Sanctuary School Se
Before Reading
The Sanctuary of School
Essay by Lynda Barry
Why do we need
SCHOOLS?
READING 9 Analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about the author’s purpose in cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts. 11 Analyze, make inferences, and draw conclusions about persuasive text. RC-8(E)
Paraphrase texts in ways that maintain meaning and logical order within a text and across texts
Traditionally, a school’s most basic function was to teach the “three Rs”: reading, writing, and ’rithmetic. More recently, Bill Gates, founder of the Microsoft Corporation, suggested that today’s schools need to focus on three new “Rs”: rigor, relevance, and relationships. In the essay you’re about to read, Lynda Barry describes how the relationships made all the difference in her life.
DISCUSS With a small group, discuss what you think are a school’s three most important tasks. Write them down and share them with your class. How many ideas have to do with the classroom and lessons?
How many are tied to something less academic?
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2/15/09 12:32:58 PM
Meet the Author elements of nonfiction: author’s purpose
Writers usually have one or more purposes when they sit down to write, and they carefully select strategies to achieve these purposes. In this essay, Lynda Barry’s purpose is to persuade us to value and support public schools. As you read, analyze the way that Barry uses a personal experience from her childhood to make her larger point. Pay attention to the effect that her words, details, and images have on you.
reading skill: identify cause and effect
A cause is an event or action that directly results in another event. An effect is the direct outcome of an event or action.
For example, if your school bus gets a flat tire, that could be the cause of your being late for school. Being late is the effect.
Sometimes signal words will alert you to causes (because, since) and effects (as a result, therefore). Other times, you’ll have
The Sanctuary of School
Essay by Lynda Barry
Why do we need
SCHOOLS?
READING 9 Analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about the author’s purpose in cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts. 11 Analyze, make inferences, and draw conclusions about persuasive text. RC-8(E)
Paraphrase texts in ways that maintain meaning and logical order within a text and across texts
Traditionally, a school’s most basic function was to teach the “three Rs”: reading, writing, and ’rithmetic. More recently, Bill Gates, founder of the Microsoft Corporation, suggested that today’s schools need to focus on three new “Rs”: rigor, relevance, and relationships. In the essay you’re about to read, Lynda Barry describes how the relationships made all the difference in her life.
DISCUSS With a small group, discuss what you think are a school’s three most important tasks. Write them down and share them with your class. How many ideas have to do with the classroom and lessons?
How many are tied to something less academic?
1014
TX_L08PE-u09s03-brSanc.indd 1014
2/15/09 12:32:58 PM
Meet the Author elements of nonfiction: author’s purpose
Writers usually have one or more purposes when they sit down to write, and they carefully select strategies to achieve these purposes. In this essay, Lynda Barry’s purpose is to persuade us to value and support public schools. As you read, analyze the way that Barry uses a personal experience from her childhood to make her larger point. Pay attention to the effect that her words, details, and images have on you.
reading skill: identify cause and effect
A cause is an event or action that directly results in another event. An effect is the direct outcome of an event or action.
For example, if your school bus gets a flat tire, that could be the cause of your being late for school. Being late is the effect.
Sometimes signal words will alert you to causes (because, since) and effects (as a result, therefore). Other times, you’ll have