MODULE

Stories
on Stage
“The play is not in the words.
It’s behind the words.”
—Stella Adler

290
 Essential Question

Why might some

stories be better
told as plays?

Video
291
Knowledge
Map

Acts and
Scenes

Stories as
Plays

Characters

292
 Stage
and Settings

Audience

293
audition When
actors or musicians
go to an audition, Short
they give a Read
performance to show

THAT’S
what they can do.
actor An actor is
a person who acts
in plays, movies, or
other performances.
rehearse If you
rehearse a play,
song, or dance, you
practice it many
ENTERTAINMENT!
times so that you are
prepared.
ability If you have
the ability to do 1 Anyone who has seen a great play and practice their dialogue, or the
something, you can will agree: theater is one of the most words they speak on stage. They follow
do it because you
know how. exciting forms of entertainment. stage directions, which tell actors how
Nothing beats watching skilled actors to behave and move.
bringing a story to life on the stage. 3 Meanwhile, the crew builds sets for
myNotes 2 At the audition, each actor must the stage to show the play’s different
work hard to win a part as one of the settings. The sets include props such as
characters. Then it’s time to rehearse. furniture or painted scenery. Each act
The actors take weeks to learn or scene is like a chapter in a story and
their roles. They read the script may require a different set. Costume
designers decide what the actors should
wear. The director oversees everything.
4 The play Peter Pan is theater at its
best. A great script, exciting roles, and
colorful stage sets—this play has it all!
Written by J. M. Barrie, the play was first
performed in 1904. Today, it’s as
popular as ever. Barrie mixes
fantasy and reality to tell an
irresistible story. The
main character is a
boy who never

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grows up. Oh, and he can fly! Peter has 5 The play allows set designers to
adventures on the island of Neverland. create amazing scenery. There’s a
Mermaids, fairies, and other fantasy towering ship for Neverland’s pirate,
characters live there, too. Peter also Captain Hook. Peter’s home looks like
meets regular children. Unlike Peter, a fairy tale come to life. Peter Pan’s
these kids do grow up. costume designers create fearsome
pirate costumes. They make sparkly
fairy outfits, too. Both Peter and Tinker
Bell, a fairy who is Peter’s best friend,
“fly” across the stage. How? The crew
uses wires and a harness. The audience
is in awe!
6 Peter Pan offers great parts for
actors, too. The starring role of Peter
Pan requires an actor who can show a
range of emotions. He or she can’t be
afraid of heights! Captain Hook must be
both funny and evil. Wendy, a girl who
becomes Peter’s friend, must be warm
and likable.
7 Peter Pan needs a talented director,
too. The director must make the set
changes go smoothly. The director also
needs the ability to coach actors and
make them sparkle.
8 Put all these elements together,
and you have a thrilling evening at
the theater. Entertainment doesn’t get
better than Peter Pan!

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Notice &
Note
Contrasts and
Contradictions

Prepare to Read
GENRE STUDY A drama, or play, is a story that can be
performed for an audience.
• Plays begin with a cast of characters.
• Authors of plays tell the story through the plot.
• Authors of plays often tell the story in chronological
order, or the order in which the events happened.
• Plays are made up of lines of dialogue.

SET A PURPOSE Think about the title and genre of this

text. This play is based on a tall tale about Pecos Bill. What
do you know about tall tales? What would you like to
learn? Write your response below.

CRITICAL
VOCABULARY
genuine

saga

coiled

whirled

tame
Build Background:
The Characteristics of Tall Tales

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written by Anthony D. Fredericks

illustrated by Cory Godbey
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 myNotes

1 STAGING: The four narrators should all be seated on stools or high

chairs. They should each have their scripts on a music stand or
lectern. The other characters (some of whom only have a few lines)
may be standing or walking around the staging area.

CHARACTERS:

2 Narrator 1 Pa Mountain Lion

Narrator 2 Ma Cowboy 2
Narrator 3 Cowboy 1
Narrator 4 Pecos Bill

3 NARRATOR 1: Now as you all know, Texas is a pretty big state. In

fact, it’s the biggest state of them all. And ’cause it’s such a big state,
it has big heroes. And the biggest of all the heroes was Pecos Bill, the
King of the Cowboys.
4 NARRATOR 2: You see, Pecos Bill wasn’t originally from Texas. No
sir. He was from somewhere back east. From a family of 15 or 20
kids. In fact, there were so many kids in the family that the parents
just didn’t remember all the names of all the children.
5 NARRATOR 3: Well, as I heard it, Bill wanted a teddy bear—just
like any other kid. But ’cause his family was so poor they couldn’t
afford a teddy bear just for Bill. So he decided to go out and get his
own. So one day he crawled out of his crib and into the woods.
There he found a genuine grizzly bear, which he wrapped up in his
arms and took on home. Seems like Bill was going to be a little
different from everyone else.

genuine If something is genuine, it is real and exactly what it seems to be.

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6 NARRATOR 4: Our saga begins when one day Bill’s parents heard
about some new land in the West. They heard that there was plenty
of land . . . plenty of land for families with 15 or 20 children.
7 PA: Hey, Ma, I hear that there’s plenty of land in the West for
families with lots of children.
8 MA: You mean families like ours with so many children that we just
can’t remember their names?
9 PA: Yup!

10 MA: Well, why don’t we just up and move out to that there West so
we can build us a house big enough for all these children?
11 PA: Sounds like a grand idea!

12 NARRATOR 1: And so Pa and Ma packed all their children and

all their animals in the back of their wagon and headed out for
the West.
13 NARRATOR 2: However, as soon as the wagon went over the state
line between Arkansas and Texas, it bounced Bill clean out of the
wagon and alongside the road.

saga A saga is a long, detailed story about heroic events.

