Grade 8 Quarter 2 East Asian Literature: Communing with Nature

ENGLISH 8

MODULE NO. 2: Communing with Nature

INTRODUCTION AND FOCUS QUESTION(S):

The world continues to develop in terms of technology, infrastructures, education,

business, etc. People face different opportunities at the same time challenges brought
by these changes. Changes capture much of the interest of the people and sometimes
neglecting its detriments. Development at some point is detrimental in the environment.
This may mean sacrificing natural resources to meet the demands of the people. The
environment is a rich ground not just for businesses but also for self enhancement. The
beauty of nature brings forth inspiration in crafting literary pieces. In our own encounter
with nature, did we see any significance in valuing its existence?

The wonders in the environment becomes source of inspiration for most of the
authors in coming up with stories, poems, quotes, or plays. They allow these literary
pieces to become avenues in expressing their amusement or sentiments. It allows
them to forward their desire in making the society aware of the wonders and importance
of nature and its status as development continues. In this module, we will look at how
authors use their works to convey their feelings about nature. We will explore literary
pieces from East Asia – a part of Asia, the world’s biggest continent, the cradle of
civilization. Moreover, we will unravel how nature influences art forms. As you go
through the module, think about these questions:

What influences the content of a literary text?

What makes a great speech presentation?

The silver pen. Retrieved from http://www.thesilverpen.com/

1
LESSONS AND COVERAGE

In this module, you will examine these questions when you take the
following lessons:

Lesson 1 – Realizing Influential Individualities

Lesson 2 – Strengthening Environmental Bonds

In these lessons, you will learn the following:

Lesson 1  Analyze literary pieces from East Asian Countries

 Compose speech
Lesson 2  Analyze a speech
 Deliver an entertainment speech

MODULE MAP:
Here is a simple map of the above lessons you will cover:

Realizing Influential Individuals

East Asian Literature

Communing with Nature

Strengthening Environmental Bonds

Photo Source: Spellhood studios. Retrieved from http://www.shsforums.net

EXPECTED SKILLS:
To do well in this module, you need to remember and do the following:

LESSON 1:
 Determine tone, mood, technique, and purpose of the author.
 Predict the gist of the material viewed based on the title, pictures, and excerpts.
 Describe the notable literary genres contributed by East Asian writers.
 Use appropriate grammatical signals or expressions suitable to each pattern of
idea development: general to particular, claim and counterclaim, problem-solution
and cause-effect and others.
 Identify figures of speech that show emphasis (hyperbole and litotes).
 Explain the literary devices used.
 Listen to paraphrase information/ideas.
 Discern positive and negative messages conveyed in a material viewed.
 Use a variety of techniques to introduce a topic.
 Develop related support sentences.
 Use a variety of techniques to formulate a conclusion.
 Use appropriate modes of paragraph development to express one’s ideas,
needs, feelings and attitudes
 Develop paragraphs that illustrate each text type (narrative in literature, expository,
explanatory, factual and personal recount, persuasive).
 Compose effective paragraphs.

LESSON 2:
 Describe the notable literary genres contributed by East Asian writers.
 Explain how a selection may be influenced by culture, history, environment, or other
factors.
 Relate content or theme to previous experiences and background knowledge.
 Employ appropriate listening skills and strategies suited to long descriptive and
narrative texts.
 Infer dominant thoughts and feelings expressed in the text listened to.
 Infer the theme of the text listened to.
 Predict the gist of the material viewed based on the title, pictures, and excerpts.
 Discriminate between literal and figurative language.
 Use appropriate non-verbal cues when delivering lines in an entertainment speech.
 Use the appropriate prosodic features of speech when delivering an entertainment
speech.
 Produce the sounds of English correctly and effectively when delivering an
entertainment speech.
 Maintain the interest of the audience by delivering punch lines effectively.
 Deliver a self-composed entertainment speech using all the needed speech
conventions.
 PRE-ASSESSMENT
now about this module. Click on the letter that you think best answers the question.
is short test, you will see your score. Take note of the items that you were not able to correctly answer and look for the right a

“I waited forever for him”

1. What figure of speech is reflected in the given statement?

A. Personification
B. Litotes
C. Hyperbole
D. Metaphor

2. Your teacher gave the details (shown below) for the next reading selection that
will be discussed in the class, what do you think will be the selection all about?

Growth Rings
by Deng Hainan

Warren photographic image library of nature and pet. Retrieved from

http://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/06544- growth-rings-in-douglas-fir

A. The text is all about the wonders and beauty of nature.

B. The text is all about the importance of having trees in the surrounding.
C. The text is all about the person’s life in relation to the number of rings in
a tress’ bark.
D. The text is all about the role of man in the environment.

3. Which among the following is the best supporting statement given this
topic sentence:
There is a lot of work involved in maintaining a healthy body.

A. A person should focus on maintaining healthy body to avoid sickness.

B. One should eat the right amount of food and enough exercise.
 C. Healthy lifestyle reflects a disciplined person.
D. One must have the will to fulfill one’s goal.

For item no. 4

He was sitting in the corner felling so exhausted with all the eyes focused on him. He
was sweating so much that he felt the rush of his adrenaline. He was panting. Then he
heard a loud “tingggg”. He took his stance in the center and looked angrily in the eyes
of his opponent. He started to move closer and prepared for his final bow. He took his
aim. He victoriously punched his opponent to the floor. The referee began to count
1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9.. And when the count reached 10, he felt sound vibrations. He
heard the crowd in up roar, vigorously shouting his name.“Dan Khom!”“Dan
Khom!”“Dan Khom!” He cried for joy. Never did he experience such a feeling of
success. Then he shouted, Yes!

