4th grade Comprehension of Literary Texts/Literary Non-fiction

TEK 4.7A Identify similarities and differences between the events and characters' experiences in a fictional work and the actual events and experiences described in an author’s biography or autobiography

ENGAGE

Read fictional pieces by the author. Make some

inferences about the author.

ENGAGE

Read fictional pieces by the author. Make some

inferences about the author.

Notice & Discuss:•What can you tell about the author?•What do you think the author’s interests are?

Why?•Where might the author get his/her ideas

from? What makes you think this?•Does this remind you of anything else you’ve

read or seen? What? How?

EXPLORE/EXPLAIN 1Begin filling in actual events & characters’experiences on a T-chart (to compare the

fictionstory to the biography/autobiography).

Events & Character Experiences in Nettie Jo’s Friends

Actual Events & Experiences of Patricia McKissack

i.e. --imagining talking to animals--excited about being in a wedding

EXPLORE/EXPLAIN 2

Read the author’sautobiography orBiographies about

theauthor. Fill in the“actual events” partof the comparisonchart.

EXPLORE/EXPLAIN 2Read the author’s autobiography or

biographiesabout the author. Fill in the “actual events”

partof the comparison chart.

Events & Character Experiences in Nettie Jo’s Friends

Actual Events & Experiences of Patricia McKissack

i.e. --imagining talking to animals--excited about being in a wedding

i.e. --teacher told her she had a wonderful imagination--told a story about a mouse & rabbit touring her around

ELABORATEWrite a concluding statement or reflectionstatement, based on the information yougathered in your chart.

Events & Character Experiences in Nettie Jo’s Friends

Actual Events & Experiences of Patricia McKissack

i.e. --imagining talking to animals--excited about being in a wedding

i.e. --teacher told her she had a wonderful imagination--told a story about a mouse & rabbit touring her around

Conclusion Statement: (what is similar, different, what do you notice, what are you thinking now?) i.e. McKissack likes using her imagination. She probably got some of her ideas from stories her father told her.

EVALUATE

Reader’s Response

Kilgo’s Question Stems:

•What do the characters in ________ and have ___________ have in common?

•A similarity in events between the two selections is ______________.

•In what way are ____________’s experiences different about his/her life than in the biography he/she wrote?

RESOURCES!!

Jane YolenPatricia PolaccoCynthia RylantSeymour SimonPaul GobleEve BuntingLois Ehlert

Richard C. Owens PublishersMeet the Authors Serieshttp://www.rcowen.com/

RESOURCES!The Children’s Literature Web Guide“Authors on the Web” (link)http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/

index.html

For example:http://www.memfox.net/welcome.html

**For biographies & autobiographies about authors, search iBistro, key word: authors**