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14 NARRATOR 3: Since there were so many children and animals in
the wagon, nobody noticed that Bill wasn’t in the wagon until about
a week later. By then it was too late to go look for him, but Bill’s
parents figured that any baby who could wrestle a grizzly bear was
certainly tough enough to survive in the wilds of Texas.
15 NARRATOR 4: As it happens, Bill got along fine. After falling out
of the wagon, he crawled into a cave of coyotes and fell asleep. The
mama coyote took a liking to Bill and began to raise him as her
own. Bill soon learned all the ways of coyote life. He learned how
to bay at the moon, how to hunt for rabbits, and how to wrestle
with all the other coyotes in the den. Pretty soon, Bill was just a
regular coyote.
16 NARRATOR 1: One day Bill was lapping up some water from the
Pecos River along with the other coyotes. That’s when a cowboy
spotted him.
17 COWBOY 1: What in tarnation! You’re just lapping up water like
you was a regular coyote.
18 PECOS BILL: Well, that’s what I am—a coyote. Anyways, ain’t you
never seen a real coyote afore?
19 COWBOY 1: ’Course I have. But you’re not like any coyote I’ve ever
seen. You look more like a human than you do a coyote.
20 PECOS BILL: But I am a coyote. I have fleas just like a coyote,
don’t I?
21 COWBOY 1: That don’t mean nothin’. The thing that all coyotes got
is a tail.
22 NARRATOR 2: With that, Bill turned around and looked back.
It was then, for the first time in his life, that he realized he didn’t
have a tail.
23 PECOS BILL: I don’t have a tail like my brothers and
sisters. But if I’m not a coyote, then what am I?

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24 COWBOY 1: You’re a human being.

25 NARRATOR 3: Pecos Bill began to growl just like his coyote

mother had taught him. But he knew deep down in his heart that he
wasn’t a real coyote. So he figured he might as well go along with the
cowboy and begin acting like a real human acts.
26 NARRATOR 4: Bill started walking alongside the cowboy.
Suddenly, a huge mountain lion jumped down from a cliff and right
onto Bill’s back. Without a thought, Bill just up and wrestled that
mountain lion to the ground.
27 MOUNTAIN LION: I give up! I give up!

28 PECOS BILL: Your huntin’ days are over. Seeing as how I need to
be more like a human, I’ll use you like a horse.
29 MOUNTAIN LION: A horse!

30 PECOS BILL: Yep, a horse! So let’s be on our way.

31 NARRATOR 1: Bill jumped on the back of the mountain lion,

and he and the cowboy continued on their way.

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32 NARRATOR 2: They hadn’t gone but 10 miles when a 10-foot

rattlesnake swung out of a cactus plant and down on top of them.
33 NARRATOR 3: Bill jumped off the mountain lion’s back and
grabbed the end of that snake. He swung that snake around and
around his head. As the snake was spinning round and round, it
grew thinner and thinner. It also got longer and longer. By the time
Bill was done, that 10-foot rattlesnake was 30 feet long.
34 NARRATOR 4: Bill coiled up that 30-foot snake just like it was a
rope and slung it over his shoulder. From then on cowboys always
carried a rope with them just like Pecos Bill carried a 30-foot
snake with him wherever he went.

coiled If you coiled something, you shaped it into loops or rings.

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35 NARRATOR 1: After that, Bill and the cowboy rode on until they
got to the ranch alongside the Pecos River. The other cowboys didn’t
know what to make of Bill, riding his mountain lion and carrying a
snake wrapped across his shoulders. But I guess they could see that
he was a good man, so they figured he’d be a good cowboy, too.
36 PECOS BILL: Howdy, folks, I’m new in these here parts. I just want
to learn how to be a cowboy and help you fellas out.
37 COWBOY 2: Well, friend, you’re welcome to stay as long as you
want. We’re always looking for new help, seeing as we have the
whole state of Texas to take care of and lots of cattle to keep an
eye on.
38 PECOS BILL: I appreciate that. By the way, what would you like to
have me do now?
39 COWBOY 2: Well, I don’t think it’s anything you can help us with.
See, we’re just in the biggest drought that Texas ever had. We ain’t
had no water for months and months now.

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40 PECOS BILL: Well, I reckon I can help with that.

41 NARRATOR 2: And with that, Bill just swung his rattlesnake

lasso round and round and he roped up all the water from the
Rio Grande River. After that there was no more problem with
any drought.
42 NARRATOR 3: Seems like there was nothing that Bill
couldn’t do. Like that time when the biggest and meanest
tornado that ever was came into Texas. Bill decided that the
only way to tame that tornado was to ride it until it spun
itself out.
43 NARRATOR 4: So Bill just waited until that tornado came up
and over the state line with Oklahoma. It slowed down a little
as it crossed into Texas, and that’s when Bill just up and
jumped on that tornado’s back.
44 NARRATOR 1: Now, that tornado didn’t like anybody
ridin’ its back. It turned itself from green to brown to black
and began to leaping around like it was full of about a
hundred wildcats. That tornado whipped and whirled
and whipped and whirled some more, just tryin’ to
throw Bill off its back.
45 PECOS BILL: Yowee! Hold on tight! I aim to tame
you, seein’ as how I’m the toughest cowboy in
these here parts. You ain’t about to throw me.
No sir.

whirled If something whirled, it spun and

turned very quickly.
tame If you tame a wild animal, you teach
it to do what you want.

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46 NARRATOR 2: Well, that tornado started to do all kinds of mean

things as it spun faster and faster. It humped its back, it threw itself
all about, it jumped up and it jumped down, trying to toss Bill back
on to the ground. It just got meaner and meaner every way it
twisted and turned.
47 NARRATOR 3: In fact, it got to be so mean and so ornery that it
tied up rivers into knots and emptied lakes of all their water. Why,
Bill and that twister went from one end of Texas to the other—the
twister was twisting and Bill was hangin’ on for dear life. But try as
it might that twister could never throw Bill. No way! Bill just rode
that tornado like it was the meanest bull at a rodeo. He jabbed it
with his spurs and wrapped his arms tighter and tighter around that
spinning tornado.
48 NARRATOR 4: Finally, that tornado figured it wasn’t going to get
Bill off its back. So it headed itself out to California and just rained
itself out. Seems it rained so much water that it washed out the
Grand Canyon. Why, that mean old tornado was worn down to
nothing, and by the time they both reached the Pacific Ocean, that
tornado was nothing but a little bitty puff of wind.

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49 NARRATOR 1: When Bill fell off, he hit the ground so hard that
the ground just sank right below sea level. Folks in those parts now
call that part of California Death Valley.
50 PECOS BILL: There, that should teach those tornadoes a thing
or two!
51 NARRATOR 2: When Bill got back to Texas, he started to clean up
the mess he and that tornado made.
52 NARRATOR 3: When he first climbed on the back of the tornado,
Texas had been covered by forests of trees. But now all the land had
been swept clean of every single tree from the full force of that
wrestling match between Bill and the tornado.
53 NARRATOR 4: And if you go and visit Texas today, you will see
lots of wide open spaces all over the state. Wide open spaces thanks
to that wrestling match between the greatest cowboy who ever lived
and one mean and wild tornado. Yup, Pecos Bill was the best
cowboy there ever was . . . the meanest, the strongest, and the best
there ever was!

