The Machine Stops Day 3

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

Nuance Academy: Adjective Phrase

After today I should be able to: summarize the background to E.M. Forrester's short story and identify a theme you want to track.

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Write 10 sentences that start with an adjective clause (an appositive).
1. Start with a loose sentence.
1. Mr. White carefully planned the stages of his essay, and then he rewrote it.
2. Rewrite it starting with an adjective clause.
1. Start with subject, then include a WHO or WHICH phrase.
2. Mr. White, WHO was known for meticulous preparation, carefully planned each stage of the essay.
3. Here are some more examples. You can use these ideas, but change them to make your own sentence.
1. Jane, who forgot her coat, pulled her sweater tighter around her.
2. Tom, who stayed up late studying, hoped he would pass the test.
3. The crystal vase, which sat on the table, sparkled beautifully in the light.
4. Mike, who was prone to seasonal allergies, reached for a tissue.
5. Sarah, who practiced for months, accepted the trophy for first place with pride.
6. The puppy, who loved going for walks, waited eagerly by the door with excitement.
7. The thick steaks, which were marinated in spices, filled the backyard with an amazing aroma as they sizzled on the grill.
8. The snake, which was hunting for prey, slithered silently through the grass across the yard.
9. The bus, which narrowly avoided an accident, screeched to a halt just in time.
2.  Today we will continue reading the short story, "The Machine Stops."
1. Read for 15 minutes. Practice your notice and note strategies.
1. Epiphany
1. A character or group of characters suddenly understands something.
2. For example, "In an instant I knew..."
3. Question: How might the realization that...change...?
2. Tough Question
1. When the characters ask a question that either they or you don't know the answer to.
1. This questions makes we wonder if...
3. Contrasts and Contradictions
1. A character thinks and behaves in a way that we don't expect.
2. An element of a setting is something we would not expect.
3. Question: Why did...How can this help us understand or predict...?
4. Patterns
1. A word is repeated again and again
2. An idea is repeated again and again (but with different words, i.e. war, battle, fighting, etc.)
3. An image is repeated several times
4. An action keeps happening
5. Really, anything that gets repeated throughout the book can possibly be a pattern.
6. Question: Why is the author continually bringing up...?
1. You must also put a question mark next to parts of the text that confused you.
2. Complete a one-pager about the beginning of the short story.
1. Draw a diagram of the room that Vashti lives in.
2. Generate a list of five adjectives that describe Vashti and Kuno. Circle the one that best describes each character. Come up with a symbol for each character.
3. Create a list of things in the short story that are like something that exists today. For example, The Machine is like the internet. Which thing on your list are you most surprised that Forrester was able to predict?
4. Draw a picture that represents one of the problems people face in the world of the short story.
3. How to track my ideas that I chose. The idea is an example of a pattern.

Homework:

1. Work on your vocabulary list #2. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.