4. What rhetorical mode is used in this paragraph?

A. Definition
B. Description
C. Illustration/Example
D. Narration

For item no. 5

In life, there are a lot of challenges that makes us feel bad and broken. It makes feel
weary as if it would never end. It seems gloomy all the time and life feels like a new day
won’t come.

5. In the given passage, the author signifies “a new day” to a fresh chance to
begin and be hopeful. What literary device is used by the author to forward such
thought?
A. Foreshadowing
B. Flashbacking
C. Juxtaposition
D. Symbolism

For item no. 6

Last night, I joined the kids in staying up late to watch a movie. When they were already
asleep, I left a note on the table for my kids to read in the morning because I will be
traveling at daybreak. It was raining so hard that I didn’t hear that my phone was
ringing. I called back my husband and told him about my flight. It was already 8 in the
morning and I haven’t received any call from my kids. I mention it in the note that when
they see it, they should give me a beep.
6. Considering the given scenario, what could be the best reason why the
persona did not receive any call yet from her kids?
A. The note was blown away by the strong wind because the windows
were open.
B. The kids decided forgot to call their mother.
C. The kids were busy and did not notice the note on the table.
D. The kids were still asleep since they slept late last night.

For item no. 7

If an actress I had been

And the novel of Kabjitti is adapted into
film I’d fight to do your part;
Not that I hold dear
The rough and tumble games of your mind
But that I’d love to be free
To do things your way
Without reason, without
provision
Like an earnest child…

7. Given the lines above, what thought is the author trying to tell the readers?
A. The beauty of being an actress
B. Freedom in one’s decision
C. Faithfulness to one’s lover
D. Excitement in staging a play

For item no. 8

Nature. Retrieved from http://tarotwithkali.blogspot.com/2012/07/nature.html

8. Given a folio with this as part of the cover, what insights can we draw about its
content?
A. It would be all about the wonders of the world.
B. It would be all about the positive and negative effect of knowing
one’s responsibility to the environment.
 C. It would be all about creation and destruction of nature.
D. It would be all about our natural resources.

9. In writing a text, why should the author consider self-concept?

A. Because the writer needs to follow the writing process wherein he has to
start with conceptualizing.
B. Because every writer has its purpose/reason in coming with a text.
C. Because the writer is accountable with all the information that the reader
may get.
D. Because the writer needs to address only one genre to achieve consistency.

10. Considering the rudiments of public speaking, what f makes the use of proper
grammatical signals essential?
A. In oral presentation, voice modulation is important which reflected
through word arrangement.
B. In oral presentation, body movements serve as aid of the uttered words.
C. In oral presentation, words signal the principle in inflections and articulations.
D. In oral presentation, grammatical signals assure humor to capture audience’s
attention.

11. In what way does the different rhetorical device aid in the crafting of speeches?
A. It provides options on how to address the topic given.
B. It enhances the process on how to deliver a speech.
C. It develops communicative skills.
D. It allows easier mastery of the piece.

12. Why is it important for the speaker to consider articulation in delivering

the speech?
It allows the listener . . .
A. to reflect on the speaker’s intention.
B. to clearly understand of the message of the piece.
C. to gather strategies in voice modulation.
D. to establish relationship between the piece and one’s understanding.

13. Why should the speaker be very mindful of his/her movement in delivering
his/her speech?
A. Gestures serve as an aid in communicating the message of the piece.
B. Gestures make the performance more interesting.
C. Gestures capture audience attention.
D. Gestures allow the speaker to establish authority.

14. Why is it difficult for readers to spot the references addressed by Matsuo
Basho, father of Haiku, in his works?
 A. Basho’s works are visual representations of the wonders of Japan.
Hence, people who haven’t been to Japan would have difficulty in
associating the images.
B. Basho’s works are in the form metonyms and hence, can be difficult for
those who lack Japanese cultural reference.
C. Basho’s works deal with political issues that is why symbols were used for
the readers to unravel the meanings.
D. Basho’s works exhibit fix structure that makes it difficult for other writers
and readers to follow.

15. The DENR has invited you to deliver a talk on different pressing issues during the
World Awareness Day gathering. Considering the gathering, what particular issue
would best be addressed in your talk?
A. Price hike and other economic issues
B. Environmental concerns
C. Family health care
D. Political dynasty in different countries

16. You were assigned to be the Chair of the board judges for a public speaking
competition. You are very much concerned on how the participants will be able
convey to communicate to the audience. What specific criteria are you inclined
with?
A. Voice
B. Stage Presence
C. Organization of ideas
D. Power of Expression

17. The OASEAN Publishing house is in need of literary texts to be featured in one of
the sections on their newspaper. They will be featuring a self-composed speech.
As a writer, what should you bear in mind in terms of writing a speech?
A. The rhyme and metrical count should be followed at all times.
B. Figurative languages should be used in the speech.
C. Organization of thought should be emphasized.
D. Environmental action plans should only be the focus of the text.

18. The Speakers’ Congress commissioned you to head the training program of
the aspiring public speakers. As the head trainer, you are to orient them with
what public speaking is. What important points would you address especially to
beginners?

