Informational Text

Learning goal: SWBAT predict multiple texts while deciphering what the text says explicitly as well as by making inferences from the text .

Quotation Mingle and Conversation

• Get one of the eight quotes• Think what the quote might mean.• Pair with someone who has a different

quote and compare• Compare your quote with at least ten

other people’s sentences in the next five to six minutes. GO!

• Recollect in groups of 4

Small group discussion – 5 mins.Based on what you saw and heard during the mingle,

• What do you think the passage is going to be about?

• What time and place are depicted?• Any guesses about who wrote this?

To answer these questions, everyone has to pool their knowledge and between the 4 of you, you probably saw all eight quotes.

Now you can read the whole thing & check your predictions & inferences

Quotation Mingle Sentence From Soldier’s Heart

1) It was impossible to see or understand anything.

5) Make it stop now, Charley thought.

2) Next to him Massey’s head suddenly left his body and disappeared.

6) It was like a blade cutting grain.

3) Bullets flew past him with evil little snaps and snickers as they cut the air.

7) Many were torn apart, hit ten or twelve or move times before they had time to drop.

4)I’m not supposed to be here. 8) Charley aimed in the general direction of the Rebels and pulled his trigger, firing blind.

Post reading questions

1. If Charley survived the war-which we cannot tell from this passage-how do you think he would do?

2. Would he be able to go right back to normal life, or do you think he might have had to struggle with his memories?

3. Do you think he might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder? Do you know what that is?

Mayo Clinic defines it as…

Mayo Clinic definition:• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of

anxiety disorder that’s triggered by a traumatic event. You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder when you experience or witness an event that causes intense fear, helplessness or horror. In some cases the symptoms can get worse or last for months or even years. Sometimes they may completely disrupt your life. In these cases, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder.

• So, do you think Charley would or would not suffer from this condition? Try to base your prediction on facts in the text.

Text Introduction

• Today we have 4 choices. The first two are very intense accounts from a battlefield-you should consider your sensibilities before choosing one of those options.

① A soldier’s Letter Home from WWII – This was written by an American GI serving in the Pacific, graphically telling his parents about the combat casualties he had seen.

More texts:

① “The Forever War of the Mind” – Max Cleland, who served as head of the veterans Administration, recounts how he lost an arm and both legs in battle – describes the mental anguish that accompanied his physical wounds.

②“Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” – Basic problems associated with PTSD, from U.S. Veteran Administration.

③Blog Post – “Daddy’s Home” – written by th e wife of a decorated soldier who suffers from PTSD, offers tips for families

As you read…

• As you read, mark up your article using the text annotation strategy. Be sure to stop, think, and jot your thoughts in the margin as you go.

• When you are done, take a few minutes in your groups and talk about what struck you about the piece you chose. Use your annotations to locate important topics to discuss.

Discussion Questions

• For people with one of the first two, battlefield-oriented articles – do you think you might suffer from PTSD if you found yourself in such a situation? Be specific.

• And for readers of the other two articles, will you please talk about this question: What are some things that family members and friends can do to help someone suffering from PTSD? Make a list .

Share Learning

• How many readers of the battlefield articles thought you might suffer from PTSD, and what were your reasons for thinking so?

• And among those who read the symptoms-and-treatment articles, what did you come up with for ways to help someone with PTSD?