1. A WALK TO THE JETTY From “Annie John” BY Jamaica Kincaid
Word Choice
A WALK TO THE JETTY
From “Annie John” BY Jamaica Kincaid

2. Who you are is a mystery no one can answer, not even you.
A WALK TO THE JETTY
Who you are is a mystery no one can answer, not even you.
-Jamaica Kinkaid

3. WHY THIS TEXT Make valid inferences from text.
Explore the impact of word choice.
Draw inferences about characters and events

4. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 1 - 13
The author’s use of language in a fictional text creates a distinctive voice for the narrator. Annie John’s way of speaking reveals her personality, feelings, and opinions. Her syntax, or arrangement of words in sentences, is appropriate for an intelligent, well-educated teenager.
Read lines 1 – 10. In what ways do the sentence structures and the choice of words sound like a teenage girl telling about her own life.

5. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE lines 1 - 13
Annie’s words often reflect her tone, or attitude, toward her situation and the people around her.
Read the sentence in lines 11 – 13. What is Annie’s attitude toward her life in Antigua?

6. SUPPORT INFERENCES Lines 23 - 39
Important ideas about characters and events are not always stated directly in a fictional text. Readers must draw inferences, or logical conclusions based on details in the text. Valid inferences must be supported by strong and specific textual evidence.
Read lines 23 – 39. What inferences can you draw about Annie’s childhood and about her current feelings? Cite evidence in the paragraph to support your inference.

7. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 52 - 62
When an author repeats a word or phrase several times, he or she may be emphasizing an idea or pointing out similarities between different things.
Read lines 52 – 62. Identify the repeated phrase. Explain what overall meaning is conveyed by this repetition and what it reveals about Annie’s attitude toward her life.

8. SUPPORT INFERENCES Lines 95 - 131
You can use details in the text to draw inferences about the characters in a novel, including what the characters are like, how they feel, and what is important to them.
Re-read Annie’s description of the start of her last day in her parents’ home (lines What inferences can you draw about Annie’s parents, especially her mother? Support your inferences with textual evidence.

9. SUPPORT INFERENCES Lines 139 – 149)
The dialogue in a novel often reveals information about the relationships between characters.
What can you infer about Annie’s relationship with her mother from their conversation in lines 139 – 149?

10. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 169 – 176)
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two fundamentally dissimilar things. An author uses a simile to describe something in a fresh, often surprising way.
Identify the simile in lines 169 – What two things are compared, and what does this comparison reveal about Annie?

11. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 200 - 203
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two dissimilar things without using the words like or as. Authors use metaphors to create fresh, imaginative descriptions.
Read the sentence in lines 200 – 203 and identify the metaphor. Explain why Annie makes this comparison and what it means in the context of her present situation.

12. ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Lines 204 - 230
The character of Annie’s mother is developed mainly through Annie’s descriptions of her. As the narrator, Annie presents selected memories of her mother’s actions. Readers do not get a complete or unbiased picture of the mother’s character, but they can draw their own conclusions about her based on what Annie shares.
Read Annie’s account of her first independent shopping trip in lines 204 – What details reveal the character of Annie’s mother? How has the relationship between mother and daughter changed over time?

13. SUPPORT INFERENCES Lines 232 - 239
Annie’s feelings about her mother are complex and sometimes contradictory. Some of her memories show her closeness to her mother, while others suggest conflict between them.
Read the memory Annie shares in lines 232 – What can readers infer about Annie’s relationship with her mother from this story? Cite specific evidence for your inferences.

14. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 254 - 287
The authors choose words carefully so that their writing will convey their intended meaning. An author might choose to use concrete details and sensory language or words that appeal to readers’ senses. An author might choose to use abstract words that name ideas and concepts.
Read lines 260 – Does Kincaid use mostly concrete or abstract language in this passage? Cite specific words and phrases to support your answers.

15. ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Lines 287 - 303
The author develops the character of Annie’s mother through the details in Annie’s stories about her.
Read lines 287 – What does this passage reveal about Annie’s mother? What traits do Annie and her mother share? Cite specific details in the text.

16. SUPPORT INFERENCES LINES 304 - 315
You must often make inferences about why characters react to situations the way they do. You should draw upon your understanding of a character’s personality and feelings, as well as your own knowledge about people in the real world.
Read lines 304 – Why does Annie experience her “old fear” about the jetty in this situation? Cite evidence from the story to support your answers.

17. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 331 - 368
Parallelism is the repetition of a grammatical structure to show that two or more things are similar or equally important. An example is “I was leaving them/it forever” in lines 332 – 333.
Find at least two more examples of parallelism in lines 331 – 368 and explain the effect of each instance.

18. ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: SETTING Lines 359 - 368
Descriptions of a novel’s setting can provide insights into a character’s feelings.
Read lines 359 – What do all these details about the setting reveal about Annie’s feelings?

19. ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: PACING Lines 378 - 384
A well written story has appropriate pacing throughout. In other words, scenes with a lot of action or intense emotion move along quickly, while sections that feature description or reflection move more slowly.
Read lines 378 – Is the pacing of this scene fast or slow? How does the author create this pace for readers?

20. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 389 - 404
Authors choose words with particular connotations, or associated feelings, to convey the precise meaning and tone that they intend. For example, “She stormed into the room” conveys a different meaning than “She walked into the room” because stormed has connotations of anger.
Read lines 389 – 404, in which Annie says goodbye to her mother. Note words with strong connotations. What do these word choices reveal about Annie’s relationship with her mother?

21. ANALYZE WORD CHOICE Lines 413 - 414
Authors use sensory language to create vivid descriptions. These descriptions may also reveal the narrator’s thoughts and feelings.
Read Annie’s description of lying down in her cabin after waving goodbye to her parents (lines 413 – 414). What sensations are readers invited to share with Annie? How do these sensations match her emotions at this moment?

22. Individual Practice due friday
Short Response:
Support Inferences p. 43.
Analyze Word Choice p. 43.
Analyze the Text p. 44; 1-8.
Critical Vocabulary p. 45.
Vocabulary Strategy: Etymology p. 45.