The document provides instructions for students on how to analyze and comprehend a literary text through various reading strategies. It discusses summarizing the main points of a text, envisioning details to help understand it, and using annotations and prompts to aid comprehension. Examples are given of applying different strategies like word identification, paraphrasing, and envisioning to understand the literal meaning of a selection.

1. 10th Grade English
MR. SUAREZ

2. How to Write a letter – page 107

3. One Minute Insight
 In “How to Write a Letter”, the author uses humor
and examples from his own experience to
describe the value of letter writing. He believes
that letters are gifts to those who receive them.
Also, letters help writers learn more about
themselves. The author provides step-by-step
instructions for writing a letter. He concludes by
explaining that a letter reaches out not only to
the recipient, but across time as well, to those
who might read it in the future.

4. Reading for Success
Here are different problem
solving ideas.

5. Reading for Success: Literal
Comprehension Strategies
 The first step in understanding a work of literature is to grasp its literal meaning—the
basic facts and details the author is communicating. Apply the following strategies to
understand the literal meaning of the selection.
• Apply word identification strategies. Divide unfamiliar words into syllables to find
familiar word parts.
• Paraphrase. Restate a sentence or paragraph in your own words to be sure you
understand it.
• Envision. Use details that the author provides to help you picture in your own mind the
places, people, and events in a piece of writing. Try to experience sounds, tastes, smells,
^ and physical sensations, as well.
• Summarize. Pause occasionally as you read to think about and sum up the main points
or events in the work.

6. Reading Strategies:
Using Boxed Annotations and Prompts
 Throughout the unit, the notes in green, red, and
maroon are intended to help students apply
reading strategies, understand the literary focus,
and make a connection with their lives. You may
use boxed material in these ways:
 • Please pause at each box and respond to its
prompt before you continue reading.
 • Read through the selection, ignoring the boxes.
After they complete the selection, they may go
back and review the text, responding to the
prompts.

7. Reading Strategy: Envision
 As you read it may help your understanding to envision the author's details and
create a picture in your minds.
 PAY ATTENTION
 When I read the paragraph on p. 108 that begins with "We need to write ..." I
envision different people at a party. The details Keillor uses help me see in my
mind a picture of groups of people, and Heather Hooten walking up to one of
the groups and introducing herself. She's confident and probably smiling. The
group seems happy she joined them. Then I see the other son that Keillor
describes. That person mumbling a little, probably looking dc the floor and
blushing. Envisioning the two opposite types of people highlight differences
between people who find i to make conversation and express themselves and
shy people who might express themselves better in a letter.
 Remember to Iook for the boxes that will help you envision as they read more of
the essay.

8. Read!

9. Build Vocabulary: Using the Suffix -ory
 The suffix -ory, which means "having the quality or nature of,"
turns a noun into an adjective. Something that is obligatory
has the quality or nature of an obligation. Here1 are some
other examples:
 satisfaction --------> satisfactory
 explanation --------> explanatory ;
 migration ...............> migratory
 preparation .......> preparatory

10. Word Bank
confidence
episode
anonymity
sibling
obligatory

11. Build Spelling Skills:
Words That End in “ence”
 Spelling Strategy - The ENS sound at the end of
words is often but not always spelled ENCE as it is
in the Word Bank word confidence. Because the
ENS sound can be spelled in different ways, you
may need to memorize the spelling of words that
end in ENCE. Here are some other words in which
the ENS sound at the end is spelled ENCE.

12. Fill in each blank with a form of the
underlined word ending in ence.
intelligence residence experience absence evidence
permanence occurrence correspondence preference

13. Fill in each blank with a form of the
underlined word ending in ence.
 1. Ms. Waters was confident that we would raise enough money to buy new uniforms. Her
______________:_________was reassuring.
 2. Evidently, a crime had been committed. Therefore, the detective began to collect _______.
 3. I can understand why you would prefer to see Sam rather than Tony as class president.
Just make sure that you express your ____________________ by voting.
 4. Of course, my dog Sparky is intelligent. In fact, I think that he shows above-average
___________.

14. Complete the sentences by adding ence to
each word part in parentheses. Write the new
words on the lines.
 1. Writing letters can be a wonderful
(experi)___________________.
 2. A letter from a far-away friend can make up for the person's
(abs) _______.
 3. You can tell your friend about any (occurr) ____ , big or small.
 4. The Postal Service delivers letters to your (resid) ____ daily.

15. CHALLENGE
 The word anonymity from the Word Bank means "the condition of
being a stranger, not known by name." Anonymity is formed from a
combination of the word root -nym-, meaning "name," the prefix
an-, which means "without," and the suffix -ity, which means "state
or condition." Here are two other words that contain the word root
-nym-.
 anonymous: given or written by a person whose name is unknown
 pseudonym: a fictitious, or made-up, name used by an author

16. Complete the following sentences using the word
anonymous or the word pseudonym. Use each word
once. Write your answers on the lines.
 1. Mark Twain, the ______ of Samuel Clemens, is one of
the most famous names in American literature.
 2. Because no one knows who wrote this poem, the
editors listed the author as "__________________ " in the
table of contents.

17. Literary Focus: Informal Essay
 An informal essay is a brief, casual discussion of
a topic. The writer of this type of essay uses
conversational language to create a relaxed
and friendly feeling. Sometimes, as in "How to
Write a Letter," humorous ideas and details—
exaggeration, surprising analogies—help to
create the informal feeling. In addition to
creating a sense of casualness, Keillor uses
contractions such as we'll and it's to create a
sense of casualness.

18. Read the following passage from "How to Write a Letter." Circle three words,
phrases, or details within the passage that help to create a relaxed, informal
feeling. On the lines below, write a sentence explaining what makes each of
the items informal.
 A blank white eight-by-eleven sheet can
look as big as Montana if the pen's not so
hot— try a smaller page-and write boldly.
Or use a note card with a piece of fine art
on the front; if your letter ain't good, at
least they get the Matisse. Get a pen that
makes a sensuous line, get a comfortable
typewriter, a friendly word processor—
whichever feels easy to the hand,

19. Look for more informal, humorous, and familiar words and
phrases as you read, as well as other details that add to the
essay's casual style. Use the organizer below to record
your findings.
FAMILIAR CASUAL