1. December 6, 2010 Reading: Unfamiliar Words Short Stories: “The Tell-Tale Heart”

2. Dealing with Unfamiliar Words All readers come across unfamiliar words when they read On first reading, if you understand the “gist” of what is being said, then try to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context (the words around them). On second reading, highlight important points, make notes, and look up unfamiliar words

3. Unfamiliar Words - Examples As we passed the rotting garbage, we tried covering our noses to keep out the vilestench. Vile (adj.) = terrible, really bad (evil) Stench (n.)= bad smell When his father asked, “And where do you think you’re going?” the teenager looked back at him sullenly. Sullen (adj.)= resentful, unsociable, sulky Sullenly (adv.)

4. Unfamiliar Words (Cont’d.) You can also figure out meaning by looking “inside” the word Look for familiar prefixes, suffixes, and roots Prefix: a word part (affix) added to the beginning of a root word to create a new meaning Suffix: an affix added to the end of a root word to create a new meaning Root: the basic form of the word

5. Unfamiliar Words - Example indeterminate (adj.) in = prefix that makes the root negative determine = root that means “to find facts about something” So, “indeterminate” probably means “impossible to know or find out” The store is closed for an indeterminate period. Haitians have an indeterminate future.

6. Unfamiliar Words - Example Naysayer (n.) nay = prefix, negative, usually means “no” Say = root, means to speak something er= suffix, shows someone who does something So, a “naysayer” is a person who . . . . . . says no to something; in other words, he or she speaks against something

7. Handout, Exercise 8.1 Use context and word form to help figure out the meaning of the underlined word. It was serendipity (n.) that I came across that article. I wasn’t even thinking of my research project when I found it, but it has just what I need. = lucky, happy coindence

8. Answers, Exercise 8.1 2. in conflict 3. on-time 4. awkward, difficult 5. generosity, unselfishness 6. shortened 7. hungry, starving 8. integrated, blended, merged 9. skilled movement 10. strengthen

9. Handout, Exercise 8.2 Use context and word form to help figure out the meaning of the underlined word. She thought that adults would behave better, but this class was as obstreperous as a bunch of preschoolers. well-motivated and on-task noisy and difficult to control bored and sleepy

10. Answers, Exercise 8.2 2. c) without energy or enthusiasm 3. a) everywhere 4. b) abandoned, not cared for 5. c) convincing 6. a) depressed 7. a) spit 8. c) talkative 9. a) too ready to believe things 10. b) not regular, not dependable 11. c) person who started something 12. b) loud

11. The Tell-Tale Heart Before Reading Short story – fiction What does the title suggest to you? What does “Tell-Tale” mean? revealing, giving a signal or clue We say “there was a tell-tale sign” How might a heart be revealing? Author: Edgar Allan Poe American, lived in the 1800s, known for writing “dark” stories and poems

12. The Tell-Tale Heart After Reading Briefly: Think about the title again. How does it relate to the story? Whose heart does it refer to? How does it reveal, give a signal, give a clue?

13. The Tell-Tale Heart In-class Activity /10 NO DICTIONARIES ALLOWED!!! 1. complete the following questions on the handout: Understanding the Words in the Story (Multiple Choice) /5 Check-up (Multiple Choice) /5 2. Refer to the Story to help you answer the questions. We will go over the answers together. Each question is worth half a mark (.5).

14. The Tell-Tale Heart Marking the In-class Activity Pass your work to the front of the room. I will redistribute the papers so you are marking a classmate’s work. Each question is worth half a mark (.5). Mark your classmates work honestly. It is not worth a lot of marks but will help me and you to know more about each student’s reading skills. Hand the marked work back to your classmate so they can see their score. Then hand it back to me.

15. The Tell-Tale Heart Understanding the Words in the Story (Multiple Choice) acute (adj.) b. sharp 2. conceived (v.) imagined 3. thrust (v.) b. poked (peeked, pushed) vexed (v.) b. irritated (annoyed) profound (adj.) b. highly intelligent

16. The Tell-Tale Heart 6. stifled (v.) a. smothered 7. awe (n.) c. wonder and fear 8. well up (v. – phrasal verb) come OR c. rise 9. distracted (v.) c. frightened 10. causeless (adj.) b. unfounded (without foundation, reason or cause)

17. The Tell-Tale Heart Check-up (Multiple Choice) 1. c. hearing 2. b. nervous 3. c. to get rid of an obsession 4. a. cleverness 5. b. fury 6. c. the beating of a human heart 7. a. the old man’s room 8. a. loud shriek 9. c. completely confident 10. c. hypocrisy

18. Homework For Wednesday Re-read “The Tell-Tale Heart” again on your own, paying attention to the character and key events. Now, you may use a dictionary to aid your understanding. Be prepared to discuss the story in more detail on Wednesday. For Monday Write a paragraph for the words from “The Tell-Tale Heart: Understanding the Story,” p. 144-145 (The underlined words in the short story) Due Monday, Dec. 13th/10 marks Make sure your sentences use the correct form of the word, and that they show the meaning of the word (as used in the story.