Out of the Dust
Section 3 (pages 55-82)

Discussion Director, Passage Picker, Word Wizard, Character Sketcher & Illustrator

Discussion Director
 Your job is to come up with 5 questions for this section that your group can discuss.  You should include:
* MCEOG
* Figurative Language
* Cause/Effect
* Mood
* Your choice

MCEOG
1.  Which of the following best describes the way Billie Jo feels after the accident with the kerosene?
            a. delighted
            b. scared
            c. guilty
            d. happy
Answer: c.  guilty

Figurative Language
2.  Find 3 examples of figurative language in this section and note what kind of figurative language it is.
            a. “ripe as a melon” – simile (p. 55)
            b. “bare as a pear” – simile (p. 55)
            c. “Ma made a rope of fire” – metaphor (p. 60)

Cause/Effect
3.  What caused the kerosene to catch fire? (effect)
    Answer:  The flame from the stove when she poured it, thinking it was water. (cause) (p.  60)

Mood
4.  What is the mood that the author sets on page 66?
    Answer:  Sadness/pain (p. 66)

Figure of Speech
5.  What does the author mean in the passage from page 71:
        "Billie Jo threw the pail,"
        they said.  "An accident."
        they said.
        Under their words a finger pointed
    Answer:  Even though the ladies are saying that it was an accident, Billie Jo feels that they really are blaming her for what happened.

Passage Picker
Your job is to find 4 passages from this section that you liked to share with the rest of the group.  For each passage, you must do the following:
    1.  Pick out the passage
    2.  Write down the page and paragraph number.
    3.  Write down the first two and last two words of the passage.
    4.  Write down the reason you chose this passage, and explain why.
    5.  Ask a question about your passage and give an answer.
    6.  Write down the Author's purpose (TO DESCRIBE, ENTERTAIN, INFORM or PERSUADE).

1.  *
2.  Page 55-56, Par. 1-3
3.  "Quarter inch . . . a melon"
4.  I chose this passage because it is very descriptive and uses great imagery.  It is one passage where the dust is not really mentioned, and gives you a "clean" feeling for a change.
5.  Q:  What does it mean in the sentence ". . .who is ripe as a melon these days."?
     A:  Ma is pregnant, and is probably close to giving birth.
6.  The authors purpose is to describe.

1.  *
2.  Page 58, Par. 1
3.  "A boy . . . 'Much obliged.'"
4.  I chose this passage because it shows that even though Billie Jo's family was going through their own hard times, they were willing to help out a stranger.  Also, the boy, although he wanted food and didn't have any money, was willing to work for the food.
5.  Q.  Why do you think this boy happened by Billie Jo's house?
     A.  Maybe he was on his way from his house toward the west where he could find work to make money for his family.
6.  The author's purpose is to inform.

1.  *
2.  Page 71-72, Par 3-5
3.  "'Billie Jo . . .of kerosene."
4.  I chose this passage because it shows why Billie Jo continues to feel guilty about her mother's death and the whole accident.  The neighbors seem to blame her, even though it was an accident.
5.  Q.  How do you think Billie Jo feels in this passage?
     A.  She feels both guilty and angry.  Guilty for throwing the fire and angry because they talk about her throwing it, but don't mention that her father was going out drinking while her mother was dying in bed from the burns.
6.  The author's purpose is to inform.

1.  *
2.  Page 80, Par. 1
3.  "In my . . . the heart"
4.  This passage tells of the things that Billie Jo has held on to for so long.  These are things she promised her mom that she would go through and get rid of some of it.  Now, it would be like getting rid of part of her mother if she were to throw any of it away.
5.   Q:  Do you think Billie Jo will ever get rid of any of these things?
      A:  No, I think she will hold on to them forever, since they probably remind her of the time when she had her mother with her.
6.  The author's purpose is to describe.

Word Wizard
    Your job is to find the following four words in the section you read for today:
        1.  obliged (pg. 58, par 1)
        2.  crested (pg. 62, par. 3)
        3.  chafed (pg. 63, par. 2)
        4.  carcasses (pg. 73, par. 2)
     For each word:
        1.  Write the word
        2.  Copy the sentence from the book in which it appears.
        3.  Look up the word in the dictionary.
        4.  Write the correct part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)
        5.  Write a sentence using your word wizard word.
        6.  Make a word wizard card.

    1. obliged
    2.  "Much obliged"
    3.  to put in one's debt by a favor or service
    4.  verb
    5.  The man was much obliged for their help in getting him to his destination.
    6.  Word Card

    1.  crested
    2.  "The doctor cut away the skin on my hands, it hung in crested strips."
    3.  to have a crest.  (might be like crusted, in this sentence)
    4.  adjective
    5.
    6.  Word Card
 

    1.  chafed
    2.  "Sand chafed inside my clothes, against my clothes."
    3.  to rub so as to wear away
    4.  verb
    5.  The paint was chafed from the boat as it rubbed against the dock.
    6.  Word Card
 

    1.  carcasses
    2.  "On either side of the road are the carcasses of jack rabbits, small birds, field mice, stretching out into the distance."
    3.  a dead body
    4.  noun
    5.  The carcasses of the cows started to smell as they rotted in the sun.
    6.  Word Card

Character Sketcher
    Create a character sketch for Ma from today's section.  Be sure to include the following:
    *  Three character traits with proof.  Include the page and paragraph where your proof came from.
    *  One of Ma's goals
    *  One of Ma's problems and one solution to that problem.
    *  An illustration of Ma.

Illustrator
     Your job is to draw some kind of picture related to the reading.  It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, or stick figure scene.  Use a separate piece of paper for your drawing and the explanation.  The explanation should include:
        *Who or what your picture is about
        *Where your picture takes place
        *When it is happening
        *Why you drew this picture
    Please use colorful, descriptive language in your explanation.  When sharing your picture with the group, show them only the picture and have them guess and talk about it first.  After you have discussed your picture, share your paragraph.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Back to the top