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©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS. PAGE 1 OF 2 Making Inferences Making an inference means using clues from the text to figure out something the author doesn’t tell you directly. Directions: Answer the questions or follow the directions that appear in italics to fill in what’s missing from the chart. We completed the first row for you. Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________ Core Skills Workout: Making Inferences FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-23 February 2017 ® THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE Clues Inference 1. “I’d never met a blind person before. The thought of talking to Miss Benson scared me.” (p. 19) “. . . but her [Miss Benson’s] voice didn’t sound blind. I don’t know what I mean by that exactly, except that she didn’t sound like she was missing anything at all.” (p. 20) What do these lines reveal about Heather’s ideas about people who are visually impaired? These lines reveal that Heather had some misconceptions about people who are visually impaired. She expected Miss Benson to be strange in some way and was surprised when Miss Benson was just a person like anyone else. 2. Find two lines that support the inference on the right. Heather is competitive. 3. Miss Benson pushed the cookies toward us again. Risa took another one and put it in her pocket too.” (p. 20) Heather brags about visiting Disney World. She sees Risa’s reaction and says, “I could tell by how Risa looked at me that she’d never been near a place like Disney World and that she hated me for saying I’d been there.” (p. 20) What can you infer about Risa’s family from these passages?

Transcript of THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE Name: Date: Making … · THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE ©2017 BY...

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©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS. PAGE 1 OF 2

Making InferencesMaking an inference means using clues from the text to figure out something the author doesn’t tell you directly.

Directions: Answer the questions or follow the directions that appear in italics to fill in what’s missing from the chart. We completed the first row for you.

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Core Skills Workout: Making InferencesFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-23

February 2017®

THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE

Clues Inference1. “I’d never met a blind person before. The

thought of talking to Miss Benson scared me.” (p. 19)

“. . . but her [Miss Benson’s] voice didn’t sound blind. I don’t know what I mean by that exactly, except that she didn’t sound like she was missing anything at all.” (p. 20)

What do these lines reveal about Heather’s ideas about people who are visually impaired? These lines reveal that Heather had some misconceptions about people who are visually impaired. She expected Miss Benson to be strange in some way and was surprised when Miss Benson was just a person like anyone else.

2. Find two lines that support the inference on the right.

Heather is competitive.

3. “Miss Benson pushed the cookies toward us again. Risa took another one and put it in her pocket too.” (p. 20)

Heather brags about visiting Disney World. She sees Risa’s reaction and says, “I could tell by how Risa looked at me that she’d never been near a place like Disney World and that she hated me for saying I’d been there.” (p. 20)

What can you infer about Risa’s family from these passages?

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Core Skills Workout: Making InferencesFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-23

February 2017

Clues Inference4. After Heather can’t find the book she’d hidden

in Miss Benson’s wastebasket, Heather says, “I read a few poems while this weight in the pit of my stomach kept getting heavier.” (p. 22)

What does this line reveal about how Heather was feeling about the disappearance of Miss Benson’s book?

5. Find two moments in the story that support the inference on the right.

Risa is embarrassed that she cannot read well.

6. “ ‘Here,’ ” I said. “ ‘Let me take him.’ ” I lifted the baby away from her, feeling how hot he was.” (p. 23)

Why does Heather offer to take the baby from Risa?

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We often talk about tone as the author’s attitude either toward the subject he or she is writing about or toward the reader. In a work of fiction, we can also talk about the tone of the character who is narrating the story. Words that could describe tone include doubtful, humorous, gleeful, serious, and questioning. Tone is conveyed through the author’s or narrator’s word

choice, the information included, and how the text is organized.

What’s the Tone?

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Core Skills Workout: Tone-HL FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18–23

February 2017®

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©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS. PAGE 1 OF 2

In this activity, you will analyze Heather’s tone. (Heather is the narrator.)

First, read this passage from page 20.

Miss Benson led the way, one hand trailing lightly across the furniture she passed. “I hope you don’t mind the

kitchen,” she called back. “It’s the cheeriest place.” The kitchen was cheery. The sun was spread out across a table

made out of golden wood, and in the middle sat a pitcher of lemonade and a big blue plate heaped with oatmeal-

raisin cookies. There were glasses too. Just two of them.

“Help yourselves, girls,” Miss Benson told us. “I made them for you.” It was good she extended the invitation,

because Risa already had a cookie in her hand.