A. Public speaking is a challenge, hence, only the brave ones will survive.
B. In being a speaker, you should be brilliant at all times.
C. Public speaking requires a high performance in all subject area.
D. In being a speaker, you have to have a purpose.
19. The Speakers’ Congress commissioned you to head the training program of the
aspiring public speakers. As a trainer, you want the trainees to have the capacity
to get the interest of the audience through their performance. What criteria would
you stress to address the point?
A. Relevance
B. Logical Development
C. Voice Articulation
D. Purpose Accomplishment

20. As an Editor-In-Chief of OASEAN Publishing House, you were invited to engage

students in a writing workshop. What important element should you point out to
students in terms of making their work revolve in one thought?
A. Theme
B. Characters
C. Plot
D. Setting

Learning Contract: My Goals in this Module

Write your thoughts about the module on the note below. For it to serve as your guide,
include your goals and objectives on the note.
 Lesson 1: Realizing Influential Individualities

EXPLORE

different literary pieces from East Asian Countries and unravel inspirations that their literature reveals. As you immerse in the d

What influences the content of a literary text?

a living influence?

ACTIVITY NO. 1: 4pics 1 word

Identify the word reflected by the pictures below and answer the questions that follow.

E _ _ I_ _ _ M _ N _
IRF Worksheet
Share your thoughts in response to the question below. Write your answers in the
Initial Answer portion of the chart.

What influences the content of a literary text?

Initial Answer:

Revised Answer:

Final Answer:
End of EXPLORE
You gave your initial ideas on how nature works in an authors’ writings. Before you proceed to the learning segm

Goal Awareness Matrix

You are now oriented of the different task and outcomes that you have to accomplish in
this learning unit. You are also aware of the concepts that you need to understand. It is
important to be equipped with the strategies on how to achieve one’s goal. To do this,
respond to the questions in the My Learning Goals Form graphic organizer.
 FIRM-UP

erary pieces continue to be a living influence up to the present. You read texts from East Asian Literature specifically texts from

What influences the content of a literary text?

Why do some themes continue to become a living influence?

ACTIVITY NO. 2: Meaning Check!

Be familiar with the meaning of the following words that you will encounter in the first
reading selection. You can access this site www.dictionary.reference.com to aid you
with the definition. Fill in the third column by giving a sample sentence using the words
defined.

Words Definition Sample Sentence

Constable

Hacked

Hubbub

Barrow

Rage

Exquisite
ACTIVITY NO. 3: Prediction Slate
Your first selection is entitled The Wonderful Pear Tree. Considering the title of the first
literary piece, what do you think is the text all about? Write your answer on the slate.

Reading 1
The Wonderful Pear Tree
(A Chinese Folktale)
Translated by Herbert A
Giles

Once upon a time a countryman came into the town on market-day, and brought a load
of very special pears with him to sell. He set up his barrow in a good corner, and soon
had a great crowd round him; for everyone knew he always sold extra fine pears,
though he did also ask an extra high price. Now, while he was crying up his fruit, a
poor, old, ragged, hungry-looking priest stopped just in front of the barrow, and very
humbly begged him to give him one of the pears. But the countryman, who was very
mean and very nasty-tempered, wouldn't hear of giving him any, and as the priest didn't
seem inclined to move on, he began calling him all the bad names he could think of.
“Good sir," said the priest, “you have got hundreds of pears on your barrow. I only ask
you for one. You would never even know you had lost one. Really, you needn't get
angry."

"Give him a pear that is going bad; that will make him happy," said one of the crowds.
"The old man is quite right; you'd never miss it."

"I've said I won't, and I won't!" cried the countryman; and all the people close by began
shouting, first one thing, and then another, until the constable of the market, hearing the
hubbub, hurried up; and when he had made out what was the matter, pulled some cash
out of his purse, bought a pear, and gave it to the priest. For he was afraid that the
noise would come to the ears of the mandarin who was just being carried down the
street.
The old priest took the pear with a low bow, and held it up in front of the crowd, saying,
" You all know that I have no home, no parents, no children, no clothes of my own, no
food, because I gave everything up when I became a priest. So it puzzles me how
anyone can be so selfish and so stingy as to refuse to give me one single pear. Now I
am quite a different sort of man from this countryman. I have got here some perfectly
exquisite pears, and I shall feel most deeply honored if you will accept them from me."
“Why on earth didn't you eat them yourself, instead of begging for one?" asked a man in
the crowd. "Ah," answered the priest, “I must grow them first." So he ate up the pear,
only leaving a single pip. Then he took a pick which was fastened across his back, dug
a deep hole in the ground at his feet, and planted the pip, which he covered all over
with earth. " Will someone fetch me some hot water to water this ? " he asked. The
people, who were crowding round, thought he was only joking, but one of them ran and
fetched a kettle of boiling water and gave it to the priest, who very carefully poured it
over the place where he had sowed the pip. Then, almost while he was pouring, they
saw, first a tiny green sprout, and then another, come pushing their heads above the
ground; then one leaf uncurled, and then another, while the shoots kept growing taller
and taller; then there stood before them a young tree with a few branches with a few
leaves; then more leaves; then flowers; and last of all clusters of huge, ripe, sweet-
smelling pears weighing the branches down to the ground! Now the priest's face shone
with pleasure, and the crowd roared with delight when he picked the pears one by one
until they were all gone, handing them round with a bow to each man present. Then the
old man took the pick again, hacked at the tree until it fell with a crash, when he
shouldered it, leaves and all, and with a final bow, walked away.

All the time this had been going on, the countryman, quite forgetting his barrow and
pears, had been in the midst of the crowd, standing on the tips of his toes, and straining
his eyes to try to make out what was happening. But when the old priest had gone, and
the crowd was getting thin, he turned round to his barrow, and saw with horror that it
was quite empty. Every single pear had gone! In a moment he understood what had
happened. The pears the old priest had been so generous in giving away were not his
own; they were the countryman’s! What was more, one of the handles of his barrow was
missing, and there was no doubt that he had started from home with two! He was in a
towering rage, and rushed as hard as he could after the priest ; but just as he turned the
corner he saw, lying close to the wall, the barrow-handle itself, which without any doubt
was the very pear-tree which the priest had cut down. All the people in the market were
simply splitting their sides with laughter; but as for the priest, no one saw him anymore.

