(9) ENG1.2: Storytelling and Resilience

Storytelling

The art of conveying events—factual or fictional—through words, images, or sounds. It is a social and often cultural activity that involves crafting a compelling narrative that engages the emotions and imagination of the listener/audience to help make sense of the world, share knowledge and wisdom, and connect with others on a human level.

Personal Essay

An essay where the author reflects inwardly on themselves. It is told with descriptive details and is similar to a personal story or memoir. It conveys a specific point of view or thesis—often more inferred than explicit.

Thesis

A specific argumentative or analytical statement or argument that the writer will prove. It guides the entire essay and states the writer’s position, and is usually in the introduction of essays. For example, Social media harms teenagers’ mental health by increasing comparison, reducing sleep, and encouraging cyberbullying.

Main Idea

The central point or overall message of a text. It is a general summary of the topic that summarizes what the text is mostly about. It can appear anywhere; often inferred from the whole text. For example, Social media has strong effects on teenagers.

2 Methods to Analyzing Text

(1) Examining format and style, and (2) Imagine a title that describes the topic or main event for each paragraph.

7 Reading Strategies

Strategies that are used to improve reading. “Ask, Adjust, Read, Capture, Predict, Note, and Connect.”: Ask yourself questions, Adjust your pace, Read between the lines, Capture an image (visualize), Make predictions, Take notes & annotate, and Make connections.

Mood

The prevailing emotional feeling of the text. For example: light, tense, or conversational.

Tone

The writer’s attitude toward the topic or audience. For example: serious, satiric, or thoughtful.

Diction

The words the writer chooses. A writer’s choice of words supports or develops the mood and tone.