Close Reading: The 3 Levels of Reading ✏ ⭐ ✏
Level 1 - Get The Gist ✅
What is the Main Idea of "The Tail"? The Main Idea of the tail is, A girl has to watch her brother, but when she breaks the rules he gets lost.
Write a 3 sentence summary of "The Tail." A girl is forced to watch her brother instead of doing what she wants. She breaks the rules and when she is mean to him he gets lost. She then finds him and learns that you never miss a tail until you almost lose it.
3 Things I found shocking or interesting. I found it shocking that she called him annoying and mean when she was really the one being mean. I also found it interesting that the "Savage" dog was actually her brother's friend and not a mean dog after all. It was also interesting that he took her so literally, and after he did what she said she went off on him.
2 questions about "The Tail"
1- What time period was this in? They clearly act differently from now, but I'm not sure when.
2- How would she act differently if her brother was of a different age? The story would most likely take a different turn and be less entertaining.
New Words - Stoop, Front Steps
Level 2- Dig a Little Deeper 💥
What is the Author's Purpose? The author's purpose in writing the story was to entertain you. I can prove this with 2 pieces of evidence from the text, such as: "We dashed across the street. Our block was empty. Yvonne ran ahead of us and didn’t stop until she reached her stoop. When I got to my stoop I expected to see Junior there, but no Junior." (Hansen 7) This piece of evidence has no purpose other than to entertain and make the reader want to read more, it has no educational value. Another piece of evidence is "I turned around. “If you’re scared, don’t come. Junior’s my only baby brother. Dea God,” I said out loud, “please let me find him. I will play any kind of game he wants. I’ll never yell at him again in my life!" (Hansen 9) This proves that it is to entertain because it is fiction and is about fictional characters that have no other purpose than to entertain or entrance the reader
How does the author feel about the subject or main idea of the text? The author wrote the story because she/he may have had a negative experience regarding a sibling that taught her a lesson that she wants to share through the form of a story.
3 examples of figurative language. " I broke the dish with a crash." (Hansen 1) this is onomatopoeia because it is the sound of the situation. "loud blast" (Hansen 3) This is onomatopoeia because it is a sound. " Ma will kill me" (Hansen 4) This is an example hyperbole because her mom wouldn't actually kill her she just may be in trouble.
The theme of "The Tail" is stated clearly in the article. It is said as "I found out that you never miss a tail until you almost lose it." This is the theme.
If I had to pick one word to describe the text, it would have to be value. I think this word reflects on the theme. It shows how in the story she was so mean to him, but then when he was lost she realized what she was missing.
Level 3 - Put it all together! 🖊
Make 3 inferences from the text and support them with evidence.
One Inference I could make was that their family was not very wealthy. I can prove this with the sentence from the text, "I decided that you’re old to watch Junior this summer because I’m going to start working again." (Hansen 1) This proves my point because she is having to work over the summer to get extra money.
Another Inference I was able to make was that this story took place in the '60s or '50s. I can prove this with text such as "practicing for the annual double-dutch contest, which we would definitely win: going to the roller skating rink, the swimming pool, the best, and sleeping as late in the morning as I wanted to." (Hansen 1) This proves my text because an average 13-year-old girl now, wouldn't look forward to going outside. (This is just one piece of evidence, there are many others in the text.)
My last inference was, I can make I inference that she was upset about babysitting Jr. I can prove this with this piece of evidence. "Shut up, Junior. I don’t feel like hearing about some television show. It’s too early in the morning.” Her tone implies that she is upset about babysitting him. (Hansen 2)
I can relate this text to Charlotte Doyle, (Last few chapters) Where her siblings were teasing her and making her feel unwelcome.
I can relate this text to my life because me and my sister are always fighting. I hate when I have to watch her because I want to do something else, just like Tasha in the story.
I can relate this text to others because I have seen people other than me fighting about their siblings. This could relate to any unpleasant experience that they may have had.
Written By: Jessa Usery
Story Used: The Tail by Joyce Hansen
Made for Mrs. Posey's English Class!