The Last Dog Making Meaning

MAKING MEANING About the Author The daughter of two American missionaries, Katherine Paterson (b. 1932) was born in China and lived there during he The Last Dog – Concept Vocabulary As you perform your first read of “The Last Dog,” you will encounter these words: threatening, extinct, mutation Context Clues To find the meaning of unfamiliar words, look for clues in the context, which is made up of the words, punctuation, and Example: The inquisitive dog searched the unknown surroundings. Possible Meaning: Inquisitive means “curious.” Example: The deviant robot was taken out of service for its strange behavior. Possible Meaning: Deviant means “considered strange by others.” First Read Fiction Strategies • Notice whom the story is about, what happens, where and when it happens, and why those involved react as they do • Annotate by marking vocabulary and key passages you want to revisit. • Connect ideas within the selection to what you already know. • Respond by completing the Comprehension Check and writing a brief summary. Comprehension Check 1. Where does Brock live? 2. What do people believe about the world outside the dome? 3. What does Brock discover about the world outside the dome? 4. Write a brief plot summary including only the most important events. Research Research to Clarify: Choose one unfamiliar detail and briefly research it. Explain how it helps you understand the stor Research to Explore: Research Biosphere 2. Formulate two research questions and briefly answer them. Close Read the Text Revisit important sections. Annotate what you notice, ask questions, and draw conclusions. Cite textual evidence. Analyze the Text 1. Identify examples of allusion in paragraph 16. How do they affect the story? 2. Share important passages and discuss conclusions. 3. Essential Question: Should we make a home in space? What problems does this story show? Concept Vocabulary Practice Write sentences using: • threatening • extinct • mutation Word Study Latin Suffix -tion: The suffix -tion turns verbs into nouns. Mutation comes from mutate (to change). Mutation means “th Conflict and Resolution Identify: • Main conflicts (internal and external) • Type of conflict • Resolution Discuss whether the resolution is satisfying. Language Development Simple and Compound Subjects and Predicates: Simple Subject: Brog drinks water. Compound Subject: Brock and Brog drink water. Simple Predicate: Brog drinks. Compound Predicate: Brog drinks and laps. Writing Assignment Write your own version of the last seven paragraphs beginning with: “Out of sight of the dome, …” Option 1: Write from Brog’s perspective. Option 2: Add a new character. Plan: Narrator: Plot Events: Resolution: Reflect: • What purpose does the narrator serve? • What effect do different resolutions create? • What resolution is most satisfying?