user friendly by t. ernesto bethancourt introducing the selection literary focus: discovering theme...
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User Friendlyby T. Ernesto Bethancourt
Introducing the Selection
Literary Focus: Discovering Theme
Reading Skills: Recognizing Causes and Effects
Feature Menu
User Friendlyby T. Ernesto Bethancourt
Friends come in all shapes and sizes.
In this story, Kevin turns to an unusual friend to help him with a problem. His friend is Louis, his computer!
User Friendlyby T. Ernesto Bethancourt
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When are you going to get me my voice module, Kevin?
Repeat last message.
I mean, are you going to get me a voice box?
User Friendlyby T. Ernesto Bethancourt
User FriendlyLiterary Focus: Discovering Theme
As you read “User Friendly,” you will be asked to find the story’s theme—a truth about life that the story demonstrates.
You discover theme by thinking not just about what happens in the story, but what the story means.
This story shows me that life requires change.
User FriendlyLiterary Focus: Discovering Theme
One way to find a story’s theme is to analyze the characters. As you read, ask yourself these questions:
• What important comments do the characters make?
• What situations do they face?
• What do they learn by the end of the story?
User FriendlyLiterary Focus: Discovering Theme
Another way to find a story’s theme is to think about the title and what it might mean.
To analyze the title, ask yourself questions like “What is the literal meaning of the title?” and “What related subjects come to mind?”
User FriendlyLiterary Focus: Discovering Theme
Here’s one more tip to help you discover a story’s theme: Look for key passages that seem to make important statements about life.
Ambition often has a
price.
Ambition often has a
price.
Friendships have their ups
and downs.
Friendships have their ups
and downs.Accepting
responsibility is difficult.
Accepting responsibility is difficult.
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In a cause-and-effect relationship, one event causes another event to happen. The effect is what happens, and the cause is why the event happens.
User FriendlyReading Skills: Recognizing Causes and Effects
Look at these pictures of two related events. Which is the cause? Which is the effect?
User FriendlyReading Skills: Recognizing Causes and Effects
In “User Friendly,” Kevin accidentally starts a chain of events that leads to trouble.
A causal chain is a series of events in which each event causes another one to happen.
Cause
Effect
Effect/Cause
User FriendlyReading Skills: Recognizing Causes and Effects
A graphic organizer like this flowchart can help you record the chain of events as you read.
Cause
Effect
Effect/Cause
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In your textbook, there are questions that will help you recognize causes and effects in the story. When you see the symbol, stop and answer the question next to the open-book sign.
To help you figure out causes and effects, follow these steps:
• Identify what happens first.
• Look for hidden or multiple causes and results.
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• Ask, “What happens because of that?”
User FriendlyReading Skills: Recognizing Causes and Effects
User Friendlyby T. Ernesto Bethancourt
The End