Student introduces the topic in the prompt using a complete sentence and information to interest the reader in reading further.
Student develops the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples using grade-level vocabulary.
Student uses appropriate and varied transitions to link the sentences, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts of the summary.
Student uses precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform and explain the topic.
Student establishes and maintain a formal style and objective tone.
Student is able to provide a concluding statement following from and supporting the information provided on the topic.
Student consistently uses the conventions of writing correctly.
Students will be able to write a formal paragraph, see the rubric, explaining how Margi Preus uses effective and precise language to create a cliffhanger in the Heart of a Samurai while Manjiro at the end of page 8. This will require a specific text reference from earlier in the story at the last line of page 8.
please remember to write a topic sentence using the prompt, title, and author. Use a specific example from the story providing effective and precise language to create a cliffhanger.
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That night their beds were more comfortable than before—Toraemon and Goemon had salvaged some planks that had washed ashore from their broken boat. So instead of stretching out on cold rock, they each had a wide board on which to sleep.
“Please excuse my intrusion,” Manjiro whispered, “but thanks for the planks.” When the others chuckled, he smiled. He had pushed aside the darkness for the time being.
Much time had passed since then, and now, hanging over the rock ledge staring at the snail in the water, Manjiro wondered how much longer they could last. There was so very little to eat. There was so little water, they had even tried drinking their own urine. Those rocky graves would not leave his thoughts.
He had not found any shellfish or seaweed clinging to the rock, and he had spent too much time watching the snail. But the snail had created such a beautiful design in the sand, like a kare-sansui, a Zen garden. Yet not created, Manjiro realized—traced. The snail had taken its long, arduous journey to trace—
“My face!” Manjiro whispered. The shadow of Manjiro’s face must have seemed like an island of shade in the bright sea. The snail and I, Manjiro thought, are alike. I trace out the length and breadth of this island every day, pacing around and around its face. Like the snail, I have no idea of all that lies beyond.
Beyond this island was a world about which Manjiro knew nothing. It was, perhaps, a huge world. It might be a frightening place, full of demons and monsters. But it might be a dazzling world, full of wonder and mystery. It might be, he thought, very beautiful. If only he had wings, he could fly across the ocean and see all there was to see. Then he would fly home, his beak full of food, his head full of wonders.
Manjiro stood to look out beyond the edges of his island. But standing up so fast made him dizzy. The sky, the sea, the earth all spun around him, in a blur of blue and green and gray, as if he’d been twirling and twirling.
That is why he did not notice the boats at first.
And that is why, when he notice the boats, he didn’t believe he really saw them.
Two small boats moved toward the island.
Manjiro’s heart beat deep in his stomach. His already weak limbs felt numb. The world began to spin again and he thought he might faint.
“Boats!” he croaked. Finding his voice, he shouted, “Rescue!”
The boats were not coming straight toward him, though, but toward a different part of the island.
With strength he didn’t know he had, Manjiro plunged into the sea and swam, head down, toward the boats.
When he finally reached one of them, he raised his head and looked up. He could not lift his arm to reach out. His blood turned to ice, and dizzy again, he felt himself sinking. For when he had looked into his rescuer’s face, he had gazed into a pair of eyes as blue as the sea.
all links trolls and plagiarism will be reported