I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou STUDY GUIDE

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1 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou STUDY GUIDE This is a packet to help you study and practice writing a complete and high quality open response. An Open Response needs to have: 1. Claim 2. Context Evidence 3. Justification 4. Context Evidence 5. Justification 6. Context Evidence 7. Justification 8. Conclusion Claim A statement essentially arguable but used as a primary point to support or prove an argument. If there is a writing prompt, your claim must respond to ALL of the prompt. For literary criticism, this will probably include: A theme A literary device EXAMPLE: Prompt: In The Hunger Games, how does Suzanne Collins use characterization to explore the source of strength in a character? Characterization Katniss is characterized as afraid and determined. Theme Sometimes people need to feel true terror in order to discover their own strength. Claim: In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins characterizes Katniss Everdeen as afraid yet determined, showing that sometimes people need to feel true terror in order to discover their own strength.

2 PRACTICE: Prompt: In Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, how does Rick Riordan use characterization to convey a theme about coming of age? Characterization Percy Jackson is characterized as reliable Theme True maturity comes from having people depend on you. Claim: In, characterizes Percy Jackson as, showing that. Prompt: In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone, how does J.K. Rowling use characterization to show the importance of friendship? Characterization Harry Potter is characterized as brave and selfless Theme A person s bravery is shown by how hard they work to defend their friends. Claim: Prompt: In Eleanor and Park, how does Rainbow Rowell characterize Eleanor or Park to convey a theme about relationships? Characterization Eleanor is characterized as defensive and vulnerable. Theme The best relationships are those in which people can lower their defenses and share their true fears. Claim:

3 Using Quotes Your quotes must: Be embedded in your own writing Have a properly cited page number at the end of the sentence Read the following example; don t worry about the story if you haven t read it, just look at how the quote is embedded and cited. EXAMPLE: The quote (from The Hunger Games ) : Betrayal. That s the first thing I feel, which is ludicrous. For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust between Peeta and me (114). The embedded quote: In The Hunger Games, Katniss feels betrayed when Peeta asks to train separately. She then realizes how false their friendship is at that moment, thinking, For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust between Peeta and me (114). PRACTICE: The quote (from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ): Champion of the world. A Black boy. Some Black mother s son. He was the strongest man in the world (136). The embedded quote: The African American community in the store was so excited about Joe Louis victory because he was not just another boxer. They could relate to the fact that he was ( ). The quote (from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ): It wouldn t do for a Black man and his family to be caught on a lonely country road on a night when Joe Louis had proved that we were the strongest people in the world (136). The embedded quote: When Joe Louis won the boxing match, it made African Americans feel like they were ( ).

4 Practice Open Response: In Chapter 19 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, how does Angelou characterize the African American people of Stamps when they react to Louis victory in order to convey a theme of identity? Answer this question in open response format, using and justifying at least three quotes as evidence. Excerpt: This is the chapter when the entire African American community is crammed into Momma s store to listen to Joe Louis championship boxing match on the radio, which he wins to become world champion. Champion of the world. A Black boy. Some Black mother s son. He was the strongest man in the world. People drank Coca Colas like ambrosia and ate candy bars like Christmas. Some of the men went behind the store and poured white lightning in their soft drink bottles, and a few of the bigger boys followed them. Those who were not chased away came back blowing their breath in front of themselves like proud smokers. It would take an hour or more before the people would leave the store and head for home. Those who lived too far had made arrangements to stay in town. It wouldn t do for a Black man and his family to be caught on a lonely country road on a night when Joe Louis had proved that we were the strongest people in the world (136). Who is characterized, and how: Theme of identity: Claim:

5 The Idea Organizer (for Short Open Responses) What is the question asking you to do? Claim (your answer): (requires title, author/poet, answer to all parts of the prompt) Quote #1 to support your thesis: Explanation #1: How does this support your thesis? Quote #2 to support your thesis: Explanation #2: How does this support your thesis? Quote #3 to support your thesis: Explanation #3: How does this support your thesis? Concluding sentence:

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Strange Things Happening Trust in Resurrection (Mark 16:1-8) By Rev. Nancy Bacon So, three women start walking to Jesus tomb Mary Magdalene, another Mary, the mother of James the lesser, and Salome. We