Part 2: Summarizing an Author's Viewpoint in an Informational Text

The Japanologist Donald Keene, from Columbia University, sees the wave as a metaphor for the changes in Japanese society: The Japanese have a word for insular which is literally the mental state of the people living on islands: shimaguni konjo. Shimaguni is 'island nations' konjo is 'character'. The idea is they are surrounded by water and, unlike the British Isles, which were in sight of the continent, are far away. The uniqueness of Japan is often brought up as a great virtue. A new change of interest in the world, breaking down the classical barriers, begins to emerge. I think the interest in waves suggests the allure of going elsewhere, the possibility of finding new treasures outside Japan, and some Japanese at this time secretly wrote accounts of why Japan should have colonies in different parts of the world in order to augment their own riches. The Great Wave, like the other images in the series, was printed in at least 5,000 impressions, possibly as many as 8,000, and we know that in 1842 the price of a single sheet was officially fixed at 16 mon, the equivalent of a double helping of noodles. This was cheap, popular art; but when printed in such quantities, to exquisite technical standards, it could be highly profitable. Which line is a direct quotation from an external source? "The Japanologist Donald Keene, from Columbia University, sees the wave as a metaphor for the changes in Japanese society . . ." "The Japanese have a word for insular which is literally the mental state of the people living on islands: shimaguni konjo." "The Great Wave, like the other images in the series, was printed in at least 5,000 impressions, possibly as many as 8,000 . . ." "This was cheap, popular art; but when printed in such quantities, to exquisite technical standards, it could be highly profitable."

"The Japanese have a word for insular which is literally the mental state of the people living on islands: shimaguni konjo."

What must students use when summarizing an informational text? Check all that apply. a casual tone informal language academic language an objective, formal tone a variety of sentence types

- - x x x

What could be more domestic, more unremarkable, more British, than a nice cup of tea? You could of course put the question the other way round and ask what could be less British than a cup of tea, given that tea is made from plants grown in India or China and often sweetened by sugar from the Caribbean. It is one of the ironies of British national identity - or perhaps it says everything about our national identity - that the drink which has become the worldwide caricature of Britishness has nothing indigenous about it, but is the result of centuries of global trade and a complex imperial history. What is the author's viewpoint in this excerpt? Indian tea is more delicious than tea from China. Drinking tea is very popular in the Caribbean. Many people around the world now drink tea, but Britain was the one to make it popular. It is ironic that tea is the symbol of Britain when tea does not come from Britain at all.

It is ironic that tea is the symbol of Britain when tea does not come from Britain at all.

So our tea set is really a three-piece social history of nineteenth-century Britain. It is also a lens through which historians such as Linda Colley can look at a large part of the history of the world: It does underline how much empire, consciously or not, eventually impacts on everybody in this country. If in the nineteenth century you are sitting at a mahogany table drinking tea with sugar, you are linked to virtually every continent on the globe. You are linked with the Royal Navy, which is guarding the sea routes between these continents, you are linked with this great tentacular capital machinery through which the British control so many parts of the world and ransack them for commodities, including commodities that can be consumed by the ordinary civilian at home. Which is the best summary of this excerpt? The tea set has always been an important part of British life. The tea set has become more valuable through the years. MacGregor believes the antique tea set to be a symbol of British history. He includes a quotation from a historian to support his point. MacGregor believes that the antique tea set belonged to the Royal Navy. He quotes a historian to prove his theory.

MacGregor believes the antique tea set to be a symbol of British history. He includes a quotation from a historian to support his point.

Which line would be best to include in a summary of "Hokusai's The Great Wave"? You can only really appreciate Japanese art by going to Tokyo. Japanese art is so fascinating to me, and The Great Wave is a favorite. MacGregor explains that The Great Wave symbolizes Japan's changing position in the world. MacGregor is absolutely correct in his opinions about the woodblock print and its deeper meaning.

MacGregor explains that The Great Wave symbolizes Japan's changing position in the world.

Which line would be best to include in a summary of "Early Victorian Tea Set"? British citizens should not have been so aggressive when planting tea in India. Do you like to drink tea? Me, too! This chapter is about tea in Great Britain. I disagree with MacGregor's opinion that the quest for tea caused much violence worldwide. MacGregor shows that the British desire for tea changed many nations around the world.

MacGregor shows that the British desire for tea changed many nations around the world.

Hokusai has taken more than colour from the West - he has also borrowed the conventions of European perspective to push Mount Fuji far into the distance. It is clear that Hokusai must have studied European prints, which the Dutch had imported into Japan and which circulated among artists and collectors. So The Great Wave, far from being the quintessence of Japan, is a hybrid work, a fusion of European materials and conventions with a Japanese sensibility. No wonder this image has been so loved in Europe: it is an exotic relative, not a complete stranger. What is the author's viewpoint in this excerpt? Hokusai uses Japanese painting techniques in The Great Wave. Hokusai uses the wave to represent Japanese culture. The Great Wave is popular because it is a classic example of traditional Japanese art. The Great Wave is popular because it includes both Japanese and European elements.

The Great Wave is popular because it includes both Japanese and European elements.

But there are other ways of reading Hokusai's Great Wave. Look a little closer and you see that the beautiful wave is about to engulf three boats with frightened fishermen, and Mount Fuji is so small that you, the spectator, share the feeling that the sailors in the boats must have as they look to shore - it's unreachable, and you are lost. This is, I think, an image of instability and uncertainty. The Great Wave tells us about Japan's state of mind as it stood on the threshold of the modern world, which the US was soon going to force it to join. Which is the best summary of this excerpt? The author suggests that The Great Wave is a symbol of Japan as it entered into international trade. The author describes the fishing boats and fishers included in the woodblock print. Japan was an isolated nation until The Great Wave became popular. Japanese art is the most expensive and beautiful in the world.

The author suggests that The Great Wave is a symbol of Japan as it entered into international trade.

In the early nineteenth century Japan had been effectively closed off from the world for 200 years. It had simply opted out of the community of nations. Kings are burning somewhere, Wheels are turning somewhere, Trains are being run, Wars are being won, Things are being done Somewhere out there, not here. Here we paint screens. Yes . . . the arrangement of the screens. This is Stephen Sondheim's musical tableau of the secluded and calmly self-contained country in 1853, just before American gunships forced its harbours to open to the world. It is a witty caricature of the dreamy and aesthetic Japanese, serenely painting screens while across the seas Europe and America industrialize and political turmoil rages. What type of outside source does MacGregor use in this excerpt? college textbook magazine article musical lyrics historical website

musical lyrics

A source is a(n) an author can use to research and develop ideas in an informational text.

outside publication