Example 1

1.  (pg. 3 par.2)

2.  (first two words of passage) Maggie drew ___________polished ebony (Last two)

3. This is a descriptive type of passage, 

4. Because it uses many adjectives to describe how Maggie feels and how the raven looks

5. These are the adjectives that are found in the paragraph, choose six to share with your group. 

-fascinated
-purple
-blue
-big
-thick
-polished
-ebony
-frightened
-silently
-black
-iridescent
-green

6. The author included this paragraph to allow the reader to be able to see the raven through the words she used.

Example 2

1.  pg.4 (end) pg. 5 line1&2

2.  At rest (first two words of paragraph) were switchblades ( last two).

3. What is this passage an example of? (metaphor)
4.  It is a metaphor because the author is comparing two things not using like or as.

What two things is the author comparing? (legs and switchblades)

5. What is a switchblade?  How does this relate to the mantis?  

Answer: A knife that springs open when the release button is touched.  

The mantis' legs are in a certain position waiting to strike, as soon as his brain gives the signal the legs (like a blade) are released and strike the prey.

6. This passage adds the comparison of a praying mantis to that of a switchblade for those readers who are not aware of how his legs work.

Example 3

1. pg.9 par. 2 

2. The fir______to her

3. This passage is an example of personification.

4.  This is a personification passage because the tree cannot whisper, it doesn't have a voice and it isn't human.

5.  How could the tree be whispering to Maggie?  

Answer:  It could be the thought that a tree understands your thoughts and the wind could be blowing through the leaves making it sound like the tree was whispering.

6.  The author includes this passage to help the reader understand just how naturalistic Maggie is.  That she can "hear" the trees talking to her.

Example 4

1.  pg.11 par.1

2.  They put_____balanced ecosystems

3.  This passage is an example of an informative passage.

4. This passage is informative because it tells you what a fairy garden is? 
Yellow-green moss, partridge berries in a large brandy glass and cover them tightly with plastic or glass.
5.Why does it work?
The plants breath in and out, make their own oxygen, carbon dioxide and rain.  They are a balanced ecosystem.

6.  This was included in the story to allow the reader to understand that nature can be fun, and that their are a lot of things that you can learn about nature.

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