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myNotes

Respond
to the
Text
Collaborative Discussion
Look back at what you wrote on page 296. Tell a partner what written by Anthony D. Fredericks
illustrated by Cory Godbey

you learned about tall tales. Then work with a group to

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discuss the questions below. Use details in The Saga of Pecos

Bill to explain your answers. Take notes for your responses.

1 Review pages 298–299. What details do the narrators

Listening Tip
share to show that Pecos Bill was “a little different”? Listen closely when
others are
speaking. Show
that you are paying
attention by
looking at
the speaker.
2 Reread pages 304–305. What words and phrases make it
seem like the tornado is a living thing?

Speaking Tip
Speak clearly and
in a way that your
group can hear. Be
3 What did Pecos Bill do that a real person could do? What sure that you stay
did he do that a real person could not do? on the topic your
group is discussing.

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Cite Text
Evidence
Write a Response
PROMPT

Respond to the Text You have learned that authors of plays tell the
stories through the action in the plot, the dialogue of the characters, and
the use of a narrator. In The Saga of Pecos Bill, you read about Pecos Bill, the
larger-than-life hero of this tall tale. What do you learn about Pecos Bill
from the narrators? How do the narrators’ descriptions help you
understand the plot of the play? Cite evidence from the text to support
your response.

EVIDENCE

List details from the narrators in The Saga of Pecos Bill that describe
Pecos Bill and help you understand the plot of the play.

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myNotes

WRITE

Now write your response in a paragraph.

written by Anthony D. Fredericks

illustrated by Cory Godbey

Make sure your response

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uses evidence from the text to answer the questions.

describes Pecos Bill.

explains how the narrators help explain the plot of the play.

is written in complete sentences.

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Prepare to View
GENRE STUDY Informational videos present facts and
information about a topic in visual and audio form.
• A narrator explains what is happening on the screen.
• Informational videos include words that may be
specific to a science or social studies topic.
• Videos may include sound effects or music.

SET A PURPOSE As you watch, use what you have

learned about plays to help you understand the video.
How is the theater’s stage different from a stage in your
school? What happens off-stage to help make a play
sound real? Write your answers below.

CRITICAL
VOCABULARY
Baroque

pulleys

backdrop

performance

Build Background:
Baroque Theater

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T he Traveling Trio:
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

311
 As you watch The Traveling Trio: Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, notice that
the children you see in the video are also its narrators. Why do you think
the video has narrators who are about your age? Pay attention to the
information each narrator gives. Think about how it connects to what you
see in the video. Do the narrators explain ideas clearly? Why or why not?

Listen for the Critical Vocabulary words Baroque, pulleys, backdrop, and
performance for clues to the meaning of each word. Take notes in the
space below about how the words were used.

Baroque The Baroque Period was many years ago. The buildings of that time were very fancy and decorated.
pulleys Pulleys are wheels wrapped with rope that people can use to lift heavy objects.
backdrop On a stage, a backdrop is a painted curtain or wall that shows the setting of the scene.
performance If you sing, dance, or speak in front of a group, you give a performance.

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myNotes

Respond The Traveling Trio:

to the Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

Video
Collaborative Discussion
Work with a group to discuss the questions below. Give
examples from The Traveling Trio: Český Krumlov, Czech 3re_se_m4_trio.indd 319
319

2/26/2018 1:35:24 AM

Republic to support your ideas. Take notes for your responses.

Be sure to make eye contact with others in your group during
the discussion.
Listening Tip
1 Why are there very few theaters like the one the Listen to others in
children visit? your group
carefully. Do their
ideas agree with
yours, or does what
they say change
what you think?
2 What can you tell about a trapdoor from what the
narrator says?

Speaking Tip
Notice if others
seem to
understand what
you are saying.
3 What kinds of jobs did stagehands do at the theater?
Do you need to
speak more clearly
or explain more?

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 Cite
Evidence
Write a Response
PROMPT

Respond to the Video In The Traveling Trio: Český Krumlov, Czech

Republic, Everett, Olivia, and Ingram took you on a tour of a special theater.
What are some of the tools used in an old theater? How do those tools
bring a play to life? What do they help the audience understand? Cite
evidence from the video to support your response.

EVIDENCE

List details from The Traveling Trio: Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
that help you understand the tools used in old theaters. Note how
these tools make plays come to life for the audience.

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myNotes

The Traveling Trio:

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

WRITE

Now write your response in a paragraph.

Make sure your response 3re_se_m4_trio.indd 319

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2/26/2018 1:35:24 AM

uses evidence from the video to answer the questions.

explains how tools are used in old theaters.

tells how these tools make plays come to life.

is written in complete sentences.

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Notice &
Note
Words of the
Wiser

Prepare to Read
GENRE STUDY A drama, or play, is a story that can be
performed for an audience.
• Plays begin with a cast of characters.
• Plays include stage directions and acts or scenes.
• Plays are made up of lines of dialogue with informal
language to make the conversation seem real.
• Some plays include a theme, or lesson learned.

SET A PURPOSE Think about the title and genre of this

text. This play is based on a classic Italian tale. What do
you know about classic tales? What would you like to
learn? Write your response below.
CRITICAL
VOCABULARY
eminent

peasant

stately

deceive

superior

merciful
Build Background:
Classic Tales with Magic Rings

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Gigi and the

Wishing Ring
adapted from an Italian fairy tale
illustrated by Sumi Collina

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Cast of Characters
1 Narrator Dog
Gigi’s Mother Waiter
Gigi Three Servants
Old Woman Maliarda
Cat Mouse
Setting
2 A small house in a forest. A forest backdrop and a house backdrop with
a curtain for a door.
Props
3 A heavy sack, a gold ring, 4 stools, a small table, and a fine cloak
Costumes
4 Human characters wear medieval-style clothes. Animal characters
wear animal masks and fur coverings.

ACT I
SCENE 1
5 (Forest backdrop. Stool at down-right of stage. Lights up full. NARRATOR enters
from left and sits on the stool.)
6 NARRATOR: Once upon a time in Italy, there was a boy named Gigi.
7 (GIGI enters from left and walks to center stage.)
8 NARRATOR: Gigi lived in a little house with his mother. One day, though,
Gigi decided to go and see the world.

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9 (Offstage) GIGI’S MOTHER: Gigi! Where are you going?

