Self-Assessment Lesson 1-3


  1. Read the following story openings; then decide if you would want to keep reading the story.
  • If yes, what details interest you and capture your attention?
  • If no, what details are not interesting?
  • Is this an effective story opening?
  • Use the chart to record your responses.


Selection
Do you want to keep reading?
One detail for support
Is this an effective opening?

1


 
 
 

2


 
 
 

3


 
 
 

 

Selection 1

 She thought she heard someone in the house. The sound she heard, a creak --no-- more like a crack of someone stepping on a stick, had come from the upper floor of the modest town house she lived in. An overwhelming sense of fear enveloped her.
 

Selection 2
 It was a sunny day in May when I was born in Edmonton. My name is Robert Wolfington Jr. but call me Stan because that was my father's name. I just finished grade 9 when we decided it was time to set goals about the rest of my life.
 

Selection 3

 As Mark awoke to the alarm, he thought, today is my day. It was no ordinary day. It was the day of hockey playoffs. Mark quickly got dressed and ran downstairs to where his dad was cooking the breakfast of champions, as he called it.


  1. Choose and complete one of the following sets of questions.

After reading "Guess What? I Almost Kissed My Father Goodnight!" by Robert Cormier do you think the events in this story could really happen? Is the story believable?

  • Reread the opening paragraph of the story. Explain why you think this is an effective or ineffective opening.
  • Find an example of flashback at the beginning of the story. What does this flashback add to the story?
  • "I almost choked on the roast beef. He lied: my father actually lied." Explain how this is an example of foreshadowing.
  • Skip some time now until the night of the telephone call. Explain how this is an example of foreshadowing.
  • Read the last two paragraphs of the story again. Why doesn't Mike kiss his Father goodnight?
  • Consider the end of the story. Is Mike's action consistent with his character throughout the story? Explain.

OR
After reading "Moving Mountains" by Shawn Elgby do you think the events in this story could really happen? Is the story believable?

  • Reread the opening paragraph of the story. Explain why you think this is an effective or ineffective opening.
  • Find an example of flashback at the beginning of the story. What does this flashback add to the story?
  • Quinn tells his parents, "I'll take good care of Ben." Explain how this is an example of foreshadowing.
  • Quinn looks at the hole in floor and says that they are twelve stories up. Explain how this is an example of foreshadowing.
  • Read the last two lines of the story again. What does Quinn do?
  • Consider the end of the story. Is Quinn's action consistent with his character throughout the story? In other words, is he taking good care of Ben? Explain.
  1. Choose and complete one of the following sets of questions:

    Mike's conflict in the story is internal. He finds his father is different than he appears. He comes to see his father as a person.

    1. Identify three pieces of information Mike uncovers as he investigates his Father. For each piece of information, explain how it demonstrates Mike's problem-solving or investigative techniques.
OR

Piece of Information
Problem-Solving Technique

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 


b. Why doesn't Mike talk to his father about his fears and suspicions?

OR

Quinn's conflict in the story is both external and internal. His external conflict is trying to find a way to escape the fire, and his internal conflict is in the decision to push his brother.

    1. Identify three attempts Quinn makes to escape the fire. Explain why each attempt does not work. Use the chart to analyze Quinn's problem-solving techniques.


  Attempted Solution
  Why it does not work

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 


b. Why does Quinn push Ben, knowing his brother will fall 12 stories?

Click here for answers.
   Go to Assignment 1-3 and complete it now.

When you have completed all parts of Assignment 1-3,

    • be sure you have renamed your file (YOURNAME) la 9-1-3
    • upload the completed assignment into the Assignment 1-3 submission box on the next page
Check in a few days to retrieve the marked assignment and review the feedback from your teacher.