G5_U5_T4

WritingPrompt“TeachingEarthkeeping”isaboutJosephAndrews,ateacherwhotriestoinstillaloveofnatureinhisstudents.Doyoubelieveschoolsshouldspendmoneyandtimeinstillingaloveofnatureinstudents?Writeaone-pagepersuasiveessaygivingyourpointofviewonthisquestion.Writer’sChecklistAskyourself,whoismyaudience?Thinkaboutyourpurposeforwriting.Choosethecorrectformforyourwriting.Formanopinionaboutthetopic.Usereasonstosupportyouropinion.Besureyourideasarelogicalandorganized.Useyourbestspelling,grammar,andpunctuation.577578TalkAboutItNamesomedifferentkindsofcodes.Whataresomesituationsinwhichyoumightwanttotalkincode?Findoutmoreaboutcodesatwww.macmillanmh.com579VocabularycorridorshieldreservationlocationenlistedsaggedinvasioncreasedContextCluesContextCluesarewordsorphrasesthatsurroundanunfamiliarwordandcanhelpyoudefineit.Theycanappearinanearbysentenceorsomewhereelseintheparagraph.byNinaGabrielyfriendRitaisexcitedabouthernewbabysister.Shestoodinthebusyhospitalcorridorwatchingthebabysleepaspeoplepassedby.Rita’snewsisteristhenewestmemberoftheMeskwakitribe.Somemembersofthistribehaveneverlivedonareservation,landsetasideforNativeAmericansbytheUnitedStatesgovernment.Meskwakiareproudoftheirowntraditions,especiallystorytelling.TheMeskwakipassontheirstoriestotheveryyoung.Ritalovestellingstories.Sheisveryexcitedtotellhernewsisteratruestoryshelearnedfromtheelders.ItisaboutthebraveMeskwakicodetalkersofWorldWarII.580VocabularyandComprehensionRereadforComprehensionGenerateQuestionsAuthor’sPerspectiveAnAuthor’sPerspectiveCharthelpsyouaskquestionstodetermineanauthor’sopinionorpointofview.UseyourAuthor’sPerspectiveChartasyoureread“Rita,TheStoryteller”tofindtheauthor’sperspective.In1941,twenty-sevenmenfromtheMeskwakitribeenlistedinthearmybecausetheywantedtofightfortheircountry.Fromthisgroupeightmenwerechosenforasecretmission.Theybecamecodetalkerswhousedtheirnativelanguagetosendsecretmessages.Beforethecodetalkers,U.S.troopswerenotabletomovearoundsafely.Theenemywasabletounderstandthemessagessenttothetroops.TheUnitedStatesturnedtotheMeskwakibecausemembersofthistribehadtheirownlanguagethatfewoutsidersunderstood.Theycouldpassonimportantinformationwithouttheenemyknowingwhatwasbeingsaid.ThegroupofeightcodetalkerswassenttoNorthAfrica.Duringaninvasionsomeofthesecodetalkersenteredenemyterritory.Themissiontookplaceatnightwhentheshieldprotectingthemwasdarkness.Theyusedwalkie-talkiestotellthelocationoftheenemy.Thepositionoftheenemywassaidincode.Thisinformationwaspassedtoothercodetalkersbackatcamp.ThecodewasneverbrokenduringWorldWarII.ThecodetalkershelpedtheUnitedStateswinthewar.However,theygotlittlerecognition.WhenRitafirsttoldmethisstory,Ifeltsad.Theeightcodetalkersshouldbeheroes!Ritasawhowmyshoulderssaggeddownfrommydisappointment.MyforeheadwascreasedasIfrowned.“Don’tworry!”shesmiled.“InMeskwakiculturewepassdownstoriesaboutourheroes.Thecodetalkerswillneverbeforgotten.”581ComprehensionGenreHistoricalFictiontellsastoryinwhichfictionalcharacterstakepartinactualhistoricaleventsfromthepast.GenerateQuestionsAuthor’sPerspectiveLookforcluesthatrevealtheauthor’spointofview.Asyouread,useyourAuthor’sPerspectiveChart.ReadtoFindOutHowdoestheauthorfeelabouttheNavajolanguage?582bySaraHoaglandHunterillustratedbyJuliaMinerTheUnbreakableCodeMainSelection583Johnracedupthetrail,sendingpebblesskiddingbehindhim.Whenhereachedhisfavoritehidingplace,hefelltothegroundoutofbreath.Herebetweentheoldpiñontreeandthetoweringwallsofthecanyon,hefeltsafe.Theriverfulloflate-summerrainlookedlikeasilverthreadwindingthroughhisgrandfather’sfarmland.Theywouldbelookingforhimnow,buthewasnevercomingdown.HismotherhadmarriedthemanfromMinnesota.Therewasnothinghecoulddoaboutthat.Buthewasnotgoingwiththem.Heclosedhiseyesandrestedinthestillness.Thefaintbleatofamountaingoatechoedoffthecanyonwalls.584Suddenlyavoiceboomedabovehim:“Shouldn’tyoubepacking?”John’seyesflewopen.Itwashisgrandfatheronhorseback.