10 (GIGI’S MOTHER enters from left.)
11 GIGI’S MOTHER: Gigi! Why are you leaving me?
12 GIGI: Mama, I want to see the world and seek adventure, and fortune, and stuff.
13 GIGI’S MOTHER: Gigi! My heart is breaking!
14 GIGI: Don’t worry, Mama! It’s not like I’m going to get stuck on top of a
mountain. That would just be silly! Before you know it, I’ll be back with fine
clothes and a bag of gold, and we can live happily ever after.
15 GIGI’S MOTHER: Oh, Gigi—gold and fine clothes won’t make you happy if you
don’t have a good heart. Do you remember what I told you?
16 GIGI: Don’t run with scissors?
17 GIGI’S MOTHER: No, silly boy! I said that you only get from people what you give
to people!
18 GIGI: Sure, sure, Mama, I’ll remember. Bye!
19 GIGI’S MOTHER: Farewell, my son!
20 (GIGI’S MOTHER exits left. GIGI marches clockwise around the stage, ending back at
center stage. Lights down.)

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SCENE 2
21 (Lights up. NARRATOR is sitting on the stool down-right. GIGI is standing at center stage
and then walks in a circle around the stage.)
22 NARRATOR: Gigi set off to find fortune and adventure and stuff. After many hours, he
saw an old woman on the road ahead.
23 (OLD WOMAN, DOG, and CAT enter from right. OLD WOMAN is carrying a large sack over
one shoulder.)
24 GIGI: Hi there! I’m Gigi. Let me carry that heavy sack for you.
25 (GIGI takes the sack.)
26 OLD WOMAN: Thank you, young man. I thought my back would break.
27 (GIGI, OLD WOMAN, CAT, and DOG walk slowly to down-left. GIGI sets down the sack.)
28 OLD WOMAN: Your kindness deserves kindness in return. Please, take my cat and
dog. Show them loyalty, and they will be your most loyal friends.
29 GIGI: Wow, thank you! Hello, Cat.
30 CAT: Meow!
31 GIGI: Hello, Dog.
32 DOG: Woof!

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33 OLD WOMAN: Take this ring, too.

34 (The OLD WOMAN hands a gold ring to GIGI.)
35 GIGI: It’s beautiful!
36 OLD WOMAN: It’s not just a beautiful ring. If you ever need something,
put the ring on, make a wish, and twist the ring around your finger.
37 GIGI: Then what?
38 OLD WOMAN: You’ll see! One more piece of advice before I go—never, ever tell
anyone about your ring. If you do, it will only bring you trouble.
39 (OLD WOMAN exits left.)
40 GIGI: What a nice old woman! Weird, but nice. OK, guys. Let’s go!
41 CAT: Meow!
42 DOG: Woof!
43 (GIGI, DOG, and CAT exit right. Lights down.)

ACT II
SCENE 3
44 (Lights up. Forest backdrop. NARRATOR is sitting on the stool down-right.)
45 NARRATOR: Gigi and his new friends walked all day. When evening came, they
were still deep in the forest.
46 (GIGI, DOG, CAT enter from left, looking tired.)
47 GIGI: Wow—there sure are a lot of trees in Italy! I need a rest, and something
to eat.
48 CAT (sitting down, rubbing its feet): Mee-OW!
49 DOG (lying flat): Woooof!
50 GIGI: I wonder if this ring really works.
51 (GIGI takes the ring from his pocket and puts it on.)
52 GIGI: OK—I wish for a big bowl of macaroni and cheese . . .
53 CAT: Get me a fat tuna, too.
54 GIGI: Sure! (does a double-take) You can talk?!
55 CAT: What, you’ve never met a talking cat before?

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56 GIGI: No—I can’t say I have. Why didn’t you say something earlier?
57 DOG (sitting up): You didn’t ask.
58 GIGI: You can talk, too?
59 DOG: You have a ring that grants wishes. Why are you surprised by talking animals?
60 GIGI: Wow—it’s like I’m in some sort of fairy tale!
61 CAT: Something like that.
62 DOG: I’ll have a nice, juicy bone, by the way.
63 GIGI: OK! I wish for a big bowl of macaroni and cheese, a fat tuna, and a nice juicy bone.
64 (GIGI twists the ring on his finger. Play slide-whistle sound effect. The WAITER and
three SERVANTS enter left and put a table and three stools in center-stage. GIGI, CAT,
and DOG sit down. WAITER and SERVANTS exit left. They reenter, set three bowls in front
of GIGI, CAT, and DOG and exit left. GIGI, CAT, and DOG pretend to eat from the bowls.)
65 GIGI: Wow, this is tasty!
66 CAT: Delicious!
67 DOG: Mouth-watering!
68 NARRATOR: As the three friends ate their fill, Maliarda, the daughter of an
eminent lord, was walking in the forest.

eminent An eminent person is famous and important.

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69 (MALIARDA enters from the left. She walks to down-left.)

70 NARRATOR: Everyone agreed that Maliarda was the most
beautiful girl in Italy.
71 GIGI: Wow, she is the most beautiful girl in Italy!
72 (GIGI stares in awe at MALIARDA.)
73 CAT: Gigi?
74 (DOG waves hand in front of GIGI’s face.)
75 CAT (loudly): Gigi!
76 GIGI: She’s so beautiful! Aw, who am I kidding? A girl like her
won’t look twice at a peasant like me . . . Wait a minute! I
have a wishing ring! I’ll wish for fine clothes and a big house
and servants. I’ll tell her I’m a lord! Then she’ll talk to me
for sure!
77 CAT: Are you sure this is a good idea?
78 DOG: It’s not nice to lie to people, Gigi.
79 GIGI: No, it’s OK! I wish for a suit of fine clothes fit for a lord
and a big mansion and servants, too.
80 (GIGI twists the ring around his finger. Play slide-whistle sound
effect. The WAITER and three SERVANTS enter from right
carrying a fine cloak and the house backdrop. The WAITER puts
the cloak around GIGI’s shoulders. The SERVANTS place the
backdrop upstage center. The WAITER and SERVANTS exit right.)
81 GIGI: That’s better! (To Maliarda) M’lady!
82 (GIGI bows deeply.)
83 MALIARDA: Oh, good day to you, sir! Have we met?
84 GIGI: No, m’lady. I’m, um, Lord Gigi.
85 MALIARDA: It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord. (To audience) If he is a lord,
I am the Queen of England! (To GIGI) Is this your stately home, my lord?
86 GIGI: It sure is! Isn’t it awesome?

peasant A peasant is someone who is very poor and may work as a farmer.
stately When something is stately, it is awesome or grand.