Ribo, L., Galvez, N., & Malicsi, M. (2013). Language in literature II Afro-Asian literature.
Philippines: tfibal Publishing House, Inc.
 Folktales are stories passed on from one person to another by word of
mouth. These tales were not written down, but existed only in the memory
of mankind. It is only now, as the tradition of oral story-telling is giving way
to books and television, that such tales are being collected and written
down.

Questions to answer:

1. Who are the characters in the story and what are their roles?

2. Considering the types of people, the poor and the rich, oppressor and the
oppressed, etc., what type of people is present in the story? Support your
answer.

3. What was the intention of the countryman to come into town?

4. If you were the countryman, would you do the same thing as what he did?

5. If you were the priest, would you do the same thing as what he did?

6. What could have motivated the priest to respond in such manner?

7. Considering the characters, to whom do you sympathize with? Why?

 8. What was the trick done by the priest in the story?

9. Why do think the story is entitled The Wonderful Pear Tree?

10. What important lesson is reflected in the text?

ACTIVITY NO. 4: My Folktale Matrix

Discover the folktale more by looking at the different elements through this folktale
matrix.

Protagonist in the story

Antagonist in the story Where and where did the story

take place?

What is the conflict in the story?

How was the problem solved? How did the story end?
ACTIVITY NO. 5: 3-2-1 Chart
After reading the story, answer the 3-2-1 chart.

3 Things I Learned

2 Interesting Type of People Reflected in the

Text

1 Question I wanted to be addressed

ACTIVITY NO. 6: Dominant Character

You got acquainted with the characters in the tale; identify one character that you felt
overpowering over other characters.

Questions to answer:

1. Why do you consider character influential among other characters?

2. What instances in the story supports your claim? Point at least 3 instances.

3. Folktales keep the past alive. Did you encounter other texts reflecting the
same theme?
 4. Why do you think some themes continue to be present in recent literary text?

5. Based from your own idea, what is the purpose of the author in coming up
with such text?

6. What do you think influences the crafting of such text considering the reflected
theme?

ACTIVITY NO. 7: Supporting My Claims

You have identified a character that is dominant in the story. Support your claim by
sharing details.

Prove

Claim

Details
ACTIVITY NO. 8: Stating it in My Own Words
Folktales are part of oral tradition; hence, these are handed down through oral story
telling. It is important to be able to state in your words without changing the thought of
the text.

Paraphrasing

• A precise restatement, in your own words, of the written or spoken words

of someone else.
• Does not distort the meaning of the original passage.
• It is specific and should is not selective.

Access this link

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/
viewgame.asp?id=4956 and answer the exercise.

Record your score

Reading 2

Haiku 1
Summer grasses grow
On brave warriors’ splendid dreams ---
The afterglow comes.

Haiku 2
An old silent pond
A frog jumps into the pond,
Splash! Silence again.
 ACTIVITY NO. 9: Going beyond the Lines
What idea is expressed in each poem?

Haiku 1

Summer grasses grow On brave warriors’ splendid

dreams ---
The afterglow comes.

Haiku 2

An old silent pond

A frog jumps into the pond, Splash! Silence again.

Haiku is both a type of poetic pattern and a way of experiencing the world.
This short, 17-syllable form, usually written in three lines with a 5-7-5
syllable count, focuses our attention on a single, insightful moment.

A haiku traditionally contains a kigo, a defined word or phrase that

symbolizes or implies the season of the poem. Kigo are often in the form
of metonyms and hence can be difficult for those who lack Japanese
cultural references to spot.

Matsuo Basho, Japan’s greatest haiku poet, believed that real poetry was
leading a beautiful life with nature.
 Questions to answer:

1. What helped you unravel the meaning of the given haikus?

2. What helped you identify the kigo in each of the haikus?

Haiku 1

Haiku 2

3. Why should one be familiar with the Japanese culture especially in looking
at haikus?

4. What makes the kigo in a haiku important?

5. What influences the inclusion of kigo in a haiku?

ACTIVITY NO. 10: Imagination Sparks

Lines from the Haiku allow the readers to create mental images. These images allow
the readers to visualize and therein more realistically experience the author’s writing.
What image is reflected in the poem? Describe the image by responding to the sense
chart.
Haiku 1
What I Hear…

What I See…

What I Feel…

Haiku 2
What I Hear…

What I See…
 What I Feel…

Questions to answer:

1. What images are common among the poems?

2. What dominant theme is reflected in the poems?

3. Basho believed in poetry as real if it reflects a beautiful life with nature. Is this
reflected in the poems he wrote? Support your answer.

4. Mention text that you have encountered which reflects the same theme as
the haikus.

5. Why do you think these poems and its theme are still appreciated until
the present?

6. Why do you think some themes continue to become a living influence?

ACTIVITY NO. 11: Problem-Solution
Considering Basho’s appreciation of nature, do we express the same gratefulness as he
does? What can you do to address the following concerns? Identify one concern and
answer the map.

Current environmental problems. Retrieved from

http://mrturnersenglish.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/slide228.jp
g
ACTIVITY NO. 12: Asserting My Points
Poems like Haikus are meant to be read aloud. Other literary pieces are also meant to
be read aloud for us to fully appreciate its structure. Other than poems, speeches are
also form of written text that is delivered to the crowd.

If you were given the chance to deliver a speech on environmental concerns, what
points will you emphasize?

