01: COLOR CODING

Language Arts
Homework
Packet
Assignment Number
Date Assigned /
Date Due /
PAGE COMPLETE SCORE
1
2
3
4
5
TOTAL

Dan Johnson
7th grade - room 214
Clarendon @ Portsmouth K-8
phone: 503.916.5666
email: teacherjohnson@gmail.com

d. johnson, 2008 page 1

Directions
For each paragraph below, use your highlighters to decide what type of sentence each
sentence is. Then, in the space to the right, explain briefly why you think it is that color
Paragraph One
Drums play an important role in West African
culture. Drummers perform during parties, religious
meetings, and ceremonies such as weddings and
funerals. West African drums are made of hollowed-
out logs or pieces of wood. The drums are covered
with animal skins. Drummers in West Africa play in
ensembles, or groups. The ensembles include
different types and sizes of drums, along with bells
and rattles. Drumming, singing, and dancing take
place together in a circular formation. Sometimes
drum ensembles use a call-and-response style. West
African slaves brought their drumming traditions to
the Americas. Over time, West African drum music
evolved into new styles, particularly in Cuba. West
African drum music and Afro-Cuban drumming are
now popular elements of world music while remaining
important in West Africa.
d. johnson, 2008
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
page 2
Paragraph Two
The start of the Kamakura government marked
the beginning of a new era in Japanese history.
Increasingly, professional warriors—samurai—
became Japan’s ruling class. Samurai were famed
for their courage and skill. One young samurai told of
being shot in the left eye with an arrow. Plucking out
the arrow, he used it to shoot down the enemy
marksman. Over time, an elaborate culture and code
of conduct grew up around the samurai. A samurai
was expected to be honest, brave, and intensely loyal
to his lord. In fact, the word samurai means “those
who serve.” The samurai code was very strict.
Samurai often killed themselves with their own
swords rather than “lose face” or personal honor.
The samurai were more than fearless fighters. They
were educated in art, writing, and literature. Many
were devout Buddhists. Their religion helped them
prepare for their duties and face death bravely.
These fearless and honest warriors served as the
backbone of Japanese society.
d. johnson, 2008
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
page 3
Paragraph Three
Religion was very important to the Mayan people
of ancient Mexico. The Mayan religion was
polytheistic, which means it included many gods. In
fact, the Maya believed in more than 160 gods. The
primary Mayan gods were forces or objects in nature
that affected people’s daily lives, like the god of rain,
the god of corn, and the god of death. According to
Mayan beliefs, only priests could explain signs and
lead people through rituals aimed at pleasing the
gods. Priests performed sacrifices and conducted
ceremonies. They consulted sacred books, read
omens, interpreted signs, and predicted the future.
No action was taken without first honoring the gods.
The Maya honored their gods with offerings such as
plants, food, flowers, feathers, jade, and shells. The
Maya believed that blood gave the gods strength, so
they also made blood offerings by sacrificing animals
and, sometimes, humans. The people who were
sacrificed were usually orphans, slaves, and nobles
captured during war. In many ways, religions was
one of the most important parts of Mayan life.
d. johnson, 2008
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
page 4
Directions
Now, use your understanding of the structure of a paragraph to write two paragraphs of
your own on a topic of your choice. After writing your paragraph, highlight it and give
explanations on the right. Each paragraph should be at least 6 sentences long.

My First Paragraph Explanations

__________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

d. johnson, 2008 page 5

My Second Paragraph Explanations
__________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________________________ _______________________________

d. johnson, 2008 page 6