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87 MALIARDA: Oh yes, awesome. (To audience) How did a peasant like him get such a fine
house? I must learn his secret!
88 GIGI: What’s your name, m’lady?
89 MALIARDA: I am Maliarda.
90 GIGI: Maliarda! That’s a beautiful name!
91 MALIARDA: You are too kind, my lord. (To the audience) Does this peasant think he can
deceive me? Two can play at this game, and I am the superior player! (To GIGI) My lord,
how did you earn your fortune?
92 GIGI: Well . . . it’s sort of a secret.
93 MALIARDA: Oh I love secrets! I bet it is a really exciting one!
94 GIGI: It is!
95 MALIARDA: Please tell me!
96 CAT: You only just met this girl, Gigi.
97 DOG: Yeah, I don’t trust her.
98 MALIARDA (shocked): How rude! Lord Gigi, are you just going to let your animals insult
me like that? Banish them!

deceive If you deceive others, you tell a lie or try to make them believe
something that is not true.
superior Someone who is superior at something is more skilled than
others.

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99 GIGI: I’m sorry if they offended you, m’lady, but they’re my friends. I won’t
banish them.
100 MALIARDA: As you wish, Lord Gigi. Please tell me your secret, though. I promise
I won’t tell anyone. Please? Pretty please?
101 (MALIARDA bats her eyelashes at GIGI.)
102 GIGI: Oh, OK! This ring can make wishes come true.
103 MALIARDA: That’s amazing! How does it work?
104 GIGI: You put it on your finger like this.
105 (GIGI puts the ring on MALIARDA’S finger.)
106 DOG: No, Gigi, don’t . . .
107 GIGI: Then you make a wish and twist the ring around your finger.
108 MALIARDA: I see.
109 (MALIARDA walks to down-center.)
110 MALIARDA: Well, “Lord” Gigi, I wish that you and your rude friends were on top
of the highest mountain in Italy.

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111 GIGI: What?

112 DOG, CAT (together): No!
113 (MALIARDA twists the ring. Play slide-whistle sound effect. Lights out. GIGI, CAT, and
DOG exit right. Lights up full again.)
114 MALIARDA: Foolish Gigi, thank you for your wonderful ring and your fine mansion.
(To audience) If you think I have a cold heart, believe me, it’s not as cold as Gigi and
his friends are right now.
115 (MALIARDA exits left, laughing. Lights down.)

SCENE 4
116 (Spotlight on NARRATOR on the stool in down-right. Spotlight on GIGI, CAT, and DOG in
center stage. They are huddled together. Play howling wind sound effects.)
117 NARRATOR: Gigi and his friends are in big trouble. Thanks to Maliarda, they are on
top of the highest mountain in Italy. Freezing winds howl all around them.
118 GIGI (shivering): S-s-so c-c-c-cold!
119 DOG: I can’t feel my nose.
120 CAT: We have to get out of here!
121 GIGI: I don’t see any way down. We’re trapped!
122 CAT: There’s no way down on two legs, but I have
four! A cat always lands on its feet!
123 DOG: Gigi, you’ve been a good [Link]’ll get
your ring back from Maliarda.

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124 (CAT and DOG move to down-left, followed by the spotlight. GIGI exits right. Cut the
howling wind sound effect.)
125 NARRATOR: Gigi’s loyal friends climbed down the mountain. They arrived at
Maliarda’s house in the middle of the night.
126 (Lights up full, revealing the house backdrop in upstage center.)
127 DOG: I don’t see any lights. Maliarda must be sleeping.
128 (CAT walks to door and mimes trying to open it.)
129 CAT: It’s locked! Now what?
130 DOG: I have an idea! I can dig a hole under the door!
131 (DOG gets on all fours in front of the curtain door and mimes digging. MOUSE enters
from left and moves to down-left, watching CAT and DOG.)
132 CAT: You’ll need a very big hole.
133 DOG: Have you got a better idea?
134 CAT: Wait—what’s that?
135 (CAT sees MOUSE.)
136 MOUSE: Eeek!
137 (CAT chases MOUSE from down-left to stage right. CAT catches MOUSE by the ear.)
138 MOUSE: Ow! Oh, please don’t hurt me!
139 CAT: Quiet or I’ll have you for breakfast!
140 MOUSE (quietly): Eeep!
141 DOG: This isn’t the time for a snack.
142 CAT: This is no snack, my friend. This is how we get the ring back. (To MOUSE) Listen
very carefully. You’re going to help us. If you do, we’ll let you go. If you don’t, it’s
mouse pancakes for breakfast. Do you understand?
143 MOUSE (nodding): Eeep.

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144 CAT: Squeeze under this door. Inside the house, there’s a girl. Find her. There’s
a gold ring on the girl’s finger. Take that ring and bring it to us.
145 MOUSE: And then you’ll let me go?
146 DOG (standing up): Yes, little mouse, we’ll let you go.
147 MOUSE: Oh-oh-OK. I’ll help you.
148 (CAT lets MOUSE go. MOUSE crawls under the curtain door and behind the
house backdrop.)
149 DOG: Good thinking, Cat.
150 CAT: Thank you, Dog.
151 (MOUSE crawls back under curtain door.)
152 CAT: Do you have it?
153 MOUSE: You wanted me to find a ring?
154 DOG: Yes!
155 MOUSE: A gold ring?
156 CAT: Yes!
157 MOUSE: On a girl’s finger?
158 CAT, DOG (together): Yes!
159 MOUSE: I didn’t find a gold ring on the girl’s finger.
160 DOG: Oh no!
161 CAT: Poor Gigi! How will we save him now?

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162 (MOUSE holds up the ring.)

163 MOUSE: I did find a gold ring on a chain around the
girl’s neck, but I guess it’s not the ring you want.
164 CAT: That is the ring we want!
165 MOUSE: Oh—that’s lucky! Here you go.
166 (MOUSE hands the ring to CAT.)
167 DOG: Oh, silly mouse, thank you!
168 MOUSE: You’re welcome, I think. I’ll be going then.
169 CAT: Good-bye, Mouse. Catch you later!
170 MOUSE: Not if I can help it!
171 (MOUSE exits right.)
172 DOG: Quick, use the ring to save Gigi!
173 (CAT puts on the ring.)
174 CAT: I wish that Gigi was here right now.
175 (CAT twists the ring. Play slide-whistle sound effect.
GIGI enters from the left.)
176 GIGI: You saved me! Oh, thank you, my friends.
Any longer on that mountain and I would have
been gelato!
177 (GIGI, CAT, and DOG high-five.)
178 DOG: I’m so happy to see you, Gigi!
179 CAT: Me, too, but what about Maliarda?