“Yourstepfather’scomingwiththepickupinanhour.”“I’mnotgoing,”Johnsaid.“Youhavetogo.School’sstartingsoon,”saidGrandfather,steppingdownfromhishorse.“You’llbebacknextsummer.”Johndughistoedeeperintothedirt.“Iwanttostaywithyou,”hesaid.Grandfather’ssoft,browneyesdisappearedinthewrinklesofasmile.Johnthoughttheywerethekindesteyeshehadeverseen.“You’regoingtobeallright,”Grandfathersaid.“Youhaveanunbreakablecode.”“What’sthat?”askedJohn.GrandfathersatdownandbegantospeakgentlyinNavajo.Thesoundswoveupanddown,inandout,aswarmandfamiliarasthepatternsofoneofGrandmother’sNavajoblankets.Johnleanedagainsthisgrandfather’sknee.585“TheunbreakablecodeiswhatsavedmylifeinWorldWarII,”hesaid.“It’stheNavajolanguage.”John’sshoulderssagged.Navajocouldn’thelphim.NobodyinhisnewschoolspokeNavajo.“I’llprobablyforgethowtospeakNavajo,”hewhispered.“Navajoisyourlanguage,”saidhisgrandfathersternly.“Navajoyoumustneverforget.”ThelumpinJohn’sthroatwasclosetoasob.“Youdon’tknowwhatit’slikethere!”hesaid.HisgrandfathercontinuedquietlyinNavajo.“IhadtogotoagovernmentboardingschoolwhenIwasfive.Itwasthelaw.“TheygavemeanEnglishnameandcutmyhairoff.Iwasn’tallowedtospeakmylanguage.AnyonewhospokeNavajohadtochewonsquaresofsoap.Believeme,Ichewedalotofsoapduringthoseyears.‘SpeakEnglish,’theysaid.ButNavajowasmylanguageandNavajoIwouldneverforget.“EverysummerIwenthometoherdthesheepandhelpwiththecrops.Icriedwhenthecottonwoodsturnedgoldanditwastimetogoback.586“Finally,onenightinthetenthgrade,IwasworkinginthekitchenwhenIheardabulletinontheschoolradio:‘NavajoneededforspecialdutytotheMarines.Mustbebetweentheagesofseventeenandthirty-two,fluentinEnglishandNavajo,andinexcellentphysicalcondition.’“Justbeforelightsout,Isnuckpastthebunksandoutthedoortowardstheopenplain.Ifeltlikeawildhorsewiththelassofinallyoffitsneck.Outintheopen,thestarsdancedabovemeandthetumbleweedsblewbymyfeetasIran.Thenextday,Ienlisted.”“Butyouweren’tseventeen,”saidJohn.“Thereservationhadnobirthrecords,”Grandfathersaidwithagrin.“TwoweekslaterIwasonabusheadedforbootcampwithtwenty-eightotherNavajos.Istaredoutthewindowintothedarkness.IwasgoingoutsideoftheFourSacredMountainsforthefirsttimeinmylife.”587“Wereyouscared?”askedJohn.“Ofcourse,”saidhisgrandfather.“Ididn’tknowwhereIwasgoingorwhatourmissionwas.Mostofall,Ididn’tknowhowIwouldmeasureuptothepeopleoutthereIhadheardsomuchabout.”“Howdidyou?”askedJohn,chewinghisfingernail.Hisgrandfatherbegantolaugh.“Wewereknownasthetoughestplatoonatbootcamp.Wehaddonesomuchmarchingatboardingschoolthatthedrillswerenoproblem.HikinginthedesertofCaliforniawithaheavypackwasnoworsethanhaulingwaterinthecanyoninmidsummer.AndI’ddonethatsinceIwasfouryearsold.