1. Too Soon a Woman by Dorothy M. Johnson
Feature Menu
Introducing the Selection
Literary Focus: Motivation
Reading Skills: Summarizing

2. Too Soon a Woman by Dorothy M. Johnson

3. Too Soon a Woman by Dorothy M. Johnson
What if you were left in the middle of nowhere
with children you hardly know
and nothing to eat?

4. Too Soon a Woman by Dorothy M. Johnson
There is no game for hunting
no crop for harvesting
no food for sharing.
Even the fish won’t bite.
What would you do?

5. Too Soon a Woman by Dorothy M. Johnson
It’s all up to Mary now. . .
and Mary alone.
Read how one young girl is forced to become “too soon a woman.”
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6. Too Soon a Woman Literary Focus: Motivation
As you read “Too Soon a Woman,” you will be asked to analyze motivation in the story. A character’s motivation is his or her reason for displaying a behavior.
Motivation answers the question why?

7. Too Soon a Woman Literary Focus: Motivation
Guess the motivations of the people in the photos below.
To save lives or property? To feel heroic?
To help children?
To make a living?

8. Too Soon a Woman Literary Focus: Motivation
As you read “Too Soon a Woman,” ask yourself why the characters do what they do.
Do the characters’ actions make sense to you?
Are their motivations clear right away, or only later in the story?
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9. Too Soon a Woman Reading Skills: Summarizing
As you read “Too Soon a Woman,” practice summarizing.
When you summarize,
identify the major characters
describe the characters’ problems
state the main events
explain how the problems are resolved

10. Too Soon a Woman Reading Skills: Summarizing
Remember: A summary is a short restatement of the main events and ideas. + =
Keep your summary simple—leave out minor details.
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11. Too Soon a Woman by Dorothy M. Johnson
The End