Main Point Statement

Support 1 Support 2

Support 3
ACTIVITY NO. 13: Author’s PIE
Be familiar with the purpose of the author in crafting his/her masterpiece and consider
the Japanese Haikus. Use the chart that follows and trace Basho’s purpose.

Author’s purpose. (February, 2013). Retrieved from

http://jennifersteachingtools.blogspot.com/2013/02/authors-
purpose.html
Basho’s
 ACTIVITY NO. 14: Literal vs. Figurative Language
Looking at the two literary pieces coming from Japan and China, which among the
genre would most likely use figurative language? Literal language? Support your claim
by citing an example. Access this link given before you do the activity.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-
docs/LiteralFigurativeHandout.pdf

The Wonderful Pear Tree (Story) Haiku

(Poem)

Literal Figurative
ACTIVITY NO. 15: Figures of Speech
Figures of speeches are figurative language. This is a quick recap on the different
figures of speech. Identify what figure of speech is reflected by the following sentences.
Write the number of your answer on the space provided.

He was cold as an The book just begged

arctic wind. to be read.

Time is a thief. I waited forever for him.

The clock in the living I am not as young as I

room cuckooed the used to be.
hour.
 1 2
Onomatopoeia Hyperbole
f words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.
An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened eff

3 Personification 4 Metaphor
An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common
h in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities.

5 Simile
6 Litotes
ormed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain
A figure
qualities
of speech
in common.
in
which understatement is employed for rhetoric effect, principally
via double negatives.

Reading 3

A Little Incident
by Lu Hsun

Six years have gone by, as so many winks, since I came to the capital from the village.
During all that time there have occurred many of those events known as “affairs of the
state”, a great number of which I have seen or heard about. My heart does not seem to
have been in the least affected by any of them, and recollection now only tends to
increase my ill temper and cause me to like people less as the day wears on. But one
little incident alone is deep with meaning to me, and I am unable to forget it even now.
It was a winter day in the sixth year of the Republic, and a strong northernly wind blew
furiously. To make a living, I had to be up early, and on the way to my duties I
encountered scarcely anyone. After much difficulty, I finally succeeded in hiring a
rickshaw. I told the puller to take to me to the South Gate.

After a while, the wind moderated its fury, and in its wake the streets were left clean of
the loose dust. The puller ran quickly. Just as we approached the South Gate,
somebody ran in front of us, got entangled in the rickshaw, and tumbled to the ground.

It was a woman with streaks of white in her hair, and she wore ragged clothes. She had
darted suddenly from the side of the street, and directly crossed in front of us. My puller
tried to swerve aside, but her tattered jacket, unbuttoned and fluttering in the wind,
caught in the shafts. Fortunately, the puller had slowed his pace, otherwise she would
have been thrown head over heels, and probably injured. After we halted, the woman
still knelt on all fours. I did not think she was hurt. No one else had seen the collision.
And it irritated me that the puller had stopped and was apparently prepared to get
himself involved in some foolish complication. It might delay and trouble my journey.

“It’s nothing,” I told him. “Move on!”

But either he did not hear me or did not care, for he put down the shafts and gently
helped the old woman to her feet. He held her arms, supporting her, and asked:

“Are you alright?”

“I am hurt.”

I thought, “I saw you fall and it was not all rough. How can you be hurt? You are
pretending. The whole business is distasteful, and the rickshaw man is merely making
difficulties for himself. Now let him find his own way out of the mess.”

But the puller did not hesitate for a moment after the old woman said she was injured.
Still holding her arm, he walked carefully ahead with her. Then I was surprised as,
looking ahead, I suddenly noticed a police station, and saw that he was taking her there.
No one was outside, so he guided her in through the gate.

As they passed in, I experienced a curious sensation. I do not know why, but at the
moment, it suddenly seemed to me that his dust-covered figure loomed enormous, and
as he walked farther he continued to grow, until finally I had to lift my head to follow him.
At the same time, I felt a bodily pressure all over me, which came from his direction. It
seemed almost to push out from me all the littleness that hid under my fur-lined gown. I
grew week, as though my vitality had been spent, as though the blood had frozen in me.
I sat motionless, stunned and thoughtless, until I saw an officer emerge from the station.
Then, I got off from the rickshaw as he approached me.

“Get another rickshaw,” he advised. “This man can’t pull you anymore.”
Without thinking, I thrust my hand into my pocket and pulled forth a big fistful of
coppers. “Give the fellow these,” I said.

The wind had ceased entirely, but the street was still quiet. I mused as I walked, but I
was almost afraid to think about myself. Leaving aside what had happened before, I
sought an explanation for a fistful of coppers. Why had I given them? As a reward? And
did I think of myself, after my conduct, fit to pass judgment upon the rickshaw puller? I
could not answer my own conscience.

Till now that experience burns in my memory. I think of it, and introspect with pain and
effort. The political and military drama of these years is to me like the classics I read in
childhood: I cannot recite half a line of it. But always before my eyes, purging me with
shame, impelling me to better myself, invigorating my hope and courage, this little
incident is reenacted. I see it in every detail as distinctly as on the day it happened.

Ribo, L., Cabanilla, J., Tapang, A., and Baylon, M. (2005). Language in literature for second year.
Quezon City: tfibal Publishing House, Inc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lu Hsun is the pseudonym of Chou Shu-jen, writer of satiric short stories of
social criticisms. His short story K’uang-jenjih-chi (The Diary of a Madman) was
published in the journal that initiated the intellectual revolution in China. Lu shun has
been a witness of Cultural Revolution when Mao Tse-tung came to power. The new
government demanded that literature should serve the aims of the state. Thus, the
image of the working class was projected through the heroes of the literary works. The
new government also ordered the writers to produce works that could easily be
understood by the peasants, soldiers, and workers. Because the intellectuals were
persecuted, most of the published works were written by unskilled workers.
ACTIVITY NO. 16: Picture It Out
After reading the text, in one paragraph, picture out the incident that happened in the
story. Considering descriptive writing, allow the reader to see what you saw while
reading the text.

