By Seymour Simon

1. "The Case of the Flying-Saucer People" By Seymour Simon Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

2. Summary Slide • Main Idea and Details • Use Decoding/Phonics • Science Fiction • Purpose • Main Idea and Details • Media Messages • Websites Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

3. Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • You can determine the main idea by paying attention to the details. • Sometimes a main idea is not stated directly. Sometimes you must use information given in more than one sentence to help you determine the main idea. • Find the main idea in the following paragraphs. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

4. The first part of a river’s path is called the upper course. This is where the river drops quickly and swiftly from the high lands where the river began. The swift river carves out a deep river channel. Steep banks line its sides. The rushing water carries sand, gravel, and even large boulders. Which of the following states the main idea? A. The upper course of a river is the first part of a river’s path. B. The upper course of a river is where the river drops swiftly from the high place where it began. C. Large boulders are carried along in swiftly flowing rivers. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

5. Rivers wear down rocks as they flow over them. After many years, rocks become smaller and can eventually be carried away. Rivers also build up the earth. They carry sand, for example, and deposit it in sandbars. State the main idea in your own words. Rivers wear down and also build up the earth. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

6. Use Decoding/Phonics Good readers use strategies, such as using decoding/phonics, as they read. Good readers are active readers, and they pay attention to whether they understand the words that they are reading. In order to understand the main idea and details, you need to understand the vocabulary. You can use decoding/phonics to help you understand words you do not recognize. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

7. Science Fiction • Science fiction is a kind of made-up story based at least partly on ideas from science. • Its purpose may be to both entertain and persuade by giving a message. • Many events in science fiction may be unrealistic, and the characters may or may not be like real people. • They often experience problems that real people face. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

8. Purpose This is a mystery story. Read to find out about Mr. Janus’s experience with the flying-saucer people and to be entertained. Read pp. 350 – 361, “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People” Stop reading on p. 359. Predict what was the scientific error in the story of the saucer people? Continue reading. Were you correct in your prediction? Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

9. Main Idea and Details • The main idea tells what the paragraph or selection is mostly about. It may be stated or implied. • The supporting details often answer the questions Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. • Is the main idea of this selection directly stated or implied? implied Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

10. Answer the following questions: • Who? • What? • Where? • Why? • How? Mrs. Anderson, her son Einstein, and Mr. Janus Mrs. Anderson is interviewing Mr. Janus; Einstein is checking his story for scientific accuracy At the Anderson home Mr. Janus is writing a book about seeing a flying-saucer and meeting its little people. Using Einstein’s scientific knowledge Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

11. Media Messages • We are exposed to media messages every day. The purpose of media messages are to inform, to entertain, to persuade, to interpret events, and to transmit culture. • Writers of media messages often provide facts to support their viewpoint, but they also use persuasive techniques that appeal to people’s emotions rather than to reason. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

12. Persuasive Techniques • Bandwagon Technique: statements designed to give the idea that everyone else is doing something, so that reader should, too • Glad Words/Sad Words Technique: words that give readers very positive or negative feelings Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

13. Persuasive Techniques • Glittering Generalities: Positive words or phrases with a “feel-good” quality leave a nice impression without making any guarantee • Symbols: Associating the power of a cultural symbol with a product (i.e. U.S. Flag) • Testimonial: An ad in which a famous spokesperson endorses a product or service Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

14. Persuasive Techniques • Card stacking: ads giving only the positive side of a product or service, ignoring negative aspects • Transfer: words or images arouse emotions to connect the viewer’s emotion to the product being sold Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

15. Websites: • Seymour Simon • Rocket Skills: Main Idea and Details • Test Tutor: Sequence • Grammar Gold: More About Pronouns Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”

16. Credits • Harcourt Trophies – Distant Voyages, Chicago: Harcourt, 2003. • MacMillan Connections – Landscapes, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “The Case of the Flying-Saucer People”