Legal Alien/Extranjera legal by Pat Mora

1. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalby Pat Mora SWBAT annotate a poem and analyze its meaning in text-dependent questions.

2. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalQuick Write Prompt: Have there been times in your life when you have felt “alien”? What images and feelings come to mind when you hear that word?

3. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalIntroducing the Poem “Legal Alien” explores the feelings of discomfort that come with belonging to two different cultures. Although the speaker functions well in both cultures, she doesn’t really feel at home in either. • The two different versions of this poem—one in English and one in Spanish—emphasize the speaker’s bilingual background. [End of Section]

4. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker Speaker—voice talking to us in a poem. • The speaker is often the poet—but not always. • The poet might speak as someone else—a younger or older person, an animal, or even an inanimate object. • When the speaker is not the poet, the poet has created a persona, or mask.

5. style of speaking speaker’s tone Voice Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker Tone—attitude expressed toward the subject or audience. • The speaker’s tone and speaking style combine to create the speaker’s voice. + =

6. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker Whenever you read a poem, listen carefully to the voice. You might hear the somber voice of a grandfather the excited chatter of a little child the serene musings of a redwood tree The speaker’s identity and voice can be important keys to the meaning of a poem.

7. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker As we read “Legal Alien,” ask yourself • Who’s talking to me? • What is his or her attitude toward the subject? • What do the speaker’s identity and voice tell me about the meaning of the poem? [End of Section]

8. Text Dependent Question #1 • What words or phrases does Mora repeat? What is the effect of this repetition? Provide correct parenthetical citations for your text evidence. Use “Says, Means, Matters” to help you with your response. • TOPIC SENT. - In the poem, “______,” Pat Mora describes/speaks of/tells ___________________. • SAYS-The author repeats “________________” and “___________” (author’s last name and LINE numbers). • MEANS-She uses repetition to ______________________. OR The effect of this repetition is for the readers to understand __________________. • MATTERS – This is significant because ______________. OR • The poet reveals _______________________________. OR • The poet wants to leave the readers thinking/reflecting on/knowing ___________________________.

9. Text Dependent Question #1 • 2. Examine the poet’s use of quotations. Reread what they say. What is the purpose of including them? Provide text evidence and explain what the speaker conveys. • TOPIC SENT. – Pat Mora’s text explains how/suggests ____. • SAYS-The author uses quotations such as ‘“__________”’ and ‘“_______”’ (author’s last name and LINE numbers). • MEANS-The first quotation reveals _______________; the second quotation tells readers ________________. OR She includes both of these quotations to display __________________________________________. • MATTERS – The poet provides these quotations to help the reader feel ___________________________. OR • The purpose in including these quotes is for the readers to understand __________________.