Vocabulary & Language Activities for “Hamadi”

Vocabulary In Context

Vocabulary Practice: Specify whether each statement is true or false.

1. It can be difficult to understand when someone with a wry sense Word List of humor is joking. anthem 2. Spartan homes are very extravagantly furnished. archaic 3. Someone with an expansive personality is typically very outgoing. expansive 4. Five courses and three desserts would be a lavish meal. lavish 5. A novel with several archaic words would probably be difficult to spartan understand. surrogate 6. Your surrogate mother might not necessarily be related to you. sustenance 7. Grass and hay provide sustenance for many farm animals. wry 8. An anthem is a song written for a funeral.

Using Academic Words in your Writing

-complex -device -evaluate -interact -perspective

Think about what Hamadi might have been thinking and feeling the night he goes caroling with Susan and the English Club. Write a short explanation of those events from Hamadi’s point of view. Be sure to include his thoughts about being invited and the actions of other characters. Use at least two Academic Words in your response.

Strategies for Vocabulary: Words from Greek Culture

Common Core Standards: L6 Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge You probably recall the first meaning of the vocabulary word spartan from a history class. It means someone from the Greek city-state of Sparta. Spartans were recognized for their rejection of extravagance and comfort. Knowing and understanding the backgrounds of other words related to ancient Greece can help you to comprehend their meanings.

Practice: Read the chart below and then answer questions 1-4.

Character/Ite Description m Hercules A mythological hero who strength helped him perform nearly impossible tasks Colossus of An gigantic statue of Greek sun god Rhodes Narcissus A mythological young man who fell in love with his own reflection Titans A race of powerful gods who came before Zeus and his family

1. What is a contemporary instance of something colossal?

2. What would a narcissistic person most likely want to talk about?

3. What might be an example of a herculean task?

4. By calling their new car the Titan, what were the car manufacturers suggesting to consumers?

Language Exercises

Common Core Standards: L.3 Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style W.9a (RL3) Draw evidence from literary texts; analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text

Grammar and Style: Adding Emphasis

Throughout the s tory, Nye utilizes repetition to stress to the reader the thoughts and actions of her characters. Use repetition in your own writing when you want to add emphasis. Below are some examples of repetition from the story. Note that Nye repeats the same pronouns, nouns, and verbs:

1. Her uncles were dull. Her uncles shopped at the mall and watched TV. 2. A minute later her mother was digging in the closet for neck scarves, and her father was digging in the drawer for flashlight batteries. Now take a look at the two student examples below. The first one has not been edited to include repetition. The second draft has. Notice how the revised version (Draft 2) adds emphasis. Changes are in blue.

Student Draft #1 Susan is a remarkable person. She is observant and kind and curious about life.

Student Draft #2 (Revised for emphasis) Susan is a remarkable person. She is remarkable because she is observant and kind and curious about life.

The Reading – Writing Connection

Increase your understanding of “Hamadi” by answering the writing task in the box below. Next, use the revising tip to improve and enhance your writing.

Writing Task Revising Tip Extended Constructed Response: Character Analysis Review your writing. Did you effectively Critique how Nye develops the character of Susan. In three to emphasize Susan’s five paragraphs, find the traits Susan displays, as well as the character traits? If methods of characterization Nye uses to demonstrate to the not, think about reader these traits. utilizing repetition to help add emphasis to your writing.