English
In what way is a young child's point of view always, to some extent, unreliable?
A child has very limited experience and understanding of the world. Even an honest, well-meaning child has a limited perspective on his or her surroundings and on the feelings and motivations of other people.
Presenting Information Why is it important to organize and present information logically?
A well-organized presentation is easy for listeners to understand. When writing is organized logically, it is easier to follow and understand.
Which of the following would NOT be said by a limited first-person narrator?
I held out my hand for the car keys. My father frowned suspiciously and thought, "Where is he really going?" In a limited point of view, the narrator has limited knowledge: He or she cannot get inside other characters' heads to report their thoughts.
Discussing Point of View Which question would be most appropriate for a collaborative discussion about the point of view in a short story?
Is the story's narrator reliable? It's important to establish the narrator's reliability when discussing point of view.
What purpose does domain-specific vocabulary serve?
It creates a common vocabulary for everyone studying that particular subject. The vocabulary of a subject is standard, creating a community of understanding among everyone who studies the subject.
Which is the best way to revise this sentence for clarity and brevity?Although others have described New York City as exhilarating because of its culture and culinary delights, I found the metropolis to be awash in detritus, while also offensive to the olfactory sense.
Some people love New York, but I found it to be dirty and smelly. This sentence describes why others like New York and why the speaker does not like New York, so any revisions should keep the basic idea of the sentence. Removing some of the details and any complex or long words can make the sentence easier for listeners to process and understand.
What is best way to describe the relationship between point of view and purpose in the article "The FBI and the American Gangster"?
The author uses an objective, journalistic point of view to give an accurate historical account. The author's purpose is to describe the evolution of the FBI in response to the threat of organized crime. To achieve this end, the author uses an unbiased, journalistic perspective.
The Narrator's Point of View Why is an author's choice of narrator so important in a story?
The narrator determines the perspective from which we see events. The narrator's level of knowledge and reliability determines the perspective from which a story is being told and therefore the angle from which we see the characters and plot.
The Author's Perspective A college student is writing an essay about the history of slavery in her state. Which factor would be most likely to influence the sense of purpose that comes across in the essay?
The student's great-grandmother was enslaved on a plantation and left a moving record of her experiences. An author's particular focus on a topic may be affected by his or her personal experiences with the topic.
In this passage from "All Good Things Are Surprises," the narrator describes a visit from his grandmother. As you read, consider the limitations of the story's point of view.The evening Ida arrived, I made sure to wake her up in the middle of the night so she could give me a midnight snack, a ritual she wouldn't have wanted me to skip.How does the limited point of view create humor in this passage?
We know that the narrator's grandmother probably would prefer not to be awakened in the middle of the night. The narrator's childlike, self-centered point of view is funny because we realize that his grandmother is just humoring him by pretending not to mind the disturbance of her sleep.
What is the most important point to consider in determining whether an author is writing from a biased point of view?
What does the author have to gain from a particular position on the topic? An author's approach to a topic can be affected by that author's personal connection to the topic and relationship to a particular position on it.
What is the most likely outcome of a collaborative discussion about point of view in a work of fiction?
a better understanding of how choice of narrator can shape a story's overall effect Discussing a story's point of view with other readers forces you to think about the choices authors must make about narrators and how those choices affect other aspects of the story.
Which set of terms is domain-specific to English grammar?
adjective, adverb, verb The three parts of speech are used to discuss or write about English grammar. The other terms belong to the domains of art (classification of art), science (chemical terms), and math (algebraic terms).
Which group of domain-specific words belongs only to the science domain, rather than appearing in multiple domains?
astrophysics, organism, genetics Just one set of terms is used exclusively to discuss scientific concepts. The other sets include words that are also used outside the scientific domain.
During a collaborative discussion of the non-fiction piece "The Word on Gangster," one student said "I think the author is biased against hip hop and gangsta rap. I think he's afraid of rappers." Which of the following would be the best way to follow up on his comment?
"Can you point to some sentences in the article that support your idea?" When a participant in a collaborative discussion states his point of view, it's helpful to ask for textual evidence supporting that point of view.
Joan wanted to discuss point of view in a collaborative discussion about the story "All Good Things Are Surprises." Which of the following might be a good way to start that conversation?
"Do you think the narrator's perspective as a child affects the way the plot develops?" The best way to guide a discussion toward point of view is to ask about the main character's perspective and how that affects the entire story.
Some narrators simply have a limited point of view, while others are unreliable. How can you tell the difference?
A narrator with a limited point of view doesn't know everything; an unreliable narrator knows but tries to mislead you. A limited point of view is one in which the narrator doesn't know or understand everything that's happening. An unreliable narrator is one who knows but intentionally misleads or deceives the reader.
What role should an introduction play in a report?
An introduction should let the reader know what the report is about. An introduction should be the first paragraph in a report and let the reader know what the report will be about.
Which strategy would help ensure that audience members find your presentation concise and understandable?
Ask someone to listen to your presentation and make suggestions for improving its conciseness. While logical organization and shorter words may improve your presentation, the best way to ensure that it is concise and understandable is to try it out with another person whose opinion you trust.