“Asforthesurvivalexercises,wehadallgonewithoutfoodforafewdays.ANavajolearnstosurvive.Author’sPerspectiveWhatcluesrevealhowtheauthorfeelsabouttheNavajoplatoon?588“OneweekendtheybusedustoanewcampinSanDiego.OnMondayweweremarchedtoabuildingwithbarsoneverywindow.Theylockedusinaclassroomattheendofalong,narrowcorridor.Anofficertoldusourmissionwastopsecret.Wewouldnotevenbeallowedtotellourfamilies.WeweredesperatelyneededforasuccessfulinvasionofthePacificIslands.SofartheJapanesehadbeenabletointerceptanddecodeallAmericanmessagesinonlyminutes.ThismeantthatnoinformationcouldbepassedbetweenAmericanships,planes,andlandforces.“ThegovernmentthoughttheNavajolanguagemightbethesecretweapon.Onlyafewoutsidershadeverlearnedit.Mostimportantly,thelanguagehadneverbeenwrittendown,sotherewasnoalphabetfortheJapanesetodiscoveranddecode.“Hegaveusalistofmorethantwohundredmilitarytermstocode.Everythinghadtobememorized.Notraceofthecodecouldeverbefoundinwriting.Itwouldliveordiewithusinbattle.“Whentheofficerwalkedoutoftheroom,IlookedattheNavajonexttomeandbegantolaugh.‘AllthoseyearstheytoldustoforgetNavajo,andnowthegovernmentneedsittosavethecountry!’589“Weweremarchedeverydaytothatclassroom.Wewereneverallowedtoleavethebuilding.Wecouldn’tevenusethebathroombyourselves.Eachnight,anofficerlockedournotesinasafe.“Thecodehadtobesimpleandfast.Wewouldhaveonlyonechancetosendeachmessage.Afterthat,theJapanesewouldbetracingourlocationtobombusortryingtorecordthecode.“Wechosewordsfromnaturethatwouldbeeasytorememberunderfire.SinceNavajohasnoalphabet,wemadeupourown.‘A’becamewollachee.”“Ant?”askedJohninEnglish.Grandfathernodded.“‘B’wasshush.”“Bear,”saidJohn.“‘C’wasmoasi.‘D’,be.‘E’,dzeh.”Hisgrandfathercontinuedthroughthealphabet.EachtimehenamedtheNavajoword,JohnansweredwiththeEnglish.“Wenamedtheaircraftafterbirds.Thedive-bomberwasachickenhawk.Theobservationplanewasanowl.Apatrolplanewasacrow.Bomberwasbuzzard.“Atnightwewouldlieinourbunksandtesteachother.PrettysoonIwasdreamingincode.590“Sincewewouldberadiomen,wehadtolearnallkindsofradiooperations.Weweretaughthowtotakearadioapartandputittogetherblindfolded.TheJapanesefoughtatnight,sowewouldhavetodomostofourworkincompletedarkness.Eventhetiniestmatchflamecouldbeatarget.“WhenthedaycameforthecodetobetestedinfrontofthetopMarineofficers,Iwasterrified.Ikneltatoneendofafieldwithourradiogroundset.Theofficersmarchedtowardsme.Behindabuildingattheotherendofthefield,anothercodetalkersatundermilitaryguardwaitingformytransmission.Oneofficerhandedmeawrittenmessage:“‘Receivingsteadymachinegunfire.Requestreinforcements.’“IttookonlysecondsformetospeakintothemicrophoneinNavajocode.Theofficersentarunnertotheendofthefieldtocheckthespeedandaccuracyofthemessage.TheNavajoattheotherendhandedhimtheexactmessagewritteninEnglishbeforeheevencamearoundthecornerofthebuilding!Theytestedusoverandover.Eachtime,weweresuccessful.ThegovernmentrequestedtwohundredNavajorecruitsimmediately.Twoofourgroupstayedbehindtotrainthem.Therestofuswereonourway.”591“Tellmeaboutthefighting!”saidJohn.SuddenlyGrandfather’sfacelookedascreasedandbatteredasthecanyonwallsbehindhim.Afteralongpausehesaid,“WhatIsawisbetterleftbackthere.Iwouldnotwanttotouchmyhomeormyfamilywiththosepictures.“Beforeweinvaded,Ilookedoutatthatisland.Ithadbeenflattenedandburned.‘Letthisneverhappentoabeautifulislandagain,’Ithought.Ijuststayedonthedeckoftheshipthinkingabouttheceremoniestheyweredoingformeathome.Weinvadedatdawn.“IalmostdrownedinabombcraterbeforeIevengottoshore.IwastryingtorunthroughthewaterandthebulletswhenIfeltmyselfsinkingintoabottomlesshole.Myeighty-poundradiopackpulledmestraightdown.Ilostmyriflepaddlingtothesurface.“Onthebeach,itwasