When you read the passage below, consider what big message the author wants you to understand from the passage. What kind of outlook on life does the author suggest is good? How does the passage convey this? Through mood? Tone? Point of View? How might the passage be different if the author chose to change one of these literary elements?
It is on this day that I have my major brainstorm, and when I look back at it, I think it should have occurred to me the minute Kevin Hennessey called out “Yo, Blubber!” And then I think it should have occurred to me the night before at Joe’s house when he and Skeezie and I were sitting around shooting the breeze. Or the time we found that word on Joe’s locker. Or the first time I was ever called Fluff. Or one of a thousand other times. In other words, I should have had this major brainstorm a long time ago, but that is not the way life works. Life works like this: You are on the receiving end of all sorts of stuff, but you do not see it clearly. Then all of a sudden you see something happen to somebody else, and the light-bulb goes off over your head.
It happens at lunch.
Addie is filling Skeezie and Joe in on what went on that morning and is so worked up she doesn’t even notice the Skeeze swap his box of raisins for her chocolate cake. He starts scarfing it down before she can say anything. I detect this out of the corner of my eye, since I try to avoid watching Skeezie relate to food in an ingestive manner. If his eating habits were a movie, they’d be rated R for violence.
Addie, the anti-Skeeze, spreads a napkin on her lap. “What we have to do is come up with a new platform,” she is saying. “Something Ms. Wyman can’t dispute. Not that this is really about politics. It’s all about Ms. Wyman and her need for control. And revenge.”
“Ooo, Cruella De Vil,” Joe says, and it is hard to know whether he means this as an insult or a compliment. Cruella is one of Joe’s favorite movie characters. Back in second grade he even called himself Cruella. For about a week.
Addie ignores him. “Well, revenge is a paltry weapon when confronted of with the arsenal of truth.”
Activity Questions:
Part 1: Describe the major topic of the passage in 1-3 words.
Examples: Love, Beauty, Honesty, Friendship (NOT the main idea!)
Part 2: Next, try to turn the word(s) into a phrase about the major topic. What about the topic is important?
Example: What about Friendship? People will do anything for friendship.
Part 3: Think about what the author is trying to tell the readers about your answer to Part 2. Try to write this in a complete sentence.
Example: Caring people will go to great lengths to protect and maintain their friendships.
It is on this day that I have my major brainstorm, and when I look back at it, I think it should have occurred to me the minute Kevin Hennessey called out “Yo, Blubber!” And then I think it should have occurred to me the night before at Joe’s house when he and Skeezie and I were sitting around shooting the breeze. Or the time we found that word on Joe’s locker. Or the first time I was ever called Fluff. Or one of a thousand other times. In other words, I should have had this major brainstorm a long time ago, but that is not the way life works. Life works like this: You are on the receiving end of all sorts of stuff, but you do not see it clearly. Then all of a sudden you see something happen to somebody else, and the light-bulb goes off over your head.
It happens at lunch.
Addie is filling Skeezie and Joe in on what went on that morning and is so worked up she doesn’t even notice the Skeeze swap his box of raisins for her chocolate cake. He starts scarfing it down before she can say anything. I detect this out of the corner of my eye, since I try to avoid watching Skeezie relate to food in an ingestive manner. If his eating habits were a movie, they’d be rated R for violence.
Addie, the anti-Skeeze, spreads a napkin on her lap. “What we have to do is come up with a new platform,” she is saying. “Something Ms. Wyman can’t dispute. Not that this is really about politics. It’s all about Ms. Wyman and her need for control. And revenge.”
“Ooo, Cruella De Vil,” Joe says, and it is hard to know whether he means this as an insult or a compliment. Cruella is one of Joe’s favorite movie characters. Back in second grade he even called himself Cruella. For about a week.
Addie ignores him. “Well, revenge is a paltry weapon when confronted of with the arsenal of truth.”
Activity Questions:
Part 1: Describe the major topic of the passage in 1-3 words.
Examples: Love, Beauty, Honesty, Friendship (NOT the main idea!)
Part 2: Next, try to turn the word(s) into a phrase about the major topic. What about the topic is important?
Example: What about Friendship? People will do anything for friendship.
Part 3: Think about what the author is trying to tell the readers about your answer to Part 2. Try to write this in a complete sentence.
Example: Caring people will go to great lengths to protect and maintain their friendships.