During a collaborative discussion about a piece of historical fiction, one student insists that the narrator seems to think and behave more like kids today, not people who lived long ago. What is the best way for the group to respond?
Ask the student to explain why or how the narrator seems modern. During collaborative discussions it's important to allow each participant to explain his or her interpretation of the text.
From a storytelling perspective, what is the advantage of the narrator's point of view in "Lone Wolf"?
It helps readers understand an unusual main character from the inside. The limited first-person narration takes us inside the mind of the main character and helps us to empathize with him.
Which statement best describes a presentation that uses chronological organization?
It starts by describing the earliest event related to the presentation's topic. Chronological organization starts at the beginning of a story and continues through time to the end of the story.
Revising a Presentation Which suggestion, if followed, would result in a very concise presentation?
Keep your sentences short, simple, and focused. Concise speech communicates effectively because it is brief, simple, and to the point.
Which of the following could be said ONLY by an omniscient narrator?
Matt puzzled over the meaning of Jerome's remark. Jerome saw his confused expression and thought, "Could he really not know--?" Unlike a limited narrator, an omniscient narrator knows everything and may share the perspectives of multiple characters.
What is the difference between perspective and bias in an informational article?
Perspective is a point of view on the topic, while bias is preferences or prejudices that affect the author's conclusions. Most informational articles are written from a particular perspective or "angle" on the topic, but bias--strong attachment to a particular way of seeing a topic--makes the author an unreliable source of information.
Writing Information Why is it important to include domain-specific vocabulary in a report?
They provide the reader with specific information about the topic. Domain-specific vocabulary are words that are only used in a particular field of study.
Caleb decided to give his oral report in a "stream of consciousness" style, presenting ideas and thoughts as they come to him. What problem will his audience face?
They will not see how Caleb's ideas are related to each other. When presenters do not take time to organize their ideas and try to "wing it" instead, they are very likely to present a jumbled set of thoughts that seem unconnected.
Which visual tool would you see in a spatially organized presentation?
a map. Spatially organized presentations often refer to geographic locations, so a map would be a helpful part of a spatially organized presentation.
Which is the BEST description of the narrator in the story "Lone Wolf"?
a narrator with a limited point of view who believes that he is really a wolf. The narrator of "Lone Wolf" is a boy who believes he has been turned into a wolf. The story's point of view is limited to the boy's own understanding of events and people.
Which Spanish lesson would require knowledge of domain-specific vocabulary that you would also use in an English language arts class?
a poem written about Sancho Panza, loyal sidekick to the protagonist of the European novel Don Quixote The poem would require knowledge of elements of a poem, including meter, foot, verse, form, rhythm, metaphor, alliteration, and simile, as well as words and imagery that evoke emotion.
Academic Domains What is the best definition of the term <span style="font-style: italic;">academic domain</span>?
a subject area studied in school and university settings. Originally, a domain was an area of land under one ruler. The word has a broader meaning now, though--an area of knowledge or study, such as music, English literature, computer science, or history.
For his oral report, Brandon read his script aloud and looked up only when he clicked from one PowerPoint slide to the next. How could Brandon improve his presentation?
by memorizing parts of the script so that he can make eye contact with the audience more often. An effective presenter should know his material well enough to look up and make eye contact with his audience.
What is the most common way in which an unreliable narrator affects the reader's view of a story's main conflict?
by misrepresenting the causes of the conflict to gain the reader's sympathy. Unreliable narration is usually subtle: The narrator is more likely to omit details and to misrepresent the causes of a conflict than to lie outright about what happened.
How is a chronological text structure organized?
by time order. Reports should be organized chronologically, from general to specific, spatially, or in a compare-and-contrast approach.
Brad wanted to help Eileen to make her presentation more concise. What might he suggest that she eliminate from her presentation?
detailed descriptions. Detailed descriptions get in the way of concise speaking.
Which of the following is an element of an informative report?
domain-specific vocabulary. An informative report contains facts and a formal writing style.
Which organization would work well for a presentation about the best dog breeds for each type of home?
general to specific. This kind of presentation should focus on general categories of owners, matched with types of dogs and then specific breeds that would do well in that environment.
What is the best way to organize and present the ideas in an informative report?
main idea supported by more specific evidence. Readers generally expect to know the broadest idea first, or the most specific, and then go in the other direction.
Read the passage below from the article "The Word on Gangster."In the 1920s, Americans watched in fascination (and horror) as the FBI tried unsuccessfully to bring down Chicago criminals like Al Capone and his "gang" of henchmen--or "gangsters." Too well organized and too powerful to be stopped easily, Capone's gang caused both excitement and terror in the American public, who read about their exploits in newspapers or heard radio news stories about them.Whose perspective on the topic of gangsters does this passage focus on?
the American public's This passage focuses on the feelings and reactions of the American public to the gangsters' power and the FBI's inability to capture them.
Which of the following is MOST likely to be affected by the narrator's point of view?
the reader's understanding of the meaning of events. The narrator's point of view most likely would impact the reader's perception or understanding of the meaning of events. Recognizing an unreliable narrator is an important step toward understanding the real significance of the plot.