Miss Benson went to the cupboard and got another glass and began to pour lemonade for everyone. She stopped

pouring before she overflowed the glasses.

I expected Risa to gobble her cookie, but she took a few nibbles, then tucked the rest in her pocket.

“Tell me about yourselves, girls,” Miss Benson said, sitting across from us at the table, and before I could open my

mouth, Risa was off and running. She told about her three little brothers—there was a baby I hadn’t seen—and how

her mom had moved to Minnesota for a better job, only Risa didn’t like her mom’s job because the boss wouldn’t let

her take calls from her children when she was at work.

I told Miss Benson how many badges I’d earned and how my parents and I had gone to Disney World over spring

break. I could tell by how Risa looked at me that she’d never been near a place like Disney World and that she hated

me for saying I’d been there. But what was I supposed to do? It was the truth.

Miss Benson pushed the cookies toward us again. Risa took another one and put it in her pocket too. I figured she

must be stashing them for her snotty-nosed brothers, and I was almost impressed.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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Core Skills Workout: Tone-HL FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18–23

February 2017

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A. In paragraph 2, Heather says, “It was good she extended the invitation, because Risa already had a cookie in her hand.” What is Heather’s tone in this line?

a. impressed b. critical c. fearful d. understanding

B. Briefly explain your answer.

2.

A. In paragraph 5, Heather says, “. . . before I could open my mouth, Risa was off and running.” On the line, write a word to describe Heather’s tone.

______________________

B. Briefly explain your answer.

3.

A. In paragraph 6, Heather says, “I could tell by how Risa looked at me that she’d never been near a place like Disney World and that she hated me for saying I’d been there. But what was I supposed to do? It was the truth.” On the line, write one or two words to describe Heather’s tone.

______________________

B. Briefly explain your answer.

4.

A. At the end of paragraph 1, Heather says, “There were glasses too. Just two of them.” In this comment, Heather’s tone is resentful.

B. Choose the reason that best explains why Heather sounds resentful in these lines.

a. Heather sounds resentful because by pointing out that Miss Benson had set out only two glasses, Heather is criticizing Miss Benson for not knowing that Risa would be there.

b. Heather sounds resentful because by pointing out that Miss Benson had set out only two glasses, Heather is emphasizing that Risa was not supposed to be there. Heather sounds annoyed and grouchy about Risa’s presence.

c. Heather sounds resentful because she was upset that there weren’t enough glasses.

1.

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We often talk about tone as the author’s attitude either toward the subject he or she is writing about or toward the reader. In a work of fiction, we can also talk about the tone of the character who is narrating the story. Words that could describe tone include doubtful, humorous, gleeful, serious, and questioning. Tone is conveyed through the author’s or narrator’s word

choice, the information included, and how the text is organized.

What’s the Tone?

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Core Skills Workout: Tone-LL FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18–23

February 2017®

THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE

©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS. PAGE 1 OF 3

In this activity, you will analyze Heather’s tone. (Heather is the narrator.)

First, read this passage from page 20:

Miss Benson led the way, one hand trailing lightly across the furniture she passed. “I hope you don’t mind the

kitchen,” she called back. “It’s the cheeriest place.” The kitchen was cheery. The sun was spread out across a table

made out of golden wood, and in the middle sat a pitcher of lemonade and a big blue plate heaped with oatmeal-

raisin cookies. There were glasses too. Just two of them.

“Help yourselves, girls,” Miss Benson told us. “I made them for you.” It was good she extended the invitation,

because Risa already had a cookie in her hand.

Miss Benson went to the cupboard and got another glass and began to pour lemonade for everyone. She stopped

pouring before she overflowed the glasses.

I expected Risa to gobble her cookie, but she took a few nibbles, then tucked the rest in her pocket.

“Tell me about yourselves, girls,” Miss Benson said, sitting across from us at the table, and before I could open my

mouth, Risa was off and running. She told about her three little brothers—there was a baby I hadn’t seen—and how

her mom had moved to Minnesota for a better job, only Risa didn’t like her mom’s job because the boss wouldn’t let

her take calls from her children when she was at work.

I told Miss Benson how many badges I’d earned and how my parents and I had gone to Disney World over spring

break. I could tell by how Risa looked at me that she’d never been near a place like Disney World and that she hated

me for saying I’d been there. But what was I supposed to do? It was the truth.

