The Giver:

Memory &
Citing Textual Evidence
Lecture Adapted from: English
ReadWriteThink: Memories Matter:The
Giver and Descriptive Writing Memoirs
8th Grade
Lecture by Ms. Lo
Objectives of this Lecture
Content Objectives:

● Students will be able to think critically about the importance of

memory and history in the novel, their own lives and the larger
historical context.
● Students will be able to identify textual evidence that supports an
argument.
● Students will be able to cite textual evidence in their opinion
paragraphs.
CA ELA Content Standards Addressed
Reading Standards for Literature, Grade 8

1. Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well
as inferences drawn from the text.

2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text,
including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.

Writing Standards for Literature, Grade 8

4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to
task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3
above.)

6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships
between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
 Quickwrite: The Importance of Memory

For the next 2 Choose one that you Example: I remember

minutes, make a believe shaped who losing my retainer in 5th
list of important you are today. How did grade. My mom made
memories from this memory shape me do chores until I paid
YOUR life. They you? For example, did off the cost of my
can be positive, it make you stronger, retainer. It took me 3
negative or wiser, kinder, more months! This memory
neutral. cautious, more fearful? made me more careful
with valuable things I
own because I
*Educational Hook (Interpersonal) understand how much
Adapted from ReadWriteThink: work it takes to earn
Differing Views on Memory
In Chapters 10-14, we learned that The Giver believes that memory is
necessary to gain wisdom and shape the future. We also learned that
the Community does not believe that there is value in remembering the
past.

Using the graphic organizer provided, find quotes from the text that
show The Giver’s and the Community’s beliefs about memory.

● Write at least 3 quotes for The Giver’s perspective.

● Write at least 3 quotes for the Community’s perspective.
● Be sure to include page numbers for each quote. You will need this
for a later writing assignment.

Adapted from ReadWriteThink: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson13/ReflectImportanceMemory.pdf

 Graphic Organizer: Evidence from the Text
Differing Views on Memory

The Giver The Community

Supporting Quote 1 Supporting Quote 2 Supporting Quote 1 Supporting Quote 2

Supporting Quote 3 Supporting Quote 3

 Your Turn!
Find ONE quote from the text that
shows The Giver’s belief about
memory.

Share the quote with a partner. Ask

your partner if they think it is
relevant. Listen to their feedback and
if you are not certain, ask me. Once
you have confirmed that you have
found a good quote, write it in the
appropriate box of your graphic
organizer. Be sure to include the page
number in parentheses. You can now
continue looking for more quotes until
you have 6 quotes total.
Example Dialogue
In this example, student A shares
their quote with student B and asks
if it is appropriate textual evidence.
B: I think your quote shows the
Giver’s belief about memory. It
sounds like he believes that life
has no meaning without
memories. He also seems to feel
lonely since he is the only one
who carries all the memories.
He even calls it a burden.
A: The quote I found is on page
105.
“It’s just that...without the
memories it’s all meaningless.
They gave that burden to me.
And to the previous Receiver.
And the one before him” (p.
105).
A: Thank you. I agree.
What quote did you
choose?
 Graphic Organizer: Evidence from the Text
(Example) Differing Views on Memory

The Giver The Community

Supporting Quote 1 Supporting Quote 2 Supporting Quote 1 Supporting Quote 2

“It’s just that...without
the memories it’s all
meaningless. They gave
that burden to me. And
to the previous Receiver.
And the one before him”
(p. 105).”

Supporting Quote 3 Supporting Quote 3

Writing an Opinion Paragraph
Watch the following Prezi
Presentation about
Writing An Opinion Paragra
ph
. As you go through the
slides, answer the
questions on your handout.
Opinion Paragraph - What did you Learn?
Check your answers with a partner. Then we will go over them as a
class.

1. What the 3 elements that must be included in an Opinion

Paragraph?
a. _______________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________
c. _______________________________________________
2. What are 2 ways to start a topic sentence?
a. _______________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________

*Progress Monitoring Question

Opinion Paragraph - What did you Learn?
Check your answers with a partner. Then we will go over them as a
class.

1. What are 2 transition signals that can be used for the reasons in an
Opinion Paragraph?
a. _______________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________
2. What are 2 ways you can introduce the conclusion?
a. _______________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________
3. What are 2 useful expressions for giving opinions?
a. _______________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________
*Progress Monitoring Question
 Citing Text Evidence
As part of your Opinion
Paragraph, you must cite at
least 2 direct quotes from
the graphic organizer your
completed earlier.

To prepare, watch this video

about “Citing Text Evidence”
and answer the questions
on your handout.
Citing Textual Evidence: What did you
learn?
Check your answers with a partner. Then we will go over them as a
class.

1. When you add text evidence to support your idea, put quotation
marks _________ and _________ the words from the text.
2. If you need a comma before the quote, it will go __________ the
quotation.
3. If you need a comma after the quote starts, it will go _________ the
quotation.
4. What should you do if your sentence needs commas before and
after the quote? ___________________________________________
 NOW YOU TRY!
OPINION PARAGRAPH: IN-CLASS WRITING
Think about the questions we discussed at the beginning of
this lecture.

1. Do you believe we need to know about the past in order to be wise?

2. Do you think knowing the past can be valuable in shaping the future?

Choose ONE of the questions above and write an opinion

paragraph in which you use evidence from The Giver to
support your opinion. Give at least 3 reasons to support your
opinion.