Active Reading and Assignment

In this lesson, you are going to actively read through the Text before working your way through the assignment questions.

You should print out a copy of the Text and have a highlighter, ruler and pen or pencil with you.

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Text – Boys Growing Up 1

Assignment

STANDARD LEVEL

1. In the first paragraph why does the writer say he doesn’t ‘know how time works any more’?
2. Re-read the fourth and fifth paragraphs, in your own words describe the son’s personality.
3. In the fourth paragraph, what do you think the father means when he says he feels ambushed?
4. Re-read the fifth paragraph, find a simile and a metaphor and explain what each means.
5. In the seventh paragraph, why does the father feel ‘sadness’? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
6. Do you think the father is right to feel sad? Make at least three points to build your argument.

STRETCH LEVEL

1. In the third paragraph, the writer describes his son as a ‘sleepy ball of scrunched-up flesh’ – what language technique is this and what effect does it have on the reader?
2. In the third paragraph, how has the writer used similes to create powerful imagery for the reader?
3. Re-read the last sentence of the sixth paragraph, what structure technique is used here and what effect does it have on the reader?
4. Re-read the final line. What structure technique is used here and what effect does it have?
5. Re-read the last three paragraphs, what is the effect of the writer’s use of varying paragraph lengths here?

EXAM LEVEL

Re-read paragraphs 3, 4 and 5. How does the writer use language to describe his son? [12 marks]