Miss Benson pushed the cookies toward us again. Risa took another one and put it in her pocket too. I figured she

must be stashing them for her snotty-nosed brothers, and I was almost impressed.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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Core Skills Workout: Tone-LL FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18–23

February 2017

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A. In paragraph 2, Heather says, “It was good she extended the invitation, because Risa already had a cookie in her hand.” In this line, Heather’s tone is critical.

B. Complete the sentence to explain why Heather sounds critical in this line.

Heather sounds critical because by remarking on the fact that Risa took a cookie before it was offered to her, Heather is suggesting that Risa is _____________________________________________________.

2.

A. At the end of paragraph 1, Heather says, “There were glasses too. Just two of them.” In this comment, Heather’s tone is resentful. (If you are resentful, you feel anger or displeasure at something you see as a wrong, an insult, or an injury.)

B. Choose the reason that explains why Heather sounds resentful in these lines.

a. Heather sounds resentful because by pointing out that Miss Benson had set out only two glasses, Heather is criticizing Miss Benson for not knowing that Risa would also be there.

b. Heather sounds resentful because by pointing out that Miss Benson had set out only two glasses, Heather is emphasizing that Risa was not supposed to be there. Heather sounds annoyed and grouchy about Risa’s presence.

1.

A. In paragraph 5, Heather says, “ . . . before I could open my mouth, Risa was off and running.”

Choose the word that best describes Heather’s tone.

a. impressed b. joyful c. fearful d. annoyed

B. Complete the sentence to explain your answer.

Heather sounds ____________ because _________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.

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Core Skills Workout: Tone-LL FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18–23

February 2017

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A. In paragraph 6, Heather says, “I could tell by how Risa looked at me that she’d never

been near a place like Disney World and that she hated me for saying I’d been there.

But what was I supposed to do? It was the truth.”

On the line, write a word to describe Heather’s tone. ______________________

B. Complete the sentence to explain your answer.

Heather sounds ____________ because _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.

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Identifying Tone

Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject matter or toward the reader or audience. Words that could describe tone include doubtful, humorous, sarcastic, serious, and outraged. Tone is conveyed through the author’s word choices and the details that he or she includes. A text may have more than one tone.

HINT: Keep in mind that in a work of fiction, tone is the author’s attitude, and not necessarily the attitude of the story’s narrator. Ask yourself, “How does the author feel about what he or she is writing about?”

Core Skills Workout REFERENCE: Tone

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THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE

©2014 by ScHolASTIc INc. TeAcHerS mAy projecT or mAKe copIeS of THIS pAge To dISTrIbuTe To STudeNTS.

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Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________

REFERENCE: Tone

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Tone WordsTone is the author’s attitude toward the subject matter or toward the reader or audience.

There are many different words that you can use to describe an author’s tone. Here are some to inspire you.

POSITIVE TONE WORDS

admiring

adoring

affectionate

amused

appreciative

approving

celebratory

cheerful

comforting

comic

compassionate

complimentary

confident

contented

earnest

elated

empathetic

encouraging

excited

facetious

forthright

friendly

funny

gleeful

gushing

happy

hopeful

humorous

interested

jovial

light

lively

modest

nostalgic

optimistic

passionate

playful

pleasant

proud

reassuring

respectful

romantic

sentimental

silly

sympathetic

tender

whimsical

wistful

worshipful

zealous

angry

annoyed

biting

bitter

blunt

cold

conceited

condescending

confused

curt

cynical

depressed

derogatory

despairing

desperate

disappointed

disliking

disrespectful

doubtful

enraged

fearful

flippant

forceful

foreboding

frustrated

furious

gloomy

grave

grim

harsh

haughty

hostile

impatient

melancholy

mocking

mournful

offended

ominous

outraged

pessimistic

sarcastic

scornful

selfish

skeptical

sly

somber

stern

suspicious

uneasy

worried

ambiguous

ambivalent

casual

commanding

conversational

detached

direct

indifferent

introspective

neutral

pensive

questioning

reflective

scholarly

serious

solemn

straightforward

speculative

uncertain

unconcerned

NEGATIVE TONE WORDSNEUTRAL TONE WORDS

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Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Analyzing CharacterFICTION: “The Good Deed” and

“Failures of Kindness,” pages 18-24February 2017®

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©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.

