1. Journal Entry 10/16/14
Think about… Sometimes in life, or in books and stories that we read, unexpected things happen; things we did not anticipate the twist or surprise in the end. Write about… In your journal, briefly explain an event in your life, in a story, or in book that you read that turned out unexpectedly or surprised you.
Day 1
After students write independently, ask them to share with a partner. Call on 2 or three to share what their partner discussed.
Introduce the story by reading the author’s background and discuss how sometimes when we read something we did not predict what was about to happen. Authors will sometimes surprise us with plot twits or ironies to develop unique reading experiences. In the same way, movies with twists and ironies interest us.

2. A Close Reading of “The Wife’s Story”
By Ursula Le Guin
Day 1
Today we will read a very good story with unexpected twist! I think you will be surprised at how the author crafted this story to trick her readers into thinking one way until the very end.

3. “The Wife’s Story”
Write your heading in the top left corner of your story.
With a black pen or pencil number the paragraphs. There are 19.
Write “STOP” after these paragraphs:
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 19
Day 1

4. Closely Read “The Wife’s Story”
Take out a colored pen or colored pencil and write “describes the husband” at the top of the story.
Let’s visit the text and underline, in the second color, anything that “describes the husband”.

5. Closely Read “The Wife’s Story”
Take out a second colored pen or colored pencil and write “a hint that something bad is going to happen” at the top of the story.
As we read together, circle, in the 2nd color, “a hint that something bad is going to happen”
Raise your hand and tell the class what you find.
Day 1

6. Closely Read “The Wife’s Story”
Take out a pen or pencil and write “Events in the story” at the top of the page.
With your partner, write in the margin each event you encountered as you read the story.
Be ready to share what you and your partner wrote in the margins.

7. A Close Reading of “The Wife’s Story”
By Ursula Le Guin
The Story Continues…
Day 1
Today we will read a very good story with unexpected twist! I think you will be surprised at how the author crafted this story to trick her readers into thinking one way until the very end.

8. “The Wife’s Story” As you write your answers support them with textual evidence.
After Paragraph 1
What words does the narrator use to describe her husband?
What did you learn about her character?
After Paragraph 5
How has the narrator’s relationship with her husband changed?
After Paragraph 8
What happens between the father and the child? Why does the narrator scold her child?
After Paragraph 16
What transformation has taken place?
What assumptions had you made about the characters that had to be changed?
After Paragraph 19
How has the narrator’s feelings changed toward her husband?
Pair students. Both students read up to the paragraph listed above then stop to discuss and then write their answers to the questions. Stress that they must include textual evidence to support their answer.