Tuesday, September 15th Please take out your Writer’s notebook, a highlighter, and a pen.

Learning Targets for Tuesday, September 15 th : Today, I will:  Analyze and discuss the function and the incorporation of appositive phrases into my writing by actively participating in the mini – lesson.  Demonstrate my understanding of appositive phrases by revising and editing a created paragraph to include appositive phrases in order to elevate my writing.  Analyze and discuss why an author chooses to utilize weather in order to convey meaning by critically reading “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow” from How to Read Literature Like a Professor.

Write a well-developed paragraph that analyzes how the artist conveys meaning through this picture.

Diego Frazão Torquato, 12 year old Brazilian playing the violin at his teacher’s funeral. The teacher had helped him escape poverty and violence through music

captivates Activity: Exchange your paragraph with a partner. Once you have received a paper, read it carefully. Select one sentence that captivates you. Highlight it. At the bottom of the paper, please explain to the writer why you chose this sentence, and why it stood apart from the rest.

How do we improve our writing? What valuable resource should we utilize to improve the way we write?

Appositive Phrases Mini-Lesson

What are they? An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of words.nounnoun phrase This technique is commonly found in the work of sophisticated writers.

Why do we use them? Keeps your writing from being boring!

Where do we place them?  Beginning (Sentence Openers)  One of eleven brothers and sisters, Harriet was a moody, willful child. Langston Hughes, “Road to Freedom”  Whom does the appositive rename?

Where do we place them?  Middle (Subject-Verb Splits)  A man, a weary old pensioner with a bald dirty head and a stained brown corduroy waistcoat, appeared at the door of a small gate lodge. Gordon Parks, “My Mother’s Dream for Me”  Whom does the appositive rename?

Where do we place them?  End (Sentence Closers)  The boy looked at them, big black ugly insects. Doris Lessing, African Stories  Whom does the appositive rename?

Essential versus Optional  Subject + Verb = Sentence  Appositives are NOT essential parts of a sentence.  If you remove the appositive from the sentence, what remains will still be a complete thought.

Example #1: Compare these two sentences:  It went away slowly. Ernest Hemingway, “Big Two-Hearted River: Part I”  It went away slowly, the feeling of disappointment that came sharply after the thrill that made his shoulders ache.

Example #2: Compare these two sentences:  That night in the south upstairs chamber Emmett lay in a kind of trance. Jessamyn West, “A Time of Learning”  That night in the south upstairs chamber, a hot little room where a full-leafed chinaberry tree shut all the air from the single window, Emmett lay in a kind of trance.

Activity:  Look at your paragraph that you wrote about the picture.  Where could you add appositive phrases?  Rewrite your paragraph to incorporate at least 2 appositive phrases.  Exchange with your partner from earlier.  Re-read each others’ paragraphs.  Discuss how the addition of appositive phrases has elevated your writing.

Homework: Due Friday  In a well – developed paragraph, explain how the author of “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” employs characterization, symbolism, setting or tone to convey meaning. In this paragraph, you must incorporate 5 vocabulary words correctly as well as 3 appositive phrases. Please highlight the appositive phrases and underline the vocabulary words.  You will have a quiz over the vocabulary and appositive phrases on Monday, September 21 st.

How To Read Literature Like a Professor Consider the importance of weather in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” not in terms of plot.