Sample Questions “Duffy’s Jacket”
Reading Standards for Literature — Grade 77RL1 — Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
· Who is the narrator of the story?
· From what point of view is the story told? Provide text evidence to support your identification.
· What conclusions can be drawn from the text about the identity of the Sentinel? Cite specific evidence to support claim(s)
· Based on the opening paragraph of “Duffy’s Jacket,” what can be inferred about the relationship of the narrator and Duffy?
7RL2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
· What is the theme of “Duffy’s Jacket”? Cite specific evidence to support your claim.
· Explain how the author develops the theme of “One must be responsible to avoid hazardous situations” throughout “Duffy’s Jacket.” (Note: this is one possible theme.)
· How is the theme of “Duffy’s Jacket” similar/different than the theme of ______?
· Summarize the main events of “Duffy’s Jacket.”
7RL3 — Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
· How does the setting of “Duffy’s Jacket” affect the development of the plot? Provide evidence to support your comments.
· Explain how the setting of the story impacts the mood/tone of “Duffy’s Jacket.” Cite evidence.
· Provide examples of how events in the plot shape the development of the character of Duffy and the Sentinel. Use text evidence to support your thoughts.
· How does the use of dialogue help the reader understand the mood? Cite specific text evidence.
7RL4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g.,alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama. (See grade 7 Language standards 4-6 for additional expectations.)
· How does the author use the word it on page 11, throughout column three? What affect does this have on the reader?
· What can be inferred from the use of italics throughout the story?
· How does the author’s use of repetition of sounds impact the tone of the text?
· How does the author make use of onomatopoeia?
· Discuss how both meanings of the word sentinel are used throughout the story.
7RL5—Analyze how a drama’s or poem’s form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.
7RL6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.
· How does Duffy’s point of view vary from the point of view of ______?
· Cite relevant evidence that demonstrates the narrator’s point of view as reliable/unreliable.
· How does the author’s word choice help to develop the Duffy’s point of view?
7RL7 — Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, or camera focus and angles in a film).
· Is the development of suspense more effective in the video version or text version of “Duffy’s Jacket”? *
· How is the returning of the jacket different in the video and text version of “Duffy’s Jacket”?
· Evaluate the effectiveness of the camera angles to portray the character of Duffy in “Duffy’s Jacket”?
*These questions refer to a student-produced video found online.
7RL8 — Not applicable to literature
7RL9 — Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.
7RL10 — By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.