A descriptive paragraph uses specific details and images to paint a

picture with words of a person, place, or thing. Often the five senses are
used. Description means "illustrative detail”. Moreover, it is one among
other patterns that the writer can use in crafting his/her written text.

Access the link below and read the material before proceeding to the next
activity.

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~jewel001/CollegeWriting/START/Modes.htm

Questions to answer:

1. What is the setting of the story?

2. Looking at the incident that happened, whom would you blame? Why?
3. Lu Shun is known for his stories of social criticisms. What message does the
story give?

4. What could have influenced the author to write about such issues considering
the setting of the story?
5. Do you think the “new government” influenced his writings? Explain.
6. What influences the crafting of such content?
 IRF Worksheet
Having acquainted with literary pieces, respond to the question below. Write your
answer on the Revised Answer portion of the chart.

What influences the content of a literary text?

Initial Answer:

Revised Answer:

Final Answer:

ACTIVITY NO. 17: Writing Process

Every writer has his/her purpose in coming up with a literary piece. Their main goal is to
be effective. Following the writing process especially for prose writing will certainly
achieve consistency. Guided by the cycle, tell the story of the writing process.
 Questions to answer:

1. Why is it significant to follow the process?

2. In what way does the author’s purpose influence the process?
3. How does a written text become powerful to the literary world?

ACTIVITY NO. 18: Paragraph Analysis

Using the sample paragraph and the paragraph you have written on activity 15, let us
explore whether both covered the same elements. Identify the topic sentence,
supporting details and concluding sentence in each paragraph.

Learning how to turn in homework assignments on time is one of the

invaluable skills that college students can take with them into the working
world. Though the workforce may not assign homework to its workers in
the traditional sense, many of the objectives and jobs that need to be
completed require that employees work with deadlines. The deadlines that
students encounter in the classroom may be different in content when
compared to the deadlines of the workforce, but the importance of meeting
those deadlines is the same. In fact, failure to meet deadlines in both the
 classroom and the workforce can mean instant termination. For example,
in the classroom, students form a contract with the teacher and the
university when they enroll in a class. That contract requires that students
complete the assignments and objectives set forth by the course's
instructor in a specified time to receive a grade and credit for the course.
Accordingly, just as a student risks termination in the classroom if he/she
fails to meet the deadline for a homework assignment, so, too, does that
student risk termination in the workforce? When a student fails to
complete those assignments by the deadline, the student breaks her
contract with the university and the teacher to complete the assignments
and objectives of the course. This often leaves the teacher with no other
recourse than to fail the student and leaves the university with no other
recourse than to terminate the student's credit for the course. Developing
good habits of turning in assignments in class now, as current students,
will aid your performance and position as future participants in the working
world.

Topic Sentence

Supporting Details

Concluding Sentence
 Your
Descriptive
Paragraph

Topic Sentence

Supporting Details

Concluding Sentence
End of FIRM UP
In this section, the discussion focused on literary pieces from China and Japan. Moreover, we looked at significant

What new things did you learn?

What ideas/concepts do you need more help with?
What action should be done to cope with the difficulties you encountered?

BEFORE YOU PROCEED, ARE THERE THINGS NOT CLEAR TO

YOU? Please key in the number that correspond to your answer.

1 – There are concepts not clear to me.

These are the concepts not clear
2 – I’m good to go 
3 – There are some things not clear but I’m good
to go.
 DEEPEN

will continue to engage yourself with activities in relation to the previous literary and language focus activities. Keep in mind th

What influences the content of a literary text?

Why do some themes continue to become a living influence?

I Wonder? I wonder when . . .

Crafting a literary piece

I wonder how . . .

I wonder why . . .

I wonder if . . .
 ACTIVITY NO. 19: Implications
Considering the readings we had the previous section, answer the graphic organizer
below by stating the implications reflected in each of the literary piece.

The Wonderful Pear Tree

Haiku

A Little Incident

Questions to answer:

1. What helped you in identifying the given implications?

2. Why do you think the author would direct such thoughts?

3. What do you think influences the author to come up with such text?
ACTIVITY NO. 20: Let’s Try another Set
As you go through the activity, focus on the implications of the different texts and also
take note of its origin. Read the given texts and answer the task that follows.

Text 1 Text 2 Text 3

Verses from the Book The Growth Rings The Analects of

of Tao Confucius (Book II)

http://mydescentintomad http://hs2englishliterature. https://ebooks.adelaide.e

ness.wordpress.com/20 blogspot.com/2010/07/gro du.au/c/confucius/c748a/
1 0/05/20/tao-te-ching- wth-rings-deng-
verse-7/ hainan.html *download the file and open
book II
What does the text imply? What does the text imply? What does the text imply?

What do you think is the What do you think is the What do you think is the
basis of the author in basis of the author in basis of the author in
coming up with the text? coming up with the text? coming up with the text?
 Questions to answer:

1. What distinctive idea does each text reveals?

2. Cite other literary piece which addresses a similar thought?

3. Other than the purpose of the author, what influences the crafting of a
literary piece?

4. Fill in the chart below by the answering the following:

Circles 1-3: What were the bases of the author in coming up with the text?
Rectangle: What insight can you share based from the analysis done?
 ACTIVITY NO. 21: Sum Up
Fill in the given graphic organizer by answering the prompts.

