Chinese C inderella

Adeline Yen Mah

Before answering the questions, think back to when you were five years old.

What year was it?Where were you living?Which school were you attending? Who was your teacher?What was 'in' at that time?What did you look like? What type of clothes did you wear?What else do you remember about the year you turned five?

Note down all the memories that you can.

The ‘storytelling structure’ of the script generally follows this pattern. The early chapters are used to establish the setting, the characters and to introduce the catalyst ( the event which causes the action or series of events of the story to happen).As the action of the story unfolds, there is a build-up of tension and suspense. The tension is generally a result of conflict. Conflict is when two ideas/characters/schools of thoughts, etc oppose one another. Conflict can be:

Internal- the battle happens within a single character.External- the battle takes place between two or more characters.

1. Note down all the warm, safe memories Adeline shares of her life and home in Shanghai before she moves back to Tianjin.

2. Note down the memories Adeline had of her life and home after she moved back to Tianjin till she was taken to Hong Kong.

1. Identify any two catalysts in the story and explain how it influences the story line.

2. What would you do if you were treated in the same way as Adeline was treated by her siblings?

The setting has three aspects :The time setting - when the story is set (eg 1950, the future, during the Second World War).The place setting - where the action takes place ( eg in Paris, on the moon, or in an urban flat).The social setting - the social backdrop/era against which the action takes place ( eg horror of war, the class restrictions of Victorian England, the hardships of pioneering New Zealand).

1. Record details of the time and social setting- what year does the story begin, who invades China and why?2. Describe Shanghai - include details about Adeline’s experiences in Shanghai.3. Adeline eventually ends up in a boarding school in Hong Kong- explain the effect this setting has on Adeline.4. What made the Sacred Heart boarding and orphanage school so special to Adeline.

Select two important specific settings from the chapter you have read. Think carefully about the importance of each setting you choose- does this setting symbolise anything, does it help to reveal a theme, does it influence the actions of the characters in any way?

Setting twoSetting one

Description of setting

Events that take place

Importance of setting

Character change - Adeline in Chinese Cinderella

Where Adeline Lived...

Events that Happened... How she was before

How she was afterwards... i.e. how did she change

Adeline is a person to be admired. Referring to events from the beginning, middle and end of the story, list five reasons why you admired her.

Character 1 Character 2 Character 3

1. Copy and complete a grid like the one following for three important characters in your text.

Age and gender

Personality

Physical CharacteristicsBeliefs and values

Strengths

Important Relationships

Relationship 1

Relationship 2

Relationship 3

Describe the Relationship

Explain how this relationship affects the main character

Copy and complete the grid like the one below for the main character/person in your text.

Characters / people grow as a result of life experiences. Think about how the main character in your text has changed during the story. What events help them to grow’ realise things about themselves, others and human nature? Copy and complete a grid like the one below.

Example 2:

(We see this when...)

Key events that lead to personal growth and / or change:

Attitude / outlook at the end of the text:

Attitude/ Outlook at the beginning of the text:Example 1:

(We see this when...)

Example 1: Example 2:

The theme of a text is what the text focuses on. It is not the events or plot, but rather the ideas which the reader is exposed to as result of reading the story.Think about why the author chooses to relate the story. What do they want the reader to think about, learn and be exposed to? The theme of non-fiction is often one of human endurance, telling the story of how people have survived very difficult, unpleasant experiences. Other themes include nostalgia, the strange world we live in; aspects of human character such as friendship, generosity, or unfaithfulness, etc.

As a result of reading Chinese Cinderella, the reader learns:Important details of Chinese history, both globally and nationally.That human beings have the capacity to hurt, injure, and hate.About the strength of the human spirit.

Provide an example from the text to support each of the points identified above, under ‘what the reader learns.’

Use the non-fiction text you studied in class to answer the following.

1. Brainstorm what you have learnt about life, yourself and human nature as a result of the text.a. Identify an important theme.b. Describe three events that help to reveal/ raise the theme.c. Explain how two characters contribute to the theme.d. Select one quote that summarises the theme.

Style

When we look at the style of a text, we look at how the author chooses to express themselves on paper- casually, formally, through the eyes of one character, through an omniscient narrator, a series of diary entries, lots of character dialogue, etc.

Consider the text you have studied in class.1. From what narrative point of view is the story told- first person, third person or omniscient?2. How does this influence the story?

The Assessment guidance

The PDR structure for writing responses

P = Point is made - a single sentence which sets up the focus of the paragraph.D = Develop the point - explain clearly what you mean in two or three sentences.R = Refer to a specific moment/ event/ conversation/ quotation from the text.

1. ‘A good text moves the reader through a range of emotions.’ Discuss the variety of emotions you felt when reading the text you studied in class.

The first sentence should include both the text title and the author. The paragraph should follow the PDR structure. Each paragraph should explain an emotion. (The answer should consist of 4 paragraphs.)

Describe an important event in the text. Explain how this event helped you to understand an important idea ( or ideas) in the text.

Paragraph 1 - describe one important event from the text. Choose an event that is particularly significant to the ideas/messages/themes of the text. Describe the event with detail.

Paragraph 2 - explain one way this event helped you to understand one of the text’s main ideas. This could be because the actions of one of the characters revealed the idea, because of what the another character said, because of what happened as a result of the event, because of the impact the event had on a main character, because the event was similar to something you have experienced in your own life and you could relate to it, etc. Explain yourself as fully as you can. Refer to specific aspects of the event, or text, to support your explanation.

Para 3 & Para 4 explain how this event helped you to understand one of the text’s main idea. It could be the same as in the previous paragraphs or it could be different.

Describe a memorable person/ character in this text. Explain what made him or her memorable.

Paragraph 1 - describe the person that you have found memorable. Provide a good amount of detail - age, gender, personality, any physical attributes, etc.

Paragraph 2 - explain one reason you find them memorable. This could be something they did, an attitude to life, their strength of spirit, aspects of their personality, or you could have found them memorable because you felt you related to them closely, etc. Explain yourself as fully as you can. Refer to specific aspects of the text to support your explanation.

Para 3 & Para 4 explain another reason why you found the character memorable. Follow the PDR structure for your answer.

Pick one of the below essay questions, and use the information you have gathered to format a proper essay. Your essay needs to be approx 300 words in length. You must use evidence to prove your points in your essay, and your essay must 'flow'...

1. Describe a memorable person/ character in this text. Explain what made him or her memorable.

2. Describe an important event in the text. Explain how this event helped you to understand an important idea ( or ideas) in the text.

3. ‘A good text moves the reader through a range of emotions.’ Discuss the variety of emotions you felt when reading the text you studied in class.