American 24-Karat Gold : Classic American Short Stories

by Sisko, Yvonne Collioud

• ISBN13: 9780321083302
• ISBN10: 032108330X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

The first in Longman's new "Literature for College Readers" series,American 24-Karat Gold is a unique collection of American short stories for the developmental reader. The book includes classic American writers (e.g., Mark Twain, O.Henry, Kate Chopin) along with the diverse modern writers (e.g., Maxine Hong Kingston, Roberta Fernandez, and Alice Walker.) The book begins with a sample lesson designed with the developmental learner in mind-introducing reading skills, note-taking, and literary terms. Following the sample lesson, the stories are arranged by literary elements: character, conflict, plot, irony, etc. Each story contains pre-reading vocabulary exercises and questions, headnotes, a journal entry worksheet, comprehension quizzes, and writing prompts. For those interested in developing their reading skills at the 9-12 grade level, framed around American short fiction.

Table of Contents

Intent and/or Tone Contents	xi
Chronological Contents	xiii
Foreword	xv
Preface	xvii
RIPE FIGS A Sample Lesson	1	(444)
Ripe Figs	2	(19)
Kate Chopin
Characters and Conflicts	21	(80)
A Worn Path	23	(1)
Eudora Welty
Old Phoenix overcomes challenge after challenge as she takes the reader on a journey to town.
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	23	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	25	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	25	(1)
``A Worn Path''	26	(8)
Journal	34	(3)
Follow-up Questions	37	(1)
Writing	38	(1)
Zulema	39	(1)
Roberta Fernandez
In this wonderful weaving of female personalities, family triumphs even over death
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	39	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	41	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	41	(1)
``Zulema''	42	(14)
Journal	56	(3)
Follow-up Questions	59	(1)
Writing	60	(1)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty	61	(1)
James Thurder
With humor and a light touch, Mitty soars over a day of mundane, suburban errands
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	61	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	63	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	63	(1)
``The Secret Life of Walter Mitty''	64	(5)
Journal	69	(3)
Follow-up Questions	72	(1)
Writing	73	(1)
The Tell-Tale Heart	74	(1)
Edgar Allan Poe
Poe walks the reader through the homicidal mind in this classic tale of maniacal obsession
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	74	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	76	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	76	(1)
``The Tell-Tale Heart''	77	(5)
Journal	82	(3)
Follow-up Questions	85	(1)
Writing	86	(1)
There Will Come Soft Rains	87	(1)
Ray Bradbury
Using nontraditional characters, Bradbury questions humankind's relationship with the technology it creates
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	87	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	89	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	89	(1)
``There Will Come Soft Rains''	90	(5)
Journal	95	(3)
Follow-up Questions	98	(1)
Writing	99	(2)
Setting and Props	101	(88)
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge	103	(1)
Ambrose Bierce
Bierce blurs fantasy with reality in this poignant tale set during the Civil War
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	103	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	105	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	105	(1)
``An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge''	106	(9)
Journal	115	(3)
Follow-up Questions	118	(1)
Writing	119	(1)
Strong Temptations---Strategic Movements---The Innocents Beguiled	120	(1)
Mark Twain
Told With humor and irony, this is the classic tale of Tom Sawyer painting the fence
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	120	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	122	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	122	(1)
``Strong Temptations---Strategic Movements---The Innocents Beguiled''	123	(6)
Journal	129	(3)
Follow-up Questions	132	(1)
Writing	133	(1)
The Cask of Amontillado	134	(1)
Edgar Allan Poe
Poe again walks the reader through the homicidal mind in this classic story of family revenge where darkness increases with the subterranean descent
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	134	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	136	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	136	(1)
``The Cask of Amontillado''	137	(7)
Journal	144	(3)
Follow-up Questions	147	(1)
Writing	148	(1)
To Build a Fire	149	(1)
Jack London
Arctic conditions test the knowledge of man and dog
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	149	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	151	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	151	(1)
``To Build a Fire''	152	(15)
Journal	167	(3)
Follow-up Questions	170	(1)
Writing	171	(1)
Everyday Use	172	(1)
Alice Walker
Sincerity triumphs over superficiality in this story centered around a family heirloom
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	172	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	174	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	174	(1)
``Everyday Use''	175	(9)
Journal	184	(3)
Follow-up Questions	187	(1)
Writing	188	(1)
Plot and Foreshadowing	189	(94)
The Lady of the Tiger?	190	(1)
Frank Stockton
The reader expects resolution in a story, but Stockton leaves the reader holding his or her breath