What I did

What I learned

How will it be helpful?

iscussion was centered on writing techniques especially in coming up with a speech. Now that you are equipped, you are ready
 TRANSFER

Your goal in this section is to apply the things you have learned to real life situations. You will be given a task w
You are now ready to begin this section.

ACTIVITY NO. 22: Speech Outlining

In preparing a speech, it is important to prepare an outline before writing one. The
speech outline serves as the backbone of the speech. Before answering the organizer
access the following the links to help aid you in crafting one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xgFp7Afhlk

Introduction

Body Point1 Body Point 2 Body point 3

Conclusion
 Questions to answer:

1. What inspired you to address that particular environmental concern?

2. Have you encountered speeches addressing the same theme? Cite an example.
3. Why do you think such theme becomes a living influence?

ACTIVITY NO. 23: Writeshop

Learn more about how to write speeches in order to prepare you for the task at the end
of this lesson; you access these through the following links:

http://www.write.co.nz/site/writegroup/files/A-beginner's-guide-to-making-a-
speech%20-for-website.pdf

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/

A beginner’s guide to making a speech

By Margaret Austin, Write Limited

1. Thinking and planning - Pick your topic carefully. A teacher may say ‘Choose a
topic you care about’. We recommend something extra—pick a topic that you want your
audience to care about. You’ll find it easier to be convincing.
 Write a purpose statement and your main messages
 Use the purpose statement to shape your speech, and your message to the
audience will be clear.
 Know your audience and the setting
 Grab a big sheet of paper and go for it. Make a mind map, do pictures, create
lists. Everyone has a different way to brainstorm—do what works for you.
 Plan your structure
 Take your scribbling and organize your ideas. Draw up a draft plan with a
beginning, three main messages, and an end.

2. Writing and editing - Write first, edit later. First of all, write without editing.
 Don’t keep going over what you’ve written. Just let it flow.
 Writing for listeners is different from writing for readers. Your audience will hear
your speech once.
 Write as if you’re talking to someone—you are. Imagine a member of your
audience, and write just for them.
 Be yourself. If you’re not good at making jokes, don’t try to be funny. Just be who
you are.
 Keep it simple—for you and your audience. Use facts and statistics sparingly, or
your audience may lose track and drift off.
 Whatever your topic, make it interesting
  Tell stories. People love stories. We remember stories better than we remember
facts. Turn facts into stories.
 Put yourself into the speech. Add a personal story. It’ll tell the audience what
you’re like as a person, and make them more interested in what you’re saying.
Judge this carefully.
 Remember, the speech isn’t all about you, but you do belong in there
somewhere.
 Use ‘the rule of three’. ‘There was an Englishman, and Irishman, and a
Scotsman…’ ‘The three little pigs’ ‘Get down, get low, get out’—the rule of three
pops up everywhere. It’s a memorable way of making a point. ‘The new food at
the canteen is healthier, tastier, and cheaper.’
 Spend extra time on the start and finish
 The start and finish make a lasting impression. Writing them will take more time
and effort. The work pays off.

3. Practice to make it perfect - Practice equals control.

 Get to know your speech really well. Practice as much as you can. Bill Gates was
an awesome presenter who made it look easy. But he spent weeks perfecting his
pitch.
 As you practice, you’ll see things you want to change. Keep editing.
 Imagine a member of your audience—as you did when you wrote your first draft
—and make the speech to them.
 Check your gestures by practicing in a mirror. Here’s an unusual technique for
making sure you’re not overdoing gestures, and that they are really natural.

4. Stand and deliver— Embrace the adrenalin.

 Being nervous is okay. The audience is there to hear your material, not to
scrutinize or criticize.
 You’ve got their goodwill. They want you to succeed.
 The key is that you are in control of the situation. You’re there to tell your story.
You might even enjoy it.
 Use pauses. Take a pause before you speak. Pauses are powerful. Pausing
before speaking will calm you down, and focus your audience.
 Look at your listeners for a moment and get the start of your speech clear in your
mind.
 Project your voice. It’s not about volume. You don’t have to shout. Aim your voice
to the back row.
 Speak to your audience as if they were one person, just as you did when you
wrote and practiced.
 The better you know your material, the less time you’ll spend thinking about your
next line, and the
10 Keys to Writing a Speech
1. Be Memorable
2. Have a structure
3. Don’t Waste the Opening
4. Strike the Right Tone
5. Humanize Yourself
6. Repeat Yourself
7. Use Transitions
8. Include Theatrics
9. End Strong
10. Keep It Short

When can we say that the written speech is effective?

 PERFORMANCE TASK
As the head of the communications department of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, you are commissioned to write a speech reflecting
the theme Awareness on Environmental Detriments. The speech will be published in
the department’s newsletter in relation to the celebration of Public Speaking Month. The
speech should be relevant, well-developed and creative

SELF-COMPOSED SPEECH

Excellent Satisfactory Developing Beginning

4 3 2 1
The written
The written The written
The written speech reflects
speech speech does
speech minimally the
reflects the not reflect the
insightfully theme of the
theme of the theme of the
reflects the training.
training. training.
theme of the The speaker in
The speaker The speaker
training. some parts
is able to is able to
Relevant The speaker is makes
make real make real
able to make superficial real
world world
real world world
connections connections
connections and connections
and relate and relate
relate and relates
environmental environmental
environmental environmental
action plans. action plans.
action plans. action plans.