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180 GIGI: I think she deserves a taste of her own medicine. Let me have the ring.
181 (CAT gives GIGI the GOLD RING. GIGI puts it on his finger.)
182 GIGI: I wish that Maliarda was on top of the highest mountain in Italy.
183 (GIGI twists the ring. Play slide-whistle sound effect.)
184 MALIARDA (from offstage): Oh, noooooo!
185 DOG: Gigi, I know she’s a terrible person, but it would be cruel to leave Maliarda
on top of that mountain.
186 GIGI: You’re right. I’ll be merciful. I wish that Maliarda was only halfway up the
highest mountain in Italy.
187 (GIGI twists the ring. Play slide-whistle sound effect.)
188 MALIARDA (from offstage): Not again!
189 GIGI: You know, Mama was right. You do get from people what you give to
people. I was kind to the old woman, and she was kind to me. I was loyal to my
friends, and they were loyal to me. But when I lied to Maliarda, she lied to me.
190 CAT: Well, I hope you’ve learned your lesson, Gigi.
191 GIGI: I sure have!
192 NARRATOR: Gigi brought his mother to live with him in his new
193 mansion. (GIGI’s MOTHER enters from left and hugs GIGI.)
194 NARRATOR: And they all lived happily ever after.
195 (Lights out.)

THE END.

merciful Someone who is

merciful is kind and forgiving.

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myNotes

Respond Gigi and the

to the Wishing Ring

adapted from an Italian fairy tale
illustrated by Sumi Collina

Text
Collaborative Discussion
Look back at what you wrote on page 316. Discuss your
response with a partner. Then work with a group to discuss
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the questions below. Refer to details in Gigi and the Wishing

Ring to explain your answers. Take notes for your responses.

1 Reread pages 320–321. What do Gigi’s words and actions

Listening Tip
tell you about him? Listen to the
examples each
speaker uses. Be
ready to explain
whether those
examples support
your own answers.
2 Reread pages 321–323. What parts of the scene could not
happen in real life?

Speaking Tip
Ask questions if
you do not
3 Review pages 326–329. Which character was most understand what a
important for saving Gigi—Cat, Dog, or Mouse? Why? speaker has said.
Point out an exact
word or phrase that
is not clear to you.

331
Cite Text
Evidence
Write a Response
PROMPT

Respond to the Text You learned that the dialogue in a play helps move
the plot forward. In Gigi and the Wishing Ring, you read about Gigi’s search
for fortune and adventure. Along the way he meets some interesting
characters who teach him important lessons. Think about the interaction
between Gigi and the old woman. What does it tell you about these two
characters? How does the dialogue between them move the plot forward?
Cite evidence from the text to support your response.

EVIDENCE

List details from the dialogue between Gigi and the old woman
that help move the plot or action forward.

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myNotes

Gigi and the

Wishing Ring
WRITE adapted from an Italian fairy tale
illustrated by Sumi Collina

Now write your response in a paragraph.

Make sure your response

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answers the questions.

uses evidence from the text.

explains how dialogue helps readers understand the plot and

characters.

is written in complete sentences.

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 my Notes
Notice &
Note
Contrasts and
Contradictions

Prepare to Read
GENRE STUDY A drama, or play, is a story that can be
performed for an audience.
• Authors of plays tell the story through the plot—the
main events of the story.
• Plays begin with a cast of characters.
• Plays include stage directions.
• Authors of plays might include acts or scenes.
• Some plays include a theme, or lesson learned.

SET A PURPOSE Think about the title and genre of this

text. This play is based on a Native American myth. What
do you know about myths? What would you like to learn?
Write your response below.
CRITICAL
VOCABULARY
greedily

hesitation

burden

unnoticed

drowsy
Build Background: reassuring
The Characteristics of Myths

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 myNotes

retold by Robert D. San Souci

illustrated by Helen Dardik

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 myNotes

CHAR ACTERS

1 STORYTELLER
MOTHER GRIZZLY
OLDER BROTHER
YOUNGER BROTHER
HAWK
FOX
BADGER
MOTHER DEER
2 FAWNS
MOUNTAIN LION
MOUSE
MEASURING WORM (Tu-Tok-A-Na)

PROLOGUE

2 STORYTELLER: (Enters from stage left) Many snows have

come and gone since this story was first told. My people,
the Miwok, live in California—some in what is now called
Yosemite Valley. We tell stories of the old days, when
animal people lived in the valley. One story begins with
MOTHER GRIZZLY going to the river to catch fish for
herself and her cubs (Exits).

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SCENE 1

3 SETTING: A forest and mountain, stage left; open sky

dotted with clouds, stage right. Blue cloth or painted
cardboard across the front of the stage suggests a river.

4 (MOTHER GRIZZLY enters from stage left, holding a fish

basket, and stands on the riverbank. Her cubs, YOUNGER
BROTHER and OLDER BROTHER, enter and begin to play
in the “water.” )

5 OLDER BROTHER (Laughing and splashing): Don’t be

afraid of a little water, Younger Brother!

6 YOUNGER BROTHER (Splashing back): I’m not,

Older Brother!

7 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Scolding): Children! Stop scaring

away the fish, or we will have nothing to eat. Out of the
water, now! (They obey but manage a last splash or two.)
I want you to gather berries—but stay close and do not go
downriver. Strange things happen there.

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 myNotes

8 (MOTHER GRIZZLY moves to stage left; the CUBS move to

stage right, while playing and pushing each other. A
berry bush appears.)

9 OLDER BROTHER: Look at these berries. (He picks and

eats them greedily.) They are so sweet. Taste them!

10 YOUNGER BROTHER: We should take them back to

Mother. (When OLDER BROTHER ignores him, the
younger cub begins eating berries, too. Suddenly, he
rubs his stomach.) I have eaten too many!

11 OLDER BROTHER: We will bring some back later. Oh,

I am full, too.

(Pointing—) Let’s see what is downriver.

12 YOUNGER BROTHER (Worried ): We are not supposed

to go there.

13 OLDER BROTHER (Taunting, starts off ): I see only the

river and trees and stones. What is there to fear?

14 (After a moment’s hesitation, YOUNGER

BROTHER follows.)