Failures and Successes of Kindness

PAGE 1 OF 2

Directions: Read “The Good Deed” by Marion Dane Bauer and “Failures of Kindness” by George Saunders. Then complete the activity below, which will prepare you to answer the writing prompt on page 24.

George Saunders writes, “Each of us is born with built-in confusions.” What does he mean? What is a “built-in confusion”?

1

Here is the first “built-in confusion” Saunders names:

“We’re central to the universe (that is, our personal story is the main and most interesting story, the only story).”

Explain what you think Saunders means.

Explain how this idea applies to Heather. How does this “built-in confusion” lead her to a failure of kindness? Use text evidence to support your answer.

2

A

B

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Analyzing CharacterFICTION: “The Good Deed” and

“Failures of Kindness,” pages 18-24February 2017

©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS. PAGE 2 OF 2

Here is the second “built-in confusion” Saunders names:

“We’re separate from the universe (there’s US and then, out there, all that other junk—dogs and swing sets, and low-hanging clouds and, you know, other people).”

Explain what you think Saunders means.

Explain how this idea applies to Heather. How does this “built-in confusion” lead her to a failure of kindness? Use text evidence to support your answer.

3

A

B

How does Heather overcome the built-in confusions that Saunders names? What act of kindness does she perform?

4

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Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Close Reading FICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017®

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©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.

Close-Reading Questions “Failures of Kindness”

1. Saunders says that he regrets the moments “when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.” How does he wish he had responded in these moments? (inference)

2. Saunders says, “Each of us is born with built-in confusions.” Why does he call the beliefs that he names “confusions”? (author’s craft)

3. Saunders elaborates on one “confusion” by saying: “. . . there’s US and then, out there, all that other junk—dogs and swing sets and low-hanging clouds and, you know, other people.” What point is he making? (key ideas, text structure)

4. The excerpt ends with a question. How would you answer it? (critical thinking)

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Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Critical ThinkingFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017®

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Critical-Thinking Questions “The Good Deed” and “Failures of Kindness”

1. Compare and contrast George Saunders’s relationship with the shy girl with Heather’s relationship with Risa.

2. Consider what Saunders says about our “built-in confusions.” Did Heather have these confusions? Explain.

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ScholaStic sCOPE activity

Diy vocabularyWelcome to do-it-yourself vocabulary! We’re leaving it to you to teach yourself the meanings of new words you encounter in a Scope article or story.

Directions: First, in the space provided, write the name of the article or story you are working on. Then find three to seven words in that article or story that are new to you, or whose meanings you are not sure about. Write each word in one of the gray tabs, followed by the page number where it appears. Then write what you think the word means, based on context clues. After that, look up the word in a dictionary and write down its dictionary definition. Finally, use the word in a sentence.

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®

THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINEName: ________________________________________________________ Date: ______________

Skill: vocabulary acquisition, page 1 of 4

article or Story:

What I think the word means, based on context clues:

Dictionary definition:

Example sentence:

page:

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ScholaStic sCOPE activity

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Skill: vocabulary acquisition, page 2 of 4

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ScholaStic sCOPE activity

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ScholaStic sCOPE activity

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What I think the word means, based on context clues:

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Assessment–HLFiction, pages 18-23

February 2017

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

®

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“The Good Deed” Quiz

1. Which words BEST describe Heather’s attitude about reading to Miss Benson at the beginning of the story?

A comfortable and enthusiastic

B upset but understanding

C curious and excited

D nervous but determined

2. Which line from the story supports your answer to question 1?

A “I didn’t know whether to be annoyed at her for being so pushy or relieved that I didn’t have to go in alone.” (p. 19)

B “The thought of talking to Miss Benson scared me.” (p. 19)

C “I had the most [badges] of anyone in the troop, and I wasn’t about to let either of them get ahead of me.” (p. 19)

D A, B, and C

3. On page 22, Heather says, “The space left behind when I took Stories That Never Grow Old was still there, empty, accusing.” What can you infer from this statement about how Heather felt?

A She was confused about where the book was.

B She felt guilty for hiding the book.

C She was relieved that the book was not there.

D She was happy that she picked a good hiding place for the book.

4. Which statement describes Heather’s feelings at the end of the story?

A aware of how she misjudged and mistreated Risa

B confused about Risa stealing the book

C fearful about returning the book to Miss Benson

D excited about getting her merit badge

5. Which pair of lines from pages 22-23 BEST support your answer to question 5?

A “I tried another attack” and “How come you went off and left your brothers?”

