Introducing the Story Literary Focus: Character and Dialogue Reading Focus: Making Inferences Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Tech Focus Thank You, M’am by Langston Hughes Feature Menu

Thank You M’am What life lessons change the way you think about yourself?

Thank You, M’am Introducing the Story Click on the title to start the video.

“She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails....” from “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes Thank You, M’am Introducing the Story From “Thank You, M’am” from Short Stories by Langston Hughes. Copyright © 1996 by Ramona Bass and Arnold Rampersad. Reproduced by permission of Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC.

It’s late at night when a boy runs up behind Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. He grabs her purse in an attempted robbery. How she reacts might surprise you. A Slice of Life What makes Hughes’s characters seem so real? [End of Section] Click here to find out. Thank You, M’am Introducing the Story

In fiction, as in real life, what characters say can reveal a lot about them. To get to know the characters in a story, pay close attention to the dialogue—the conversation between characters. Thank You, M’am Literary Focus: Character and Dialogue

As you read “Thank You, M’am,” notice what the characters say to each other—and what they don’t say. Then, decide what you think of them. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington JonesRoger [End of Section] Thank You, M’am Literary Focus: Character and Dialogue From “Thank You, M’am” from Short Stories by Langston Hughes. Copyright © 1996 by Ramona Bass and Arnold Rampersad. Reproduced by permission of Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC.

Writers often don’t tell you directly what their characters are like. Therefore, you have to make inferences about characters based on what they say and do. Your prior experience with people and situations Your inference about a character Your observations of characters’ speech and actions Thank You, M’am Reading Focus: Making Inferences

Pay close attention to characters’ actions and the dialogue. After you’ve read “Thank You, M’am,” skim through it again and jot down clues that you think reveal something important about the characters. Discuss the subtext—what characters don’t say aloud but may be thinking, feeling, or communicating without words. Thank You, M’am Reading Focus: Making Inferences

Text ClueMy IdeasMy Inference Roger says “yes’m” when Mrs. Jones first talks to him. “Yes’m” is a contraction of “Yes” and “Ma’am,” and “Ma’am” is a term of respect. Although his actions are aggressive, Roger is polite. Into Action: Use a character’s words or actions, plus your own ideas, to make inferences about the character. Complete a chart like this one: Into Action: Character Inference Chart [End of Section] +=

Find It in Your Reading Notice how Hughes uses dialogue to bring characters to life. “If I turn you loose, will you run?” asked the woman. “Yes’m,” said the boy. “Then I won’t turn you loose,” said the woman. She did not release him. As you read, pay close attention to the story’s dialogue. Take special note of dialogue that reveals information about each character. Thank You M’am Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer [End of Section]

TechFocus As you read this story, think about how the dialogue might sound if you were to speak the characters’ lines. Would the characters sound the same ten years from now? Why or why not? Thank You M’am [End of Section]

Vocabulary

Thank You M’am Vocabulary permit v.: allow. frail adj.: thin and weak; delicate. barren adj.: empty; deserted.

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary According to the sign, what is not permitted in this park? If you permit something, you are giving permission or consent, allowing it to happen.

a.an improvement over last term’s grades b.a decrease in her grades c.an encouraging comment from her teacher Ana’s parents would not permit her to go to the dance after they saw her report card. What did they see on her report card? Thank You, M’am Vocabulary

a.an improvement over last term’s grades b.a decrease in her grades c.an encouraging comment from her teacher Ana’s parents would not permit her to go to the dance after they saw her report card. What did they see on her report card? Thank You, M’am Vocabulary

Frail is often used to describe the appearance of someone who is weak because of poor health or age. Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Which of these people looks most frail?

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary When Joe’s mother told him that his grandmother looked very frail, he felt ______________ a.concerned; he hoped she was feeling okay. b.happy; he was pleased to hear that she was doing well. c.excited; he was looking forward to visiting her during school vacation.

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary When Joe’s mother told him that his grandmother looked very frail, he felt ______________ a.concerned; he hoped she was feeling okay. b.happy; he was pleased to hear that she was doing well. c.excited; he was looking forward to visiting her during school vacation.

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary A place that is barren is lacking or unable to produce life. In what ways does this scene fit the definition?

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Which of the following is the best example of a barren place? a.a garden in bloom b.the surface of the moon c.a forest trail

Thank You, M’am Vocabulary Which of the following is the best example of a barren place? a.a garden in bloom b.the surface of the moon c.a forest trail [End of Section]

The End

QuickTalk

Make the Connection Think about this common expression: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Discuss with a partner what you think this saying means. [End of Section] Thank You, M’am QuickTalk

Meet the Writer

Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His father felt that writing was “impractical” and wanted his son to become an engineer, but Hughes didn’t cooperate. To support his dream of becoming a writer, Hughes worked at a variety of jobs—cook, sailor, beachcomber, launderer, doorman, and busboy. More About the Writer [End of Section] Thank You, M’am Meet the Writer

Build Background

Thank You, M’am Harlem is an African-American neighborhood in New York City. When Hughes lived there, he saw his neighbors struggling against poverty, crime, and overcrowding. More than 215,000 people lived within a square mile. These packed conditions led to some conflicts but also to the richly varied urban culture that Hughes documented in his writing. [End of Section] Build Background

Preview the Selection

Late one night, a teenager named Roger tries to steal the purse of a woman who is walking home alone. Thank You, M’am Preview the Selection His attempt to steal leads him down a much different path than he expected. [End of Section] Preview the Selection