Your Points:

San Pasqual Academy

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English 9 & 10 - Ms. Priester
“The Sniper” Before You Read
Remember to use complete sentences that fulfill all Standard Assignment Expectations.

Read: “Comparing Universal Themes” on page 210 of your textbook.

Questions
1. What are universal themes? How do writers take ownership of them?
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2. What subject will be presented in both of the following stories?

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3. How should themes always be stated?

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Read: “Before You Read: ‘The Sniper’” on page 211 of your textbook.
Questions
4. How is theme often exposed?
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5. What is the conflict in the story that you are about to read?
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6. What are predictions? What types of stories do you constantly make them in?
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7. Summarize the background section on this page. Remember that summaries paraphrase the main ideas. Use at
least four sentences.
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8/29/2008 Page 1 of 3 N.Priester

Adapted from Holt Literature and Language Arts: Fourth Course
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Quickwrite
8. What qualities enable people to perform well when facing heart-pounding fear or stress? Think about your own
experiences or those of someone you know, as well as news stories or fiction you’ve read. Then, write down two
different examples of people taking action when the stakes are high. Also, state your thoughts about these reactions.
Write one well-rounded paragraph to explain your ideas—do not just write a sentence to directly answer each
question. Use topic and closing sentences.
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Word Knowledge: Can You Explain It?

Use the definitions of the words in the word box on page 211 to answer the following questions.
9. What would living conditions be like in a beleaguered town?
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10. What would be the first to luxuries you would give up if you decided to lead a more ascetic lifestyle?
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11. What is the difference between a fanatic and a fan?

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12. Think about a ruse in a story you’ve read or a movie you’ve seen. What made it particularly clever?
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13. What advice would you give a friend who felt remorse for teasing a classmate?
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8/29/2008 Page 2 of 3 N.Priester
Adapted from Holt Literature and Language Arts: Fourth Course
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8/29/2008 Page 3 of 3 N.Priester

Adapted from Holt Literature and Language Arts: Fourth Course