B “I knew that it was me—snotty me—who’d kept her from reading out loud before” and “Something deep inside my chest loosened a bit.”

C “Where did you find it?’ I demanded” and “Did you tell her?”

D “She’s got something of mine” and “I snatched up the book.”

6. When George Saunders says, “As a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder,” he means

A being kinder is a worthy goal.

B there are better goals you could set than being kinder.

C it is not important to set goals in life.

D being kinder is a poor goal.

Directions: Read “The Good Deed.” Then answer the questions below.

Directions: Write your answers to the questions below on the back of this paper or type them up on a computer.

Constructed-Response Questions

7. George Saunders writes that he regrets the moments of his life that were “failures of kindness.” What was Heather’s failure of kindness? Use text evidence to support your answer.

8. A good deed is an act that benefits someone else— but people often reap personal benefits from completing a good deed too. Did Heather’s good deed benefit her? Explain.

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Assessment–LLFiction, pages 18-23

February 2017

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

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“The Good Deed” Quiz

1. Which word BEST describes Heather’s attitude about reading to Miss Benson at the beginning of the story?

A angry

B joyful

C confused

Dnervous

2. Which line from the story provides the BEST evidence for your answer to question 1?

A “ ‘She’s sight-impaired, you know.’ ” (p. 19)

B “She lived in the apartment building next to the Piggly Wiggly, a few blocks from my house.” (p. 19)

C “It would have sounded dumb to say, ‘I’m a Girl Scout, and she’s my good deed for the summer.’ ” (p. 19)

D “The thought of talking to Miss Benson scared me.” (p. 19)

3. On page 20, Heather says that Miss Benson’s voice “had a smile in it.” What does Heather mean?

A Miss Benson was laughing when she spoke.

B Miss Benson’s voice was friendly and warm.

C She could tell Miss Benson was joking.

D Miss Benson’s voice was unkind.

4. At the end of the story, how does Heather feel about how she has treated Risa?

A regretful

B calm

C proud

D confused

5. Which line BEST supports your answer to question 5?

A “ ‘How come you went off and left your brothers?’ ” (p. 23)

B “I knew it was me–snotty me–who’d kept her from reading out loud before.” (p. 23)

C “ ‘She’s got something of mine.’ ” (p. 22)

D “I snatched up the book.” (p. 22)

6. When George Saunders says, “As a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder,” he means

A being kinder is a worthy goal.

B there are better goals you could set than being kinder.

C it is not important to set goals in life.

D being kinder is a poor goal.

Directions: Read “The Good Deed.” Then answer the questions below.

Directions: Write your answers to the questions below on the back of this paper or type them up on a computer.

Constructed-Response Questions

7. George Saunders writes that he regrets the moments of his life that were “failures of kindness.” What was Heather’s failure of kindness? Use text evidence to support your answer.

8. How do Heather’s feelings towards Risa change over the course of the story? What causes them to change? Support your answer with text evidence.

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PAGE 1 OF 3

Literary Elements and DevicesIdentifying the basic elements of a literary work can help you understand it better.

Use this activity to help you understand “The Good Deed.” See Scope’s “Glossary of Literary Terms” for definitions of the words that appear in bold.

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Literary Elements and Devices-HLFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017®

THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE

©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.

Section 1: Characters1. For the characters of Heather, Risa, and Miss Benson: (1) decide whether the character is major or minor;

(2) briefly describe the character, including her appearance, personality, and background; and (3) decide

whether the character is static or dynamic and explain why.

Character Major or Minor Description Static or

Dynamic I think so because

Heather

n major

nminor

nstatic

ndynamic

Risa

n major

nminor

nstatic

ndynamic

Miss Benson

n major

nminor

nstatic

ndynamic

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2. Indirect characterization is when the author shows the reader what a character is like through the character’s

looks, actions, words, thoughts, or effect on other characters.