15 YOUNGER BROTHER (Rubbing his eyes): I’m tired. The

hot sun and my full belly make me want to sleep.

16 OLDER BROTHER (Yawning): A nap would be good.

greedily When you do something greedily, you take more than

you need.
hesitation A hesitation is a pause that shows you are unsure about
doing something.

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17 (A raised platform, decorated to look like a rock, slides

into view.)

18 YOUNGER BROTHER (Pointing): See that big, flat rock. It

looks so warm. Let’s rest there. (The CUBS lie down side-
by-side, stretch, and fall asleep.)

19 STORYTELLER (Entering, stage left): The cubs fell asleep

on the stone. But the stone was the seed of a mountain. As
they slept, the stone grew bigger and bigger, higher and
higher. (His hand spiraling upward suggests the growing
mountain.) It carried them so high that only Hawk saw
them as he flew by (Pauses) . . .

20 (HAWK enters, stage right, waving his arms like wings. He

“flies” past the rock, looks at the sleeping CUBS, and then
“flies” back offstage the way he came.)

21 STORYTELLER (Continuing): . . . Meanwhile, Mother

Grizzly wondered what had become of her cubs. (Exits
stage left )

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SCENE 2

22 (FOX and BADGER are onstage, leaning cedar planks

against a tent-shaped frame of poles.)

23 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Enters, stage left, calling): Older

Brother! Younger Brother!

24 (MOTHER GRIZZLY sees FOX and BADGER.) Fox! Badger!

Have you seen my cubs?

25 FOX: No. I have been helping Badger build a new home.

26 BADGER: Neither of us has seen them. We will help you

look for them.

27 (FOX, BADGER, and MOTHER GRIZZLY search to the

right. MOTHER DEER and FAWNS enter, stage left, and
seat themselves, grinding acorns. FOX, BADGER, and
MOTHER GRIZZLY return to stage left and discover
MOTHER DEER and her two FAWNS.)

28 MOTHER GRIZZLY: Mother Deer, my little ones are

missing. Have you seen them?

29 MOTHER DEER: They have not

come by while my children and I
were grinding acorns. But we will
help you find them.

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30
82 (MOTHER DEER and FAWNS rise and join the others
as they move, to stage right, and then back again, to
left. They meet MOUNTAIN LION, carrying a load
of firewood.)

31
83 MOTHER GRIZZLY: Mountain Lion, we are looking for
my lost cubs.

32
84 MOUNTAIN LION (Sets her burden down): I will help you
find them.

33
85 (ALL move to stage right, while MOUSE enters from left
and sits. MOUSE is weaving a basket. The group at stage
right moves left and meets MOUSE.)

34
86 MOTHER GRIZZLY: Mouse, have you seen my cubs? We
have searched everywhere for them. We have looked in
hollow logs and caves and in the berry patch and the
honey tree.

35
87 MOUSE (Rising): No, but I will help you. Perhaps they
went downriver.

36
88 MOTHER GRIZZLY: I warned them not to go there.

37
89 MOTHER DEER (Patting MOTHER GRIZZLY’s shoulder
and glancing at her own FAWNS): Sometimes our little
ones do not listen very well. I agree that we should
look downriver.

38
90 (The ANIMALS onstage move slowly toward
the “mountain.”)

burden A burden is something that is heavy to carry.

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39 FOX (Stopping, pointing): Look, everyone. There is a

mountain where there was only a stone before.

40 (ALL slowly raise their heads as they scan the mountain

from base to summit. As they do, HAWK enters as before,
flapping his wings.)

41 MOTHER GRIZZLY: I see Hawk. (Cups paws around her

mouth and shouts “up” to HAWK—) Hawk! Have you seen
my lost cubs?

42 HAWK (Calling “down” ): They are asleep on this strange

new mountain.

43 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Calling “up” ): Please fly to my

children, wake them, and help them find their way down.

44 (HAWK pantomimes flying toward CUBS and being blown

back by mountain winds. After several tries, he speaks to
those “below.”)

45 HAWK (Calling “down” ): The wind will not let me

reach your little ones. Someone will have to climb up
and rescue them.

46 STORYTELLER (Enters, stage left): One by one, the

animals tried to reach the cubs. (ANIMALS pantomime
their attempts as STORYTELLER speaks.) Mother Grizzly
tried several times but always tumbled back. Mouse
jumped from stone to stone but quickly got scared and
jumped back down. Badger climbed a bit higher. Mother
Deer, a little bit higher. Fox did even better. But none
succeeded. Even Mountain Lion failed.

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47 (When MOTHER GRIZZLY sees this, she begins to weep.

The other creatures gather around to console her.
Unnoticed by them, MEASURING WORM enters.)

48 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Sadly): Mountain Lion, you are the

best climber and were my best hope. There is no one now
who can save my cubs.

49 MEASURING WORM: I will try.

50 (The other animals turn and stare at him, and then ALL
except MOTHER GRIZZLY begin to laugh.)

51 MOUNTAIN LION: Foolish Measuring Worm! Do you

think you can do what the rest of us have failed to do?

52 MOUSE (Meanly): Tu-tok-a-na! Your name is longer than

you are.

53 STORYTELLER (Appearing stage left ): My people call

Measuring Worm Tu-tok-a-na, which means “Little Curl-
Stretch.” He moves by stretching—tu—then curling—tok—
the way a caterpillar moves.

unnoticed When something is unnoticed, it is not seen by anyone.

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 myNotes

54 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Drying her eyes): I welcome your help.

55 (MEASURING WORM begins to climb, all the while

crying, “Tu-tok!” The other ANIMALS sit, staring at the
mountain, watching as the WORM stretches and curls
in a climbing motion.)

56 MEASURING WORM (Loudly): Tu-tok! Tu-tok!

SCENE 3

57 STORYTELLER: In time Measuring Worm climbed even

higher than Mountain Lion. He climbed so high that the
animals below could no longer see or hear him. Sometimes
he would grow afraid and stop when he saw how high he
had climbed and how much higher he had to go. Then he
thought about poor Mother Grizzly so worried at the
bottom of the mountain. He thought about the cubs in
danger at the top. Then he found his courage again and
continued to climb, all the while crying—

58 MEASURING WORM: Tu-tok! Tu-tok! Tu-tok!

59 (STORYTELLER exits as MEASURING WORM

finally crawls onto the rock. He bends
over the two sleeping CUBS and calls—)

60 MEASURING WORM: Wake up!

61 (The CUBS are drowsy as they

wake and stretch and yawn.)

drowsy A drowsy person is sleepy and not

able to think clearly.

