Word Choice and Author's Purpose in Warriors Don't Cry Assignment 1 & 2

"But why not?" I felt tears coming, but I had promised Grandma I wouldn't cry. "It's just too dangerous for you to go there amongst all those white people." "They'll never recognize me-see, see!" I twirled about to show her that I was really a new person. Grandma India moved closer to me and cupped my face in her hands. "You're staying home, baby. It's for your own good." -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Patillo Beals Which line of dialogue requires a reader to use a desperate, emphatic tone when reading aloud?

"They'll never recognize me—see, see!"

My mind could take in the sights and sounds only one by one: flashing cameras, voices shouting in my ears, men and women jostling each other, old people, young people, people running, uniformed police officers walking, men standing still, men and women waving their fists, and then the long line of uniformed soldiers carrying weapons just like in the war movies I had seen. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Pattillo Beals Which words in the passage help create the mood? Check all that apply.

"shouting" "jostling" "fists"

Write two to three sentences explaining Melba Beals's purpose for writing Warriors Don't Cry. Consider using details about the central ideas, mood, or historical context to support your conclusion.

1,3,5

assignment 1

:)

assignment 2

:p

The next day, in the Sunday paper, I saw a pitiful closeup photograph of Elizabeth, walking alone in front of Central on that first day of integration. It pained my insides to see, once again, the twisted, scowling white faces with open mouths jeering, clustered about my friend's head like bouquets of grotesque flowers. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Pattillo Beals Decide if each word from the passage has a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. Pitiful: Walking: Scowling: Jeering:

negative neutral negative negative

"That's strange," Mama mumbled as she waved to people who didn't bother waving back. "No matter, maybe they didn't see me." Our neighbors had always been so friendly, but now they peered at us without their usual smiles. Then I saw Kathy and Ronda, two of my school friends, standing with their mothers. Anxious to catch their attention, I waved out the window with a loud "Hi." Their disapproving glances matched those of the adults. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Patillo Beals Which tone should a reader use for Mama's dialogue? Which words provide clues to the tone of Mama's dialogue?

confused strange; mumbled; maybe

"We have a right to go to that school, and I'm certain our governor, who was elected to govern all the people, will decide to do what is just." I felt myself speak aloud before I was ready. Who said that? It sounded like me, but the words . . . where had they come from? The white reporters wrote my words down and behaved as if what I said was very important. Pride welled up inside me, and for the first time, I knew that working for integration was the right thing for me to be doing. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Pattillo Beals What is the central idea of this passage?

Standing up for equality is both necessary and rewarding.

Read this passage once silently. Then, reread it aloud using strategies for reading fluently. Write three to five sentences explaining any strategies you used and what new understanding you gained from the text as a result of reading it aloud.

When I read silently, I focused on punctuation, context, and words with strong emotions. This strategy helped me understand people's feelings. When I read aloud, I kept in mind that the author feels pained in the first paragraph. Then, I kept in mind the fact that when she realizes people are on her side, she feels joy and hope. By thinking about the tone, I understood how the same picture makes Melba feel two different ways.

Cameras flashed, bright lights stung my eyes, and reporters asked lots of questions for the next half hour. Many of the reporters asked the attorneys what they planned to do to get rid of the troops. And questions were directed to Elizabeth. She seemed shy about answering, but with Mrs. Bates's help, she forced herself to say a few words. Eventually, however, questions were directed to all of us. My heart raced with fear and anticipation as I observed the process. I was almost hypnotized by the wonder of it all. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Pattillo Beals Use the passage to answer the questions about word choice and mood. Which word has a positive connotation? Which word has a negative connotation? What is the mood of the passage?

anticipation fear scary and exciting

I brushed my hair back into a ponytail and headed for the front porch. As I picked up the newspaper, headlines leaped out at me. HALT IN INTEGRATION ASKED: BOARD SEEKS SUSPENSION OF U.S. ORDER The Little Rock School Board was asking Judge Davies to suspend temporarily the plan for integrating Central High. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Patillo Beals Which tone should a reader use to read the narration before the newspaper headlines? Which tone should a reader use to read the newspaper headlines? Which tone should a reader use to read the narration after the newspaper headlines?

casual formal dissappointed

"We have a right to go to that school, and I'm certain our governor, who was elected to govern all the people, will decide to do what is just." I felt myself speak aloud before I was ready. Who said that? It sounded like me, but the words . . . where had they come from? The white reporters wrote my words down and behaved as if what I said was very important. Pride welled up inside me, and for the first time, I knew that working for integration was the right thing for me to be doing. -Warriors Don't Cry,Melba Pattillo Beals What historical information must the reader understand to identify the central idea of the passage?

the struggle to end racial segregation