A. Give an example of indirect characterization of Heather.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Give an example of indirect characterization of Risa.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 2: Point of View

3. A. From which point of view is “The Good Deed” told? Check one:

first person third-person omniscient

B. How do you know? Support your answer with text evidence.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. How does the point of view the author chose add to the story?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Literary Elements and Devices-HLFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017

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Literary Elements and Devices-HLFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017

Section 3: Figurative Language

4. A simile is a comparison that uses like or as to compare two unlike things and highlights a special quality of

one of those things. Identify one simile in the story and explain what it is being used to highlight.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 4: Theme

5. One theme of “A Good Deed” is the importance of kindness. Explain how this theme develops over the course

of the story, using details from the text to support your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PAGE 1 OF 3

Literary Elements and DevicesIdentifying the basic elements of a literary work can help you understand it better.

Use this activity to help you understand “The Good Deed.” See Scope’s “Glossary of Literary Terms” for definitions of the words that appear in bold.

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Literary Elements and Devices-LLFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017®

THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE

©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.

Section 1: Characters1. Read the example character analysis we’ve provided for the character of Heather. Then for the characters of

Risa and Miss Benson: (1) decide whether the character is major or minor; (2) briefly describe the character,

including her appearance, personality, and background; and (3) decide whether the character is static or

dynamic and explain why.

Character Major or Minor Description Static or

Dynamic I think so because

Heather

n major

nminor

Heather is a young girl with

green eyes, freckles, and hair

the color of taffy. She is a Girl

Scout who is completing a

“good deed” to earn a merit

badge. She is judgmental and

unkind to Risa, who she views

as an obstacle.

nstatic

ndynamic

Risa

n major

nminor

nstatic

ndynamic

Miss Benson

n major

nminor

nstatic

ndynamic

a

a

Heather undergoes a significant

change by the end of the story.

She begins to understand

Risa’s life and the burdens Risa

struggles with. Heather realizes

how unkind she has been and

begins to treat Risa as a friend.

Here’s the example!

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2. In indirect characterization, the author shows the reader what a character is like through the character’s

looks, actions, words, thoughts, and effect on other characters. For example:

A. On page 19, Heather says, “ ‘I’m visiting Miss Benson,’ I told her, which was perfectly obvious.” What does

this line reveal about Heather?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. On page 21, Heather says, “But on my way out, I noticed that the blooms on the lilac bushes were crisp

brown, the color of tea.” However, at Miss Benson’s apartment Risa described them as shimmery silver,

purple, and green. What does this reveal about Risa?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 2: Point of View

3. A. From which point of view is “The Good Deed” told? Check one:

first person (the narrator is a character in the story who describes things from his or her own perspective

and refers to himself or herself as “I”)

third-person omniscient (the narrator is not one of the characters and is able to describe the

experiences and thoughts of every character in the story)

B. How do you know? Support your answer with text evidence.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. What does the point of view the author chose add to the story?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Literary Elements and Devices-LLFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017

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Section 3: Figurative Language

4. A simile is a comparison that uses like or as to compare two unlike things and highlights a special quality of

one of those things.

A. Which of the following lines from the story contains a simile?

A “When I got to the bookshelf, I stared at the space where the book had stood.” (p. 21)

B “It sounded like the beginnings of World War III.” (p. 19)

C “Before I got around to knocking, the door across the hall popped open and this girl stuck her head out.”

(p. 19)

B. What is the simile you chose in part A being used to highlight or explain?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 4: Theme

5. A theme (a story’s main message or moral) of “A Good Deed” is the importance of kindness. How does what

happens to Heather demonstrate this theme? Use details from the text to support your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Literary Elements and Devices-LLFICTION: “The Good Deed,” pages 18-24

February 2017

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WRITING CONTEST ENTRY FORM

My name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

My home phone number: _____________________ My grade: ________________________________________

My teacher’s name: _______________________________ My teacher’s e-mail: _____________________________

School name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

School address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________________________________ State: ___________________ ZIP: ___________________

School phone number: _______________________________________________________________________________

My parent or legal guardian consents to my participation in this contest.Parent’s or legal guardian’s signature: ________________________________________________________________

Good Deed ContestHow do George Saunders’s ideas about kindness apply to Heather? Explain

how Heather fails to be kind as well as how she succeeds. Use text evidence. Five winners will get Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead.

©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.

a a clearly stated central idea

a use of supporting evidence a good organization and transitions

a grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Entries will be judged on:

Note: Scope does not accept Google Docs. If you are e-mailing your entry, please send a

.pdf or .doc file.

Include this form with your written entry and send both to: [email protected] or mail them to: Good Deed Contest, c/o Scope, P.O. Box 712, New York, NY 10013-0712

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY March 15, 2017!

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