The Lottery

by Shirley Jackson Prereading Pre-reading strategies include Making Connections and Predicting.

1. Have you ever imagined winning the lottery? Describe what that would be like.

2. What do you association with the phrase small town America? What do you picture?

During reading

Active readers get involved with what they are reading by continuing to Make Connections and to Predict or Infer. They also Monitor their own reading, making sure that they understand what is going on. They Question, thinking about what is going to happen, or evaluating what has happened so far. As you read, pause sometimes to make connections to your personal experiences, predict what will happen next, ask questions about what you are reading, monitor what you understand, and form opinions about what youve read.

3. Monitoring: What words are unfamiliar? Make sure you write down and look up any words you dont understand. Words defined for you Reprimand: to rebuke someone for a wrongdoing

Words you dont know

Name: _______________________________________________ Date: ________________________________________________ Class: _______________________________________________

Grade:

Paraphernalia: assorted objects or equipment Chickweed: common weed producing white flowers

4. Setting is the time and place of a story. The setting of this story draws on our common understanding of small-town America. Give at least three examples of this.

5. Stereotypes are used by authors to convey a lot of information in a short time. What stereotypes do you see in this story? List at least three. a.

b. c.

6. Characterization is the authors way of describing a character, bringing a literary being to life with words. Which character(s) in this story are the most important? How can you tell that by the authors story?

7. Foreshadowing gives hints about the end of the story. Explain how this quotation foreshadows the ending of the story. Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.

After reading

Good readers dont just close the book (or story) when theyre done reading. They reflect on it. They are able to Summarize the main ideas, and to Synthesize new ideas from the story. They ask important Questions, and Evaluate the merits of the text.

8. This story is difficult to like. Why?

9. Even though this story has a horrifying end, do things like this happen in real life? Where? Why?

10. What would you say is the theme of this story? Find a quotation in the book that supports your idea. The write a THESIS statement that includes the quotation. Theme of The Lottery:

Quotation and Source: THESIS Statement:

Above and Beyond Answers not only reflect understanding and effective use of reading strategies, but they enhance the literary debate

Hits the Target Answers reflect both an understanding and effective use of reading

Getting Close Answers reflect a basic understanding and use of reading

Startin g Out Answers are incompl ete.

with creative and insightful ideas. Comprehension and application of literary devices is subordinate to the bigger picture of intellectual debate.

strategies, as well as comprehension and application of literary devices using details from the story.

strategies, as well as a basic understanding of literary devices. Supporting details are limited.