CLOSE READING

Name Date
Read for Understanding
1. Genre What kind of
text is this passage? How
do you know?

2. Topic Write a topic

sentence to tell what the
text is mostly about.
Ambush BY TIM O’BRIEN

W
Reread and Summarize
3. Key Ideas In each
section, circle three words
or phrases that express the
key ideas in that section.
Note next to each word or
phrase why you chose it.
2

paragraphs 5 8

4. Summary Use your 3

topic sentence and notes 4
from item 3 to write a
summary of the selection.

In Other Words Historical Background

40 Unit 1:Think Again

 Name Date

Reread and Analyze

5. Author’s Craft
Reread paragraph 1.
Double underline the text
that expresses why the
narrator is telling his story.

6. Analyze Technique
Reread paragraph 1.
Highlight text that tells
what the narrator is
thinking. Decide what this
Over four million of these made and sold every week, Diarmuid Kelley tells you about him. Then,
(b.1972). Oil on canvas, private collection, The Bridgeman Art Library. write down his traits below.

7. Analyze Character
Reread paragraph 2. Circle
a word and underline an
action that tells you more
about the narrator.

8. Analyze Character
Reread paragraph 4.
Underline actions that the
narrator takes. Highlight his
thoughts. What have you
learned about him?

Critical Viewing: Effect What is the mood, or feeling,

of this painting? How does it relate to the mood of
the story?

In Other Words

Unit 1: Think Again 41

 Name Date

Reread and Analyze

9. Relate Characters
and Plot Underline the
narrator’s actions in the
second half of paragraph 4.
Highlight his thoughts and
explanations.

10. Relate Characters and

Plot What do you think?
Did the narrator act
deliberately? Use evidence I did not hate
from the text to support
your answer. the young man…

In Other Words

42 Unit 1:Think Again

 Name Date

Reread and Analyze

11. Analyze Character
Highlight what Kiowa says
in paragraph 6. What do
Fallen Timbers/Fallen Time, 1989, David A. Given with Arturo Alonzo 5
Sandoval. Mixed media, National Vetereans Art Museum, Chicago Illinois. his words tell you about
his relationship with the
narrator?

12. Analyze Character

Reread paragraphs 7–8.
Looking back on his
actions, how does the
narrator feel about them
now? Support your answer
with evidence from the
story.

Critical Viewing: Effect How is the United States flag

used in this piece of art? What effect does this have?

In Other Words

Unit 1:Think Again 43

 Name Date

CLOSE READING
Discuss

13. Synthesize With the class, list things in column 1 that you learned
about the narrator. In column 2, list devices and techniques the author
used to portray the character.

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Next, with the class, discuss how the author uses these details to
explain the narrator’s actions. Make notes.

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14. Write Use your notes from question 13 to write about the ways that
the author uses the setting, the plot, and the character’s thoughts and
actions to portray the character. Use the questions below to organize
your thoughts. If you need more space, continue your writing on another
piece of paper.

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44 Unit 1: Think Again

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Connect with the What Influences How You Act?

Think about how fear influences people’s actions.

15. Viewpoint Can we know ahead of time how we will act in a new
situation? How might the author answer this question?

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16. Theme What is the author’s message about what influences our
actions?

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Unit 1:Think Again 45