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62 OLDER BROTHER (Crawls and looks over the side of the

“rock”): Younger Brother! Something terrible has
happened. Look how high we are.

63 YOUNGER BROTHER (Also on his knees, peers down):

We are trapped here. We will never get back to our
mother. (The CUBS begin to cry. They have forgotten
MEASURING WORM.)

64 MEASURING WORM (Comforting the CUBS ): Do not be

afraid. I have come to guide you safely down the
mountain. Just follow me, and do as I say. We will follow
the safe path that brought me here.

65 OLDER BROTHER: I am afraid I will fall.

66 YOUNGER BROTHER: I am scared, too.

67 MEASURING WORM (Gently): Surely Mother Grizzly’s

children are not so afraid, for she is the bravest creature
in the valley.

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 myNotes

68 OLDER BROTHER (Puffing out his chest, and beating it

with his paw): We are grizzlies. We are brave.

69 YOUNGER BROTHER (Doing the same): We will

follow you.

70 (They pantomime following a safe path in single file, with

MEASURING WORM leading, OLDER BROTHER following,
and YOUNGER BROTHER behind. Below, FOX suddenly
spots something, stands up, and peers more closely.)

71 FOX (Excitedly, pointing to a spot about halfway up the

mountain): Mother Grizzly. Look! Measuring Worm is
guiding your cubs down the mountain.

72 (All ANIMALS look where FOX is pointing.)

73 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Joyful, fearful ): Be careful,

my children!

74 MOTHER DEER (Reassuring her friend ): Trust Measuring

Worm. He has brought them safely this far. He will not
fail you now.

75 (The ANIMALS continue to watch. They slowly lower their

gaze to follow the climbers as they come down the
mountain. At last the CUBS and MEASURING WORM make
a final leap from the “mountain” to the “ground.” The
CUBS run to their mother. MOTHER GRIZZLY gives them a
big hug. Then she pushes them away and shakes her
finger at them.)

reassuring If you are reassuring a friend, you are trying to keep him from
worrying about something.

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76 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Scolding): Both of you have been very

naughty! Look at the trouble and worry you have caused us
all. You did not listen to me and went where you were not
supposed to go!

77 OLDER BROTHER (Hanging head ): I’m sorry. I won’t do

it again.

78 YOUNGER BROTHER (Starting to cry): I will never

disobey you again.

79 MOTHER GRIZZLY (Gathering them up in her arms

again): Be sure that you remember what happened today.
But do not cry, little ones. It has all ended well, thanks to
the help and courage of Measuring Worm.

80 (The ANIMALS gather around MEASURING WORM and

congratulate him.)

81 STORYTELLER (Enters, stage left): Then all the animals

decided to call the new mountain Tu-tok-a-nu-la, which
means “Measuring Worm Stone.” This was to honor the
heroic worm who did what no other creature could do—he
saved the two bear cubs. The mountain held this name for
many years, until newcomers named the mountain El
Capitan. We Miwok still call the mountain Tu-tok-a-nu-la
to this day.
THE END

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myNotes

Respond
to the retold by Robert D. San Souci

Text
illustrated byHelen Dardik

Collaborative Discussion
Look back at what you wrote on page 334. Discuss your
response with a partner. Then work with a group to discuss
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the questions below. Use details in Two Bear Cubs to explain

your answers. Take notes for your responses.

1 Review pages 338–339. What details in the play help you

Listening Tip
know what Older Brother and Younger Brother are like? Listen closely to
other speakers.
Think about how
you can connect
your ideas to theirs.

2 Reread pages 342–343. Why is it a surprise when

Measuring Worm offers to try to save the bear cubs? Speaking Tip
Be sure that all of
your comments are
about the topic
your group is
discussing.
3 What does the play show about how the Miwok people
thought of animals?

349
Cite Text
Evidence
Write a Response
PROMPT

Respond to the Text You learned that stage directions in a play tell how
actors should move and speak. In Two Bear Cubs, you read a Miwok myth
about several animals who try to help two bear cubs return home safely.
How do the stage directions help you better understand the characters?
What do you learn about the characters’ actions from the stage directions?
Cite evidence from the text to support your response.

EVIDENCE

List stage directions from Two Bears Cubs that helped you
understand the characters and their actions.

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myNotes

WRITE retold by Robert D. San Souci

illustrated byHelen Dardik

Now write your response in a paragraph.

Make sure your response

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answers the questions.

uses evidence from the text.

explains how the stage directions helped you understand the

characters.

is written in complete sentences.

351
Performance
Task

Essential Question

Why might some stories be better

told as plays?

Write an Opinion Essay

PROMPT Think about the plays you read in this module. Review the
elements of plays, such as narrator, dialogue, and stage direction. How do
these elements help tell the stories? Write an opinion essay about whether
or not you think the stories in this module worked well as plays. Use
evidence from the module selections to support your opinion.

Make sure your opinion essay

states your opinion clearly.

includes reasons supported by evidence and examples from

the selections.

presents your reasons in a logical order.

uses transition words and phrases, such as because and for

example.

sums up your opinion in a conclusion.

352
 PREWRITE Map your ideas.

Each text in this module is written as a play. Do you think this format was
the best way to tell each story? Consider the elements of a play. Could the
story be told without these elements? Would it be as good? Use the map
below to plan your writing.

Opinion

Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason 3

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Performance
Task

DRAFT Write your opinion essay.

Use the information you wrote on page 353 to draft your opinion essay.
Write an introduction that clearly states your opinion about whether or
not the stories told in this module work well as plays.

Write a paragraph that includes the reasons and text evidence that
support your opinion. Present your reasons in an order that makes sense.

Conclude your essay by restating your opinion.

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 REVISE AND EDIT Review your draft.

The revising and editing steps give you a chance to look carefully at your
writing and make changes. Work with a partner to determine whether you
have explained your ideas clearly. Use the questions below to help you.

PURPOSE/ EVIDENCE/
ORGANIZATION ELABORATION CONVENTIONS
FOCUS SUPPORT

Does my essay Do I explain my Have I included Have I used Have I spelled all
answer the reasons in an text evidence transition words words correctly?
questions? order that makes and examples to connect my
sense? from the opinion and Have I used
Do I explain my selections? reasons? correct
opinion about Does my punctuation and
the plays in this conclusion capitalization?
module? restate my
opinion?

PUBLISH Create a finished copy.

Make a final copy of your opinion essay. Use your cursive

writing skills.

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