Homework Essay #1

IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 October 7, 2013

Homework

Essay #1

Learning something new can be a scary experience. One of the hardest things I’ve ever

had to do was learn how to swim. I was always afraid of the water, but I decided that swimming

was an important skill that I should learn. I also thought it would be good exercise and help me

to become physically stronger. What I didn’t realize was that learning to swim would also make

me a more confident person.

New situations always make me a bit nervous, and my first swimming lesson was no

exception. After I changed into my bathing suit in the locker room, I stood timidly by the side of

the pool waiting for the teacher and other students to show up. After a couple of minutes the

teacher came over. She smiled and introduced herself, and two more students joined us.

Although they were both older than me, they didn’t seem to be embarrassed about not knowing

how to swim. I began to feel more at ease.

We got into the pool, and the teacher had us put on brightly colored water wings to help

us stay afloat. One of the other students, May, had already taken the beginning class once before,

so she took a kickboard and went splashing off by herself. The other student, Jerry, and I were

told to hold on to the side of the pool and shown how to kick for the breaststroke. One by one,

the teacher had us hold on to a kickboard while she pulled it through the water and we kicked.

Pretty soon Jerry was off doing this by himself, traveling at a fast clip across the short end of the

pool.

Things were not quite that easy for me, but the teacher was very patient. After a few more

weeks, when I seemed to have caught on with my legs, she taught me the arm strokes. Now I had

two things to concentrate on, my arms and my legs. I felt hopelessly uncoordinated. Sooner than

I imagined, however, things began to feel “right” and I was able to swim. It was a wonderful

feeling - like flying, maybe - to be able to shoot across the water.

Learning to swim was not easy for me, but in the end my persistence paid off. Not only

did I learn how to swim and to conquer my fear of the water, but I also learned something about

learning. Now when I am faced with a new situation I am not so nervous. I may feel

uncomfortable to begin with, but I know that as I practice being in that situation and as my skills

get better, I will feel more and more comfortable. It is a wonderful, free feeling when you

achieve a goal you have set for yourself.1

1 http://cf.linnbenton.edu/artcom/english/fleminw/upload/Sample%20Narrative%20Essay.pdf

http://cf.linnbenton.edu/artcom/english/fleminw/upload/Sample%20Narrative%20Essay.pdf

Questions: Answer in complete sentences. Also, remember to use textual evidence to support

your answers.

1. What is the main idea of this essay?

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2. What is the author’s purpose for writing this essay?

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3. What are three things you notice about how this essay is written?

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2. _____________________________________________________________________

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3. _____________________________________________________________________

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Essay #2

It is curious [interesting] that, while swimming comes natural to most animals, men have

to learn to swim. Such animals as dogs, horses, deer, cattle, can swim when they first go into the

water; but a man will sink unless he has learnt the art.

And, when we consider [think about] how necessary it may be to most people at some

time in their lives to know how to swim, it is still more curious that few people take the trouble

to learn the art. It is even said that many sailors and fishermen, who are in daily risk of drowning,

are not swimmers.

Most landsmen [people who live & work on land] who are not swimmers, have rather a

dread of water, which perhaps deters [makes them change their mind] them from learning to

swim. Indeed there is a story of a man who said he would never go into the water until he had

learnt to swim!

But those who have learnt swimming in their childhood, get so used to being in deep

water that they have no fear of it at all. So all boys, and girls too, should be taught swimming; for

it is an art much more easily learnt in childhood than in a later life.

http://www.shareyouressays.com/3719/389-words-short-essay-on-swimming

A person who can swim has several advantages over his non- swimming fellows. The

most important, of course, is that he can save himself from drowning in cases of boat accidents

and shipwrecks.

Those “who go down to the sea in ships” and people who go out boating on rivers and

lakes, always run the risk of accidents from storms or collisions; and many have lost their lives

by drowning who could have saved themselves without much difficulty, if they had been able to

swim. So everyone ought to know how to swim.

Then a swimmer can often save the lives of others as well as his own. It is terrible to have

to watch a person drowning and be unable to save him, because one cannot swim oneself; and

many lives are lost because no swimmer is near to rescue them from drowning.

Apart from enabling [allowing] one to save life, swimming is a very healthy and pleasant

amusement, and an excellent form of exercise. In fact, medical men say it is the most perfect

form of physical exercise, as it brings into play all the muscles of the body.2

Questions: Answer in complete sentences. Also, remember to use textual evidence to support

your answers.

4. What is the main idea of this essay?

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________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5. What is the author’s purpose for writing this essay?

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. What are three things you notice about how this essay is written?

4. _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________

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6. _____________________________________________________________________

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2 http://www.shareyouressays.com/3719/389-words-short-essay-on-swimming

http://www.shareyouressays.com/3719/389-words-short-essay-on-swimming

IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 (Red) October 8, 2013

Directions: Read the sample paragraphs. Rewrite the paragraphs by adding descriptive details

Sample Paragraph #1

One day when I was in first grade, walking home, I found what I thought

was a very cold mouse, asleep.

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Sample Paragraph #2

I felt sorry for him and thought that if only I could get him warm, he would

wake up. I had never had a pet. My baby brother had just been born and was

something of a disappointment as a playmate.

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Sample Paragraph #3

I picked him up. At the time, I had not yet read Stuart Little; so I was not

expert at mouseology. I did realize that he was rather large for a mouse.

