Study Guide Answers Study Guide Answers

GOOD SENTENCE STARTERS TO CITE GOOD SENTENCE STARTERS TO CITE FROM TEXT:FROM TEXT:

WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE AUTHOR WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE AUTHOR STATES, “…..”.STATES, “…..”.

WE SEE EVIDENCE OF THIS WHEN THE WE SEE EVIDENCE OF THIS WHEN THE CHARACTER SAYS, “…….”CHARACTER SAYS, “…….”

AS STATED IN THE TEXT, “……”AS STATED IN THE TEXT, “……” IN THE TEXT, THE AUTHOR STATES, IN THE TEXT, THE AUTHOR STATES, “….”“….”

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS STORY THE FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS STORY THE AUTHOR/CHARACTER STATES, “….”AUTHOR/CHARACTER STATES, “….”

OBSCURE: to hide; not easily seen; to block

ADVOCATE: a person who speaks or writes in favor of a cause

METAPHOR: a comparison of two unlike things WITHOUT using the words “like” or “as”.

ILLUSION– a misconception or misunderstanding

Cindy was such a mule. We couldn’t get her to change her mind.

The fluorescent light was the sun during our test.

No one invites Harold to parties because he’s a wet blanket. 

Samantha experienced difficulty in math.

We see evidence of this when the author says, “When I started this project in the seventh grade, I had trouble telling time, counting money, remembering even the simplest of addition and subtraction problems” (paragraph one, page 535).

Samantha’s English teacher gave her additional writing assignments that could be critiqued so Samantha could identify the areas she needed to strengthen in her writing, but most importantly her English teacher focused on Samantha’s strengths.

We know this because the author states, “[…] my mother asked Mrs. Williams, who was my English teacher, if she would work with me by giving me writing assignments and critiquing them as a way of focusing on what was right with me and not on what was wrong” (para. 2 page 537).

A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things WITHOUT using the words “like” or “as”.

EXAMPLE: Cindy was such a mule. We couldn’t get her

to change her mind. The giant’s steps were thunder as he ran

toward Jack. No one invites Harold to parties because he

is a wet blanket.

The author says that disabilities are shadows that obscure [hide or cover] the light.

The author makes this clear when she states, “A tree that stands in the moonlight reflects the light, yet also casts a shadow. People are the same. They have gifts that let them shine, yet they also have disabilities, shadows that obscure the light” (para. one, page 535).

The author also states at the end of the memoir, “I hope through my writing to remind people that if you’re standing in the shadow of the tree, you may need to walk to the other side to see the light it reflects. They are both part of the same tree; both need to be recognized and understood. This is my reflection of the light” (para. six, page 537).

This question is asking for your interpretation. It’s the perfect question that will lead into your insight.

INSIGHT: When we read between the lines and examine why the characters act a certain way or why the authors state something a certain way. It’s really analyzing the text.

TO INCLUDE INSIGHT YOU COULD TO INCLUDE INSIGHT YOU COULD ALSOALSO:: CONNECT TEXT CONNECT TEXT TO A REAL-LIFE SITUATION THAT HAS TO A REAL-LIFE SITUATION THAT HAS

HAPPENED TO YOU, USING EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN HAPPENED TO YOU, USING EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN LIFE.LIFE.

CONNECT THE TEXT CONNECT THE TEXT TO ANOTHER PIECE OF TO ANOTHER PIECE OF LITERATURE THAT YOU’VE READ. (**WILL ALSO INCLUDE LITERATURE THAT YOU’VE READ. (**WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN AN ALLUSIONALLUSION – – A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING OUTSIDE A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THE TEXTOF THE TEXT.).)

CONNECT TEXT CONNECT TEXT TO MOVIES/TELEVISION SHOWS TO MOVIES/TELEVISION SHOWS (THAT (THAT ARE RELEVANT)ARE RELEVANT)

CONNECT TEXT CONNECT TEXT TO HISTORICAL EVENTS/FIGURES IN TO HISTORICAL EVENTS/FIGURES IN THE PAST OR PRESENT. THE PAST OR PRESENT. (**THIS IS VERY HELPFUL (**THIS IS VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN OTHER AREAS.)OTHER AREAS.)

ANSWER:ANSWER: WHEN THE AUTHOR WHEN THE AUTHOR STATES, “STATES, “THISTHIS IS MY IS MY REFLECTION OF THE REFLECTION OF THE LIGHT,” SHE IS TALKING LIGHT,” SHE IS TALKING ABOUT ABOUT HER WRITINGHER WRITING. SHE . SHE BELIEVES HER WRITING IS BELIEVES HER WRITING IS THE WAY IN WHICH SHE THE WAY IN WHICH SHE SHINES, DESPITE HER SHINES, DESPITE HER DIFFICULTIES WITH MATH.DIFFICULTIES WITH MATH.

NO! NEVER! NOT EVEN! NO WAY!

Let’s look at some meaningful and insight examples that could enhance this response.

What lead-in lines could I use to include an historical figure who also overcame a terrifying and intimidating obstacle like Samantha?

GOOD SENTENCE STARTERS FOR GOOD SENTENCE STARTERS FOR INCLUDING INSIGHT:INCLUDING INSIGHT:

THE AUTHOR PROBABLY FEELS THIS WAY THE AUTHOR PROBABLY FEELS THIS WAY BECAUSE……..BECAUSE……..

THE CHARACTER PROBABLY ACTS THIS WAY THE CHARACTER PROBABLY ACTS THIS WAY BECAUSE…….BECAUSE…….

THIS ALSO REMINDS ME OF…………THIS ALSO REMINDS ME OF…………

MANY PEOPLE FEEL THIS WAY BECAUSE……MANY PEOPLE FEEL THIS WAY BECAUSE……

WE SEE THIS IN SOCIETY WHEN…….WE SEE THIS IN SOCIETY WHEN…….

• Anne Frank is the perfect example of someone else who found her writing to be a “reflection of the light” amongst

the dark “shadows” that encompassed her daily. Anne Frank, just like Samantha, used her writing as an outlet to

escape the dark “shadows” that tried to “obscure” her “light”.

• Although I cannot relate to Samantha’s struggles, I am reminded of a woman named Helen Keller. Helen Keller also experienced “shadows that obscured the light” in her life, but overcame those shadows to step into the true “light”. • Helen Keller found a way to overcome being deaf and mute and stepped into the light by proving others wrong and learning how to communicate, learn, and excel in certain areas.

Perhaps Samantha may have struggled to stay a float through her failures, but she is resilient (able to spring back or recover easily) and will probably grow up to be a very strong woman like Rosa Parks, Joan of Arc, Susan B. Anthony or Ann Meyers Drysdale, one of the first female American basketball players. Just like the women mentioned above, Samantha will probably create her own path and no longer fear failure. If writing is her “life preserver” from her former “ocean of troubles,” then her resilience (ability to spring

back or recover easily) will be the vessel that will bring her to her island of success and triumph.

Samantha’s “life preserver” is her writing.

We know this because the author states, “Yet no matter how hard it was to stay afloat in this ocean of troubles, there was something inside of me, something that became my life preserver—and that was writing” (para. 1, page 535).

METAPHOR!!

She advises readers to get help if they have a learning disability and to focus on their gifts and talents.

The author states, “If you struggle with a disability, the first thing you need to do is find something that you are good at, whether it’s singing or skate boarding, an interest in science or acting, even just being good with people. Then do something with that” (para. three, page 537).