Mr. Misenheimer’s Garden Charles Kuralt

Meet the Author Charles Kuralt ( )  "I didn't have to worry about finding stories any longer. They found me."  Please read the author’s biography on page 210  What do you think made Kuralt’s show On the Road so popular with American people? On the Road to a Better Place with Charles Kuralt On the Road to a Better Place with Charles Kuralt Video (9:31) Video (9:31)

VOCABULARY battalioncoaxcultivationexistencenurseryman

battalion  noun – a large body of organized people, especially troops; a great number  It made me wonder how large a battalion of state-employed gardeners it took to keep the place up.  Student sentence and demonstration

coax  verb – to persuade or try to persuade by gentle, persistent urging or flattery  Brown earth was coaxed by the gentle old man into green growth and flowering red and pink and white.  Student sentence and demonstration

cultivation  noun – the act of preparing and improving the land; the growing of crops  His garden shows that something grows from seeds and cultivation.  Student sentence and demonstration

existence  noun – the fact or state of being real  “If you don’t try to make the world just a little bit nicer when you leave here, what is the reason for man’s existence?” – Mr. Misenheimer – Mr. Misenheimer  Student sentence and demonstration

nurseryman  noun – person employed by a nursery (where plants are grown for sale, transplanting, or experimentation)  Walter Misenheimer, a retired nurseryman, created all this in the woods next to his house…  Student sentence and demonstration

Connect to YOUR Life  Do you or someone you know have a favorite place where you can daydream and relax?  What words come to mind when you hear the word relaxation?  In the essay you are about to read, people find peace and satisfaction among the azaleas, dogwoods, and pine trees of a Virginia garden.

Build Background  After working for years as a news correspondent for the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Charles Kuralt convinced the network to let him roam the back roads for stories that celebrated the lives of ordinary Americans.

Build Background  In 1967 Kuralt and his crew began their travels around the country in a secondhand camper.  Their stories became part of the On the Road feature of the CBS Evening News between 1967 and  On the Road with Charles Kuralt (0:59) On the Road with Charles Kuralt (0:59)On the Road with Charles Kuralt (0:59)

Focus Your Reading  STYLE  How something is said or written in literature is referred to as style.  Elements that define a writer's style include word choice, sentence length, figurative language, and tone—the writer's attitude toward the subject.  A writer makes choices about how to use these elements to make a piece of writing sound formal or informal, serious or funny, conversational or academic.  As you read Kuralt's essay, notice how he describes details and presents information.

Active Reading Strategy  A broad statement about a person or a group is called a generalization.  To make a generalization, look for patterns in the behavior or speech of the person or group. Try to apply a statement that would describe the patterns overall.  When generalizations are too broad to be accurate, they are called overgeneralizations.  For example, the statement "All eighth graders like outdoor sports" is not accurate and is considered an overgeneralization.  As you read this essay, pay attention to what Mr. Misenheimer says and does. Pay attention to his statements and actions.  Then use those details to make a generalization about Mr. Misenheimer's attitude toward life and gardening. MAKING GENERALIZATIONS