Name ________________________________________ Date ______________________

Varying Perspectives of War

Mini Unit

“The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty

“The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

Various non-fiction articles of war

Varying Perspectives of War Mini Unit: Building Background Knowledge

Directions: Read the non-fiction article about war at your desk. Spend about 15 minutes performing a non-fiction annotation and discuss the perspective of war and the author’s purpose.

Title of Article _____________________________________ Author of Article ______________________

Mnemonic Non-Fiction Annotation Techniques

MI

L

T

V

A

N

So?

1. For each section of your reading, highlight or underline the main idea. Usually, this will be stated near the beginning or end. Sometimes it will be stated in both places. It may also be implied, in which case you should briefly note it. Next to the main idea, write MI.

2. For each paragraph, highlight or underline 2 – 4 lead words. These will usually be nouns, and they will be the topics of the important supporting evidence. By highlighting these words, you give your eyes and easy way to locate the main supporting points the writer makes.

3. If you see transition words, box them. These words often signal an important change in the argument, or they indicate an important conclusion.

4. Circle challenging vocabulary words, acronyms or allusions, even if you think you know them. If you are unsure of the meaning of these words or allusions, Google them, and in the margin write a note to yourself about their meaning.

5. Ask and argue. If a passage confuses you, write a “?” in the margin so that you remember to ask about it in class or to look it up on the internet. Also, if you disagree with an author, write your question in the margin. Ask questions to show that you are not just accepting what the writer says. “Where did he get this info?” or “Is this opinion supported by evidence?” are the kinds of skeptical questions you should habitually ask.

6. After reading each paragraph, scribble a quick note or word in the margin to remind yourself about the focus of the paragraph. (Sometimes you can get away with doing this for two paragraphs together.)

7. When you are done with the article, write one or two sentences describing the article’s reason for being. This is the “So what?” of the “Big Picture.” It is the author’s purpose for writing. Ask yourself, why did the authors bother to write this? What effect do they hope to have on the reader? Why does this matter? Write one or two sentences answering these questions.

Mnemonic: Milt Van So

Varying Perspectives of War Mini Unit: Building Background Knowledge

“The Sniper” Background Information

In 1919, the newly formed Irish Republican Army launched guerilla warfare during the Irish War of Independence to liberate Ireland from the British. Unable to contain the rebels, London agreed in the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty to create an Irish Free State. However, the agreement would recognize the Free State only as a dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Moreover, it would permit six counties in northern Ireland to withdraw from the Free State, allow the British to maintain ports in the south, and require the Free State to pay part of the debt Britain incurred in waging the war.

Consequently, not all Irishmen accepted the agreement, the provisions of which became effective in 1922. (The six northern counties seceded, as expected.) Once-united Irish fighters were now split into two factions—disgruntled IRA members and supporters of the Free State—and fought a civil war. O’Flaherty, himself a member of the IRA, centers his short story on a scene of fighting in Dublin in which an IRA sniper shoots at Free Staters from a rooftop.

Marking up the Text

You have been provided text of “The Sniper. Using a highlighter, mark up the text while you read. Making up the text while reading helps you to find the main ideas, keep up with the action, and interact with the story. Highlight each of the following aspects of the story as you read, then label them with the following codes:

MI- Main Idea

V- Vocabulary

PR-Prediction

PC- Personal Connection

D- Discovery

E- Tie to Essential Question

Essential Question: - Is it acceptable to kill someone who you know nothing about - in the name of war?

**You may find it helpful using a different color for each code while marking up the text.***

“The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty1. Author’s Purpose: entertain inform persuade describe explainWhy did the author write this?

2. Genre: ____________________________ Subgenre: ______________________________Ex: Nonfiction, fiction, or folklore Ex: Autobiography, science fiction, fable, informational writing, etc.

3. Narrator’s Point of View: ______________________________________________________1st-person, 2nd-person, 3rd-person objective, 3rd-person limited, or 3rd-person omniscient

4 & 5. Summarize the text: Five key events from beginning, middle, & end.