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	190	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	192	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	192	(1)
``The Lady or the Tiger?''	193	(6)
Journal	199	(3)
Follow-up Questions	202	(1)
Writing	203	(1)
One Friday Morning	204	(1)
Langston Hughes
Experiencing the cruel consequences of discrimination through Nancy Lee's feelings, the reader triumphs with Nancy's resilient spirit
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	204	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	206	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	206	(1)
``One Friday Morning''	207	(9)
Journal	216	(3)
Follow-up Questions	219	(1)
Writing	220	(1)
No Name Woman	221	(1)
Maxine Hong Kingston
In this wrenching narrative, Hong Kingston presents strong comments on cultural expectations
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	221	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	223	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	223	(1)
``No Name Woman''	224	(11)
Journal	235	(3)
Follow-up Questions	238	(1)
Writing	239	(1)
The Lottery	240	(1)
Shirley Jackson
Jackson questions the very construct of cultural tradition as the reader walks through the characters' plight
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	240	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	242	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	242	(1)
``The Lottery''	243	(8)
Journal	251	(3)
Follow-up Questions	254	(1)
Writing	255	(1)
Good Country People	256	(1)
Flannery O'Connor
This macabre tale plays on human frailties and questions assumptions about relationships
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	256	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	258	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	258	(1)
``Good Country People''	259	(18)
Journal	277	(3)
Follow-up Questions	280	(1)
Writing	281	(2)
Irony	283	(82)
The Story of an Hour	284	(1)
Kate Chopin
Chopin turns marital assumptions upside down with her ironic twist
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	284	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	286	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	286	(1)
``The Story of an Hour''	287	(3)
Journal	290	(3)
Follow-up Questions	293	(1)
Writing	294	(1)
Gifts of the Magi	295	(1)
O. Henry
Love triumphs over all as gifts are Well, if not wisely, given
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	295	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	297	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	297	(1)
``Gifts of the Magi''	298	(5)
Journal	303	(3)
Follow-up Questions	306	(1)
Writing	307	(1)
The Ransom of Red Chief	308	(1)
O. Henry
Written in a simpler time and with continuing humor, O. Henry turns the tables
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	308	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	310	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	310	(1)
``The Ransom of Red Chief''	311	(10)
Journal	321	(3)
Follow-up Questions	324	(1)
Writing	325	(1)
The Wonderful Old Gentleman	326	(1)
Dorothy Parker
Did you ever want to scream, ``That's unfair''? The knife of injustice slowly twists in this ironic story
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	326	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	328	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	328	(1)
``The Wonderful Old Gentleman''	329	(11)
Journal	340	(3)
Follow-up Questions	343	(1)
Writing	344	(1)
Sweat	345	(1)
Zora Neale Hurston
Hurston's ever-surviving female realizes ultimate Justice
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	345	(2)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	347	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	347	(1)
``Sweat''	348	(11)
Journal	359	(3)
Follow-up Questions	362	(1)
Writing	363	(2)
Extended Short Story Study	365	(80)
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment	366	(1)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
In this tale set amid dark and ominous surroundings, Hawthorne questions change with light humor, irony, and even a touch of sarcasm
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	366	(4)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	370	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	371	(1)
``Dr. Heidegger's Experiment''	372	(9)
Journal	381	(3)
Follow-up Questions	384	(1)
Writing	385	(1)
A Rose for Emily	386	(1)
William Faulkner
The reader experiences the very wretchedness of Faulkner's decaying South through Emily and her relationships
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	386	(3)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	389	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	389	(1)
`` A Rose for Emily''	390	(9)
Journal	399	(3)
Follow-up Questions	402	(1)
Writing	403	(1)
The Masque of the Red Death	404	(1)
Edgar Allan Poe
Writing over one hundred years ago, Poe uses the supernatural with a vengeance ominous of today's plight with AIDS
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	404	(3)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	407	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	408	(1)
``The Masque of the Red Death''	409	(6)
Journal	415	(3)
Follow-up Questions	418	(1)
Writing	419	(1)
The Bell-Tower	420	(1)
Herman Melville
In this powerful tale written long before modern machinery, Melville exposes a man's self-glorifying pride in his own resourcefulness
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Context	420	(4)
Pre-reading Vocabulary---Word Attack	424	(1)
Pre-reading Questions	425	(1)
``The Bell-Tower''	426	(13)
Journal	439	(3)
Follow-up Questions	442	(1)
Writing	443	(2)
Appendix A	445	(4)
Glossary of Prefixes and Suffixes	449	(7)
Credits	456	(1)
Index	457