The written
speech is clearly The written
The written
and logically speech is The written
speech shows
organized with organized with speech lacks
inconsistencies
an engaging a sufficient organization
in organization
introduction, a introduction, a and there is
and lack of
Well- logically logically no clear
sustained
developed sequenced body sequenced transition.
focus
with appropriate body with There is no
throughout the
transitions, and appropriate clear
speech with
clear and transitions, beginning,
inconsistently
convincing and clear and middle or end.
use transitions.
closure. closure.
 The written The written
The written The written
speech has a speech was
speech was speech was
unique and inadequate in
well presented weak in terms
original terms of
which of unique
presentation unique
communicated presentation
Suitable which presentation
understanding which shows a
comprehensively which reflects
on the vague sense
communicated confusion on
purpose of the on the purpose
understanding the purpose of
speech. of the speech.
on the purpose the speech.
of the speech.

ACTIVITY NO. 24: Status Update

Update yourself with the considerations needed to be addressed in your speech through
this checklist.

Speech Writing
 Do you have three distinct and well-thought-out arguments?
 Do you have evidence (research) to support these arguments?
 Does your introduction briefly state the problem?
 Does your introduction include topic sentences that elude to your arguments?
 Does your introduction transition to your first argument paragraph well?
 Does your first argument paragraph include a topic sentence that firmly states
your first argument?
 Do the claims you make in the first paragraph make logical sense with your
first argument?
 Are all of your claims in the first paragraph supported by evidence?
 Does your first argument transition well to your second?
 Does your second argument paragraph include a topic sentence
that firmly states your second argument?
Do the claims you make in the second paragraph make logical sense with
your second argument?
 Are all of you claims in the second paragraph supported by evidence?
 Does your second argument transition well to your third?
 Does your third argument paragraph include a topic sentence that
firmly states your third argument?
 Do the claims you make in the third paragraph make logical sense with
your third argument?
  Are all of you claims in the third paragraph supported by evidence?
 Does your conclusion briefly restate your arguments?
 Does your conclusion encourage the other senators to vote a certain way?

IRF Worksheet
Reconsider the question and write your answers in the Final Answer portion of the
chart.

What influences the content of a literary text?

Initial Answer:

Revised Answer:

Final Answer:
 Journal Writing
Share your thoughts 

What new things did you learn?

What ideas/concepts do you need more help with?
What are your significant
learnings?
What else would you like to do
on this lesson?

End of TRANSFER
You have completed this lesson. Congratulations! You are now ready to proceed to the next lesson. 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Claim – is to maintain that something is true.

Descriptive – is a manner of expressing an attribute or quality of a noun.

East Asia Literature – these are literary pieces that come from East Asian Countries
(China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Mongolia).

Figurative Language – refers to words, and groups of words, that exaggerate or alter
the usual meanings of the component words.

Folktale – are stories passed on from one person to another by word of mouth. These
tales were not written down, but existed only in the memory of mankind.

Haiku – is both a type of poetic pattern and a way of experiencing the world. This short,
17-syllable form, usually written in three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable count, focuses our
attention on a single, insightful moment.

Literal language – refers to words that do not deviate from their defined meaning.

Literary pieces/text – these are also referred to us genres or text published.

Paragraph – is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular

point or idea.

Paraphrase – a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form,

as for clearness; rewording.

Speech – this is referred to as an address to be given to an audience.

Supporting Details – this refers to the ideas related to the theme of the text.

Syllable – a unit of spoken language that consists of one or more vowel sounds alone,
a syllabic consonant alone or any of these with one or more.

Topic Sentence – this refers to the road map of a paragraph. It reflects the main idea
of the text.
REFERENCES

Guth, H. (1990). American English today: our common language. United States
of America: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Ribo, L., Galvez, N., & Malicsi, M. (2013). Language in literature II Afro-
Asian literature. Philippines: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Ribo, L., Cabanilla, J., Tapang, A., and Baylon, M. (2005). Language in literature
for second year. Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Austin, M. (2012). A beginner’s guide to making a speech. Retrieved from

http://www.write.co.nz/site/writegroup/files/A-beginner's-guide-to-making-a-speech
%20- for-website.pdf
This link provides lessons on how to write a speech.

Author’s purpose. (February, 2013). Retrieved from

http://jennifersteachingtools.blogspot.com/2013/02/authors-purpose.html
This link shows the chart of the author’s purpose in writing.

Current environmental problems. Retrieved from

http://mrturnersenglish.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/slide228.jpg
This link is the source of the current environmental problems photo.

English exercises. Retrieved from

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=4956
This link provides activity for paraphrasing.

How to create a speech outline. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xgFp7Afhlk
This link will lead you to a video presentation on how to create a speech outline.

Literal vs figurative language. (2010) Retrieved from

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/LiteralFigurativeHandout.pdf
This link provides explanation about figurative and literal language.

Nature. Retrieved from http://tarotwithkali.blogspot.com/2012/07/nature.html

This link the source of the nature photo.

Rhetorical modes. (2013). Retrieved from

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~jewel001/CollegeWriting/START/Modes.htm
This link provides the explanation on the different rhetorical modes used in writing.

Schmitt, Jeff. (2014) Keys to writing a speech. Retrieved from

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/
This link provides ideas on how to write a speech.
Speech analysis questions. (2005). Retrieved from
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson885/speech
- analysis.pdf
This link provides guide questions on how to come up with a speech outline.

Spellhood studios. Retrieved from http://www.shsforums.net

This link is the source of the communing with nature photo.

The silver pen. Retrieved from http://www.thesilverpen.com/

This link is the source of Wright’s quote.

Warren photographic image library of nature and pet. Retrieved from

http://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/06544growth-rings-in-douglas-fir
This link is the source of the growth ring photo.