Splash Unit 1, Part 1 Waters of Gold Unit 1, Part 1 Waters of Gold Click the mouse button or press the space bar to continue.

Unit 1, Part 1

Waters of Gold

Unit 1, Part 1

Waters of Gold

Click the mouse button or press the space bar to continue

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

For pages 56–68

In studying this text, you will focus on the following objectives:

Literary Study: Analyzing an author’s style.

Reading: Activating prior knowledge.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Meet Laurence Yep

Author Search For more about Laurence Yep, go to glencoe.com and enter QuickPass code GL39770u1.

Click the picture to learn about the author.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Think about a time when you acted generously toward a friend, a family member, or your community.

Connect to the Folktale

Partner Talk With a parent or sibling, talk about why you chose to be generous. How did others benefit from your actions? Also discuss any factors that made you hesitate before acting.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Build Background

A folktale is a traditional story that has been passed from generation to generation by oral retelling. “Waters of Gold” is a written version of an ancient Asian folktale. This story takes place in a small farming village.

• In the farming village where the story is set, wealth and leisure are rare. Water has to be hauled from a well. Survival depends on hard work.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Build Background

• In folktales, it is common for everyday life to be turned around by a magical person or force.

• Folktales teach lessons about human nature, featuring characters who choose right over wrong, gain wisdom, or live out their values.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Set Purposes for Reading

As you read, identify the values revealed by each character’s words and actions.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Set Purposes for Reading

Style is the distinctive way an author writes. Two important elements of style are word choice, or diction, and sentence structure.

Style

• Word Choice is an author’s use of specific, vivid words to express certain ideas or feelings.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Set Purposes for Reading

• Sentence Structure refers to the way a sentence is put together. Short sentences can speed readers through the story’s action. Longer sentences with phrases provide depth of detail.

Style

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Set Purposes for Reading

Simple words and sentences are typical in folktales—they help make the stories easier to remember and recite.

As you read, ask yourself, how does the author’s style help me imagine and understand the folktale?

Style

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Set Purposes for Reading

When you activate prior knowledge, you recall what you already know. When someone mentions a topic, you’re likely to think of facts, processes, or experiences related to that topic. Connecting to what you know can help you make sense of new information.

Activate Prior Knowledge

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

For example, think of some folktales that you’ve heard or read. Folktales include animal stories, trickster tales, fairy tales, myths, legends, and tall tales. What do these stories have in common?

Set Purposes for Reading

Activate Prior Knowledge

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

As you read, you can use a graphic organizer like the one on the following slide to help you activate prior knowledge about the setting, characters, or vocabulary in the folktale.

Set Purposes for Reading

Activate Prior Knowledge

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Set Purposes for Reading

Activate Prior Knowledge

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Activate Prior Knowledge Read the excerpt highlighted in blue on page 59. Think of other stories in which you have heard this phrase. From what you remember, what kind of story do you think this will be?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Cultural History

In many cultures, hospitality toward guests or strangers is an important value. Guests and strangers have expectations as to how they should be treated and are offended if these expectations are not met.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the fifth paragraph on page 59. Why do you think the author provides details of how the beggar is ignored?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the fifth paragraph on page 59. Why do you think it is important in the story for readers to imagine the villagers’ reactions?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the excerpt highlighted in purple on page 60. What does this simple statement suggest about Auntie Lily’s attitude toward the beggar?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Activate Prior Knowledge Read the excerpt highlighted in blue on page 60. Think of a TV or movie character whose attitude is similar to the rich old woman’s. What words would you use to describe this character?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the last two paragraphs on page 60. What does the beggar’s statement “Heaven is my roof, and the whole world my house” mean?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the last two paragraphs on page 60. What is the author’s purpose in using figurative language in the beggar’s responses?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Writer’s Technique

Yep states that good writing “brings out what’s special in ordinary things.” “Waters of Gold” focuses on normal people living ordinary lives. For the beggar, simple comforts like a bowl of water, are luxuries. Through his descriptions, and by contrasting the beggar with people who are more affluent, Yep shows how simple things can be special.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the excerpt highlighted in purple on page 62. How do the words the author uses help you visualize the scene?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Identifying Sequence Read the excerpt highlighted in blue on page 62. You may have seen movies with pirates or gold diggers who bite gold. Based on what you’ve seen, why do you think the farmer bites he gold coin?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Identifying Sequence Read the excerpt highlighted in blue on page 62. Why is gold so valuable?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Identifying Sequence Read the excerpt highlighted in blue on page 62. What other valuable item would cause the same reaction from the villagers?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Read the excerpt highlighted in tan on page 63. What do the old woman’s actions reveal about how her values have changed?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the excerpt highlighted in purple on page 64. In what way does the length of this sentence and its one-syllable words convey the feeling of this scene?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style Read the excerpt highlighted in purple on page 65. Though the beggar repeats the old woman’s words from earlier in the story, in what way is the meaning different?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Read the excerpt highlighted in tan on page 66. What do the old woman’s actions reveal about how her values have changed?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Read the excerpt highlighted in tan on page 66. How might the story change if the person the old woman helps is clean and well dressed?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

1. How does Auntie Lily know the rich old woman? [Identify]

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

2. Auntie Lily states, “There’s a bit of Heaven in each of us.” What does this tell you about her attitude toward other people? [Infer]

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

3. Why does the rich old woman find snakes, lizards, and ants in her bucket instead of gold? [Conclude]

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

4. Find words or phrases that indicate this story is a folktale. Why do you think the author chose to convey his main message about values in a folktale instead of another type of story? [Analyze]

Respond and Think Critically

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

TIP: Analyzing

Here are some tips to help you analyze. Remember that when you analyze, you look at individual parts of the selection in order to understand the entire selection.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

• Skim the selection for words or phrases that are usually found in folktales.

• Identify how these phrases help the author tell the story.

• Locate phrases and sentences that the author uses to teach a lesson.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

5. Think about the endings of other folktales you know. Are the endings of these stories different than the ending of “Waters of Gold”? Explain your ideas. [Evaluate]

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Respond and Think Critically

6. What actions show that Auntie Lily and, later, her rich old neighbor live out the values of generosity and compassion? What are some other ways people show that they believe in these values? [Connect]

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style

1. Describe Yep’s writing style, including word choice and sentence structure, in “Waters of Gold.” Support your observations with examples from the selection.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Style

2. Why do you think most folktales reflect a similar style?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Every story has a storyteller, or narrator. Point of view is the relationship of the narrator to the story.

Review: Narrator and Point of View

• In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story who refers to himself or herself as “I” or “me.”

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

• In the third-person point of view, the narrator is not a character in the story and does not take part in events. He or she stands apart from the action and describes what is happening.

Review: Narrator and Point of View

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Review: Narrator and Point of View

3. Who is telling the story in “Waters of Gold”? What clues did you use to help you determine the narrator and the point of view?

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Activate Prior Knowledge

4. (a) In what ways did the characters and events of “Waters of Gold” meet your expectations? In what ways did they surprise you? Use the notes in your graphic organizer to help you answer.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Activate Prior Knowledge

4. (b) What qualities are different? Use a Venn Diagram like the one below to help you respond.

Unit 1, Part 1Unit 1, Part 1

Activate Prior Knowledge

5. Think of the setting in another folktale you’ve read. What qualities does this setting share with the setting of “Waters of Gold”?