Understanding Structure to support themes - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Understanding Structure to support themes

Analyze the media clip; determine how the author/creator’s structure of clip develops the theme. (Be sure to name the theme & provide text evidence).

• Strong readers analyze the structure of a text to understand how the author develops the theme.

• Theme and structure revolve around
• Character
• Problem
• Idea
• Event

• Paragraphs
• Stanzas
• Lines
• Word Choice (Specific Words)
• Scenes
• Author’s Craft (Style, Techniques, Tools)

The yellow one from the bakery

smelled like a cream puff-

she followed us home.

We buried our faces

in her sweet fur.

One cat hid her head

while I practiced violin.

But she came out for piano.

At night she played sonatas

on my quilt.

One cat built a secret nest

in my socks.

One sat in the window

staring up the street all day

while we were at school.

One cat loved

the radio dial

One cat almost

smiled.

• Name & explain the theme of the poem.
• Name the crafts the author use & cite evidence to support.

• What do we need?
• Topic sentences
• Point (structure- line, paragraph, craft etc.)
• Evidence/Example
• Second Point – (structure)
• Evidence/ Example
• Closing

Live Writing

Everyone is different and this is what makes us unique. Naomi Shihab develops this underlying theme of individuality in her poem ”Every Cat Has Its Own Story”. The structure of the poem supports the theme because each stanza introduces us to a new cat with a different personality. For example, in stanza 1, it states “the yellow one smelled like cream puff and followed us home” and in stanza 3 it states that the cat “built a secret nest” these lines show how one cat is affectionate while the other cat seems to be protective.Another way the author’s structure helps develop the theme is through the last few lines of the poem. She writes “one cat loved the radio dial” and “one cat almost smiled” Once again these lines contrast the different qualities of each cat. Through each stanza and through her descriptions Shihab develops the idea that everyone is different and unique in their own way.

• In an extended response, explain how the structure of the poem helps develop the theme of hope. Be sure to look at the model to help guide you through your writing.
• Remember that structure is HOW the author designs the ideas (lines, stanzas, scenes, word choices, etc.)

• Evaluate your response 1-4. Explain why.

ANALYZING AUTHOR’S STRUCTURE AND STYLE

• Strong readers analyze a text by understanding the author’s structure and style.

• Structure- the parts of a writing-
• Sentences
• Stanzas
• Paragraphs
• Scenes
• Chapters
• Poem
• Non-Narrative

• Style- the kind of writing that is represented.
• Tone
• Imagery
• Flashback
• Foreshadowing
• Point of View
• 1st person
• Symbolism
• Theme
• Irony

You always read about it:

the plumber with the twelve children

who wins the Irish Sweepstakes.

From toilets to riches.

That story.

Or the nursemaid,

some sweet lady from Denmark

who captures the oldest son’s heart.

From diapers to Dior

That story.

Or a milkman who serves the wealthy,

Eggs, cream, butter, yogurt, milk

The white truck like an ambulance

Who goes into real estate

And makes a pile.

From homogenized to martinis at lunch.

Once

the wife of a rich man was on her deathbed

and she said to her daughter Cinderella:

Be devout. Be good. Then I will smile

down from heaven in the seam of a cloud.

The man took another wife who had two daughters,

pretty enough, but with hearts like blackjacks.

Cinderella was their made

Author’s choice of setting and point of view: How does setting impact the text? In what point of view is the text written? Why did the author choose this particular setting?

Mood? Tone?

• Read the poem. Determine the structure and style of the poem.
• Determine any craft work you notice the author has used.
• Determine the theme of the poem and how it is developed.