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IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 (Green) October 8, 2013


Sample Paragraph #1



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Sample Paragraph #2




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Sample Paragraph #3



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Sample Paragraph #4

I carried him home, and his tail stuck out. He looked vulnerable, and as I

walked, I began to think of names for him.

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Sample Paragraph #5

Warming him against my jacket didn’t waken him. Clearly my jacket sleeve

wasn’t warm enough. So when I entered the house, and heard my mother busy

upstairs with the baby, I turned on the oven. I knew enough to set it to a low

temperature so that it would warm and waken my mouse. Then I laid him inside

the oven.

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IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 (Blue) October 8, 2013


Sample Paragraph #1



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Sample Paragraph #2




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Sample Paragraph #3



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Sample Paragraph #4

I carried him home, and his tail stuck out. He looked vulnerable, and as I

walked, I began to think of names for him.

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Sample Paragraph #5

Warming him against my jacket didn’t waken him. Clearly my jacket sleeve

wasn’t warm enough. So when I entered the house, and heard my mother busy

upstairs with the baby, I turned on the oven. I knew enough to set it to a low

temperature so that it would warm and waken my mouse. Then I laid him inside

the oven.

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Sample Paragraph #6

I guess I got busy with my paper dolls and forgot to check on him for a

while. I don’t remember, exactly. But that would explain why it was my mother

who first notice that there was something baking.

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Sample Paragraph #7

I always felt that if I had only had a chance to explain, and to prepare her a

bit, it wouldn’t have been such a surprise to her when she opened the oven that

day. I felt that if she had just looked at face, instead of screaming at me, for no

reason whatsoever – the whole incident would have been handled better.

I have always felt that she overreacted.

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IMLCS Name: __________________________


Porch Lies

Textual Evidence is words used from a text to prove or support a statement (an idea).

Classwork

Directions: After reading “When Pete Bruce Came to Town” and “Change” find three pieces of

textual evidence to prove why these stories are narratives. Be sure to include page numbers.

“When Pete Bruce Came to Town”

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #1

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #2

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #3

“Change”

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #1

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #2

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #3

IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 (Green) October 9, 2013

Porch Lies


Classwork

Directions: After reading “When Pete Bruce Came to Town” and “Change” find three pieces of


Write a response to explain how your textual evidence proves that the story is a narrative.


TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #1

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #2

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #3

Response #1 Response #2 Response #3

“Change”

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #1

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #2

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #3


IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 (Blue) October 9, 2013

Porch Lies


Classwork

Directions: After reading “When Pete Bruce Came to Town” and “Change” find five pieces of


Write a response to explain how your textual evidence proves that the story is a narrative.


TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #1

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #2

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #3


Textual Evidence #4

Textual Evidence #5

Response #4 Response #5

“Change”

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #1

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #2

TEXTUAL EVIDENCE #3


Textual Evidence #4

Textual Evidence #5

Response #4 Response #5

IMLCS Name: __________________________

ELA 3 (Green, Blue) October 9, 2013

Personal Narrative Outline

Homework

Directions: Complete this outline. You will use these responses when writing the first draft of

your narrative. First draft is due Tuesday (10/8/13)

Have you ever played a trick on someone? Or, have you ever had a trick played on you?

How will you begin your narrative?

IMLCS Name: __________________________


Personal Narrative Outline

Homework

Directions: Complete this outline. You will use these responses when writing the first draft of

your narrative. First draft is due Tuesday (10/8/13).


IMLCS Name: __________________________


Personal Narrative

Techniques That Will Hook Your Readers

1. Dialogue

“ Hurry or you’ll be late!” called my mother from the bottom of the stairs.

“Today of all days you want to be on time.” If I had only know what that day

would bring, I would have stayed in bed.

2. A Question

Have you ever had a day when you wished you had stayed in bed? As I

rushed to catch the bus on what seemed to be a perfectly normal day I had no idea

what was ahead of me.

3. A Vivid Description

The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward the waiting yellow school

bus. As I nestled into the worn leather seat I was greeted by the friendly voices of

other excited children. The look on my face was one of confidence and

contentment. With a jerk the bus rumbled down the road and I was on my way into

one of the worst days of my life.

4. An Interesting Fact

Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It can cause their brains to

explode and their heart to stop dead still. These facts raced through my mind as I

stood dumbfounded in front of my fourth grade classmates. I wish I had stayed in

bed!

5. Sound Effects

“Buzzzzzz!” The sound of my alarm clock droned in my ears as I struggled

to come awake. With a start I sat straight up in my bed. This was my big day and I

had to be on time.

Homework:

Work on the first draft of your narrative essay. First Draft is due Tuesday (10/8/12)

IMLCS Name: __________________________


Personal Narrative

Writing an introduction


IMLCS Name: __________________________


Narratives

Told Through Various Genres

A NARRATIVE POEM tells a story and can be about anything. Sometimes the poem's lines have

a rhyming pattern. Sometimes they don't rhyme at all.

Jimmy Goes to the City by Arthur Read

Jimmy was a happy ape Until some hunters caught him He liked the jungle better than The city where they brought him The city was louder The city was meaner Even the dirt in the jungle was cleaner So Jimmy made a daring escape! The hunters were suddenly minus one ape! He climbed the tallest building Because from there he'd see How far away the jungle was From the middle of the city. Jimmy jumped into a passing plane But the pilot didn't wait for him to explain Jimmy flew back to the jungle And told his ape friends in their lair "The city's okay for a visit But you couldn't make me live there."

http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/poetry/narrative.html

Documents

Homework Essay #1