6. Exposition

A. Setting:__________________________________________________________________________When and where does the story take place?

B. Conflict: _________________________________________________________________________Describe the conflict in the story.

7. Rising Action: List some events that occur before the climax.

1. _______________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________________

8. Climax: The turning point

9. Falling Action: List some events that occur after the climax.

1. _______________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________

10. Resolution: When the conflict is solved

11. Theme: What is the moral and lesson learned?

12. Mood What was the mood in the story? __________________________________________________________________________________________Describe the location/setting. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________13. Figurative Language

Simile ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Metaphor ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Imagery _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Personification ___________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________

14. Symbolism

Do you think something in the story has a deeper meaning? If so, what?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________15. Is the story an example of Linear Plot or Non-Linear Plot

__________________________________________________________________________________________

16. Is the protagonist dynamic or static? __________________________________________________________________________________________

17. Identify examples of foreshadowing:

18. Identify examples of irony:

19. Identify examples of suspense:

20. Did you enjoy the story? Why or why not?

Varying Perspectives of War Mini Unit: Vocabulary Exercise One

Directions: insert the definition of each word in the table below. Find the sentence in the story and write the sentence in the box below. Using your context clues, write your educated guess of what the word means. Confirm your definition of the word by defining it using the margins of your textbook.

Vocabulary Word Sentence Context Guess Definition from “The Sniper”

Ascetic

Beleaguered

Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared.

annoyed Surrounded; besieged

Enveloped

Fanatic

Lodge

Spasmodically

Reel

Ruse

Remorse

Parapet

Varying Perspectives of War Mini Unit: Vocabulary Exercise Two

Directions: Use the following vocabulary words to create a sentence to demonstrate your understanding of the word.

1. Ascetic

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Beleaguered

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Enveloped

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Fanatic

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Lodge

__________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Spasmodically

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Reel

__________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Ruse

__________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Remorse

__________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Parapet

__________________________________________________________________________________________

What the poet saysFirst Reading: Read for the literal meaning, or what is “right there.”

What the poet doesSecond Reading: Annotate for the tools the poet uses. Be sure to identify the tone (of the poet and speaker) and mood of the poem

What the poet impliesFinal Reading: Draw conclusions/assertions about the effect of the tools used based on the poem (theme, character, etc.).

Due Sept. 15, 2014 “The Man He Killed” Three-Column Poetry Notes

Speaker and POV:

Situation:

Setting:

Character(s):

Conflict (internal and external):

The Man He Killedby Thomas Hardy

“Had he and I but metBy some old ancient inn,We should have set us down to wetRight many a nipperkin!

“But ranged as infantry,And staring face to face,I shot at him as he at me,And killed him in his place.

“I shot him dead because—Because he was my foe,Just so: my foe of course he was; That’s clear enough; although

“He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps, Off-hand like—just as I—Was out of work—had sold his traps—No other reason why.

“Yes, quaint and curious war is!You shoot a fellow downYou’d treat if met where any bar is,Or help to half-a-crown.”

Diction (strong word choice):

Images (sights, sounds, tastes, smells, etc.):

Details (It’s the little things…):

Figurative Language (simile, metaphor, personification, mood & tone, etc.):

What are some big or important ideas in this poem?

What is Thomas Hardy’s message about the nature a soldier’s experiences in war?

Short Analytical Response-Practice

How does the poem reveal the complexity of being a soldier? Support your answer with textual evidence.

Homework Pass Opportunity

Due September 17, 2014

Assume the role of the sniper. Write a letter home to you mother explaining what you have done.

Eliminate the final line of the story and have students write their own alternate ending.

Using any medium available to you create a visual representation of one scene from the story.

Research various songs of conflict that share similar emotions to the short story. Burn them onto a CD. Design a CD cover and on the insert outline your method and means of selection. Choose one song, copy its lyrics, an explain how it is relevant to the sniper

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________