned from my third voyage, I rejoined my friends. I forgot all my perils and hardships in my new comfort and ease.” (page 12)
- What does the passage mean as used in the story?
______
- Why do you think “comfort and ease” make Sindbad forget the dangers of his last adventure?
______
Retold World Classics;The Perfection Form Company
Let’s Review!
The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
Can you add to the information that is provided for you??
Throughout his journeys, Sindbad proved to be clever and successful. His journeys proved that nothing can be predicted and that it is up to the person experiencing the journey to find a way to survive.
Make a connection with at least one of the themes listed on the previous page, or to a theme of your own by completing the following task.
To do:
1)Identify a theme to which you can connect.
2)Think of astory in the news in which the person involved has proved to be like Sindbad (clever, a survivor, someone who seizes the moment…).
3)Find a short article about the person you have selected that depicts his/her story.
4)Summarize the article on an index card (see below for details).
5)Identify how the person in your story is similar to Sindbad (on the index card).
6)Share the story with the class in a presentation that is no longer than 10 minutes in length.
What will I be graded on?
You will be expected to turn in your article and your summary which contains the connection made to our story read in class.
You will be graded on the connection you have made between Sindbad and the person highlighted in your presentation as well as on the quality of your summary.
Your summary should include:
1)Introduce the person being highlighted.
2)Share their story with the class in an organized fashion…an example is outlined below.
Introduce the person
Share their experience or difficulty
Explain how they overcame their difficulty
3)A conclusion that states the connection between Sindbad and the person whose story you are summarizing. Be sure to make a connection to your chosen theme. Underline these connections.
Optional:
1)You may show a short video (fewer than 2 minutes) depicting your story to add interest to your presentation. Your video may be shown after you make your oral presentation. Your video must be preapproved by your teacher prior to the day of your presentation!
(An example has been provided for you on the next page…let’s take a look!)
Need to see an example?
Follow the steps as outlined on the previous page:
□Identify a theme to which you can connect. (three are included for this example)
Fate cannot be predicted or escaped.
Cleverness can help a person survive.
A successful person takes advantage of every opportunity.
□Think of a story in the news in which the person involved has proved to be like Sindbad.
Aron Ralston
□Find a short article about the person you have selected that depicts his/her story.
□Summarize the article on an index card, and…
□Identify how the person in your story is similar to Sindbad (on the index card). Be sure to state the connection to your selected theme.
Aron Ralston loves adventure. An avid hiker and climber, he became stuck in a canyon in Utah when a boulder slipped, pinning his hand between the boulder and the canyon wall. For six days he struggled, hoping another hiker would find him. While waiting for rescue, he fought against hunger, hypothermia, and dehydration. However, he knew he hadn’t followed the simple ‘rules’ every climber/hiker should follow on this journey. He decided to climb alone and did not leave a copy of his itinerary including the location of his climb and the location of his parked car with anyone at home. Because of this, he felt certain that help would not arrive. Ultimately, he made the decision to save himself by cutting off his hand and a portion of his lower arm using the only tool he had, a simple multi-tool. Before doing so, he videotaped his thoughts to let his family know of his story and also to tell them how much he loved them. In the end, Ralston was successful in escaping the canyon. He continues to climb today with the use of a specialized prosthetic limb. Ralston is very much like Sindbad in that he would never have predicted this would have happened to him given his experience as a climber. When Sindbad left for a journey, he never planned on being left behind or having danger find him as it did time and time again. Ralston was able to use his cleverness and intelligence to survive his ordeal, just as Sindbad found ways to escape dangerous or undesirable situations such as escaping the cave where he was buried with his deceased wife. Ralston took advantage of the knowledge and tools he had available to remove himself from the cave and was successful. Today, he uses a prosthetic limb so that he can continue to climb. Sindbad also assesses each situation he finds himself, taking advantage of every opportunity such as taking the jewels of others for money upon his escape from the cave. Because they sought the advantages presented to them, they both made it home.
□Share the story with the class in a presentation that is no longer than 10 minutes in length.
Share the following 5 minute video after sharing the summary with the class.
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Feeling lost on where to start your search?
Use the following websites to find an article…or, find one
on your own using a reputable sight!
abcnews.go.com
Remember…using the outline will be of tremendous help!
□Identify a theme to which you can connect.
□Think of a story in the news in which the person involved has proved to be like Sindbad.
□Find a short article about the person you have selected that depicts his/her story.
□Summarize the article on an index card, and…
□Identify how the person in your story is similar to Sindbad (on the index card). Be sure to state the connection to your selected theme.
□Share the story with the class in a presentation that is no longer than 10 minutes in length.
(blank page)
Evaluating Themes
A theme of a book or story is an idea or message that stretches through the entire story. It may show up as a pattern throughout the story such as ‘there is beauty in simplicity’. Or it may be the result of a buildup such as ‘tragedy of war’. Often, it is a lesson that we learn about life or people.
Directions:
1)Below are several themes of our next short story. Read through each idea listed.
2)Think of a story you have recently heard or read about in the news that contains a similar message to one of those listed.
3)Underline the theme from the list below that you have paired with a current news topic.
4)Find an article about the story you have chosen.
5)Be prepared to share with the class how one of the ideas listed below connects with your story.
Greed can stain a person’s soul.
Knowledge can lead a person to freedom or despair.
Great expectations may turn into great disappointment.
You never know how much you have until you lose it.
Words spoken in the heat of the moment can drastically change your entire life.