1. Setting

2. An author relies on the language to engage the reader in the novel. By using detailed descriptions an author will appeal to the readers five senses: Sight Smell Sound Taste Touch Imagery: Using sensory words to paint pictures in a reader’s mind so he/she can vividly imagine what is written.

3. “All through October the days were still warm, like summer, but at night the mercury dropped and in the morning the sagebrush was sometimes covered with frost.” “When I walked outside, I saw a lot of white snow. I expected it to be cold, and it was. The snowman was still standing. Touch (feel) Sight

4. “Twice in one week there were dust storms. The sky turned suddenly gray and then a hot wind came screaming across the desert, churning up everything in its path. From inside the barracks the boy could not see the sun or the moon or even the next row of barracks on the other side of the gravel path. All he could see was dust.” “I thought maybe the snow would melt in the afternoon and I could stay outside longer since it might not be so cold. But I wouldn’t know for sure until the afternoon would come. In the meantime, I would go to school and stare out the window at the many winter sights wishing I could be rolling in the snow and throwing snowballs at my friends.” Touch Sight Sound No senses are engaged in this excerpt

5. The dust storm coming to Billie Jo’s home. “I heard the wind rise” “It wasn’t until the dust turned toward the house like a fired locomotive” “It wasn’t until the dust hissed against the windows, until it ratcheted the roof, that Daddy woke.” “The night sky kept flashing, lightening danced down on its spindly legs.” “I watched them fry, or flatten, or blow away, like bits of cast- off rags.” “While Ma and Daddy slept, the dust came, tearing up the fields where the winter wheat, set for harvest in June, stood helpless.” “Daddy didn’t come back for hours, not until the temperature had dropped so low it brought snow.” “I sensed it before I knew it was coming. I heard it, smelled it, tasted it, Dust.” “Wiping dust out of everything she made coffee and biscuits, waiting for Daddy to come in.” “Daddy came in, he sat across from Ma and blew his nose. Mud streamed out. He coughed and spit out mud.”

6. Why do authors use imagery in their writing? How does it help shape the novel?

7. Working in pairs, re-read the excerpt and fill in the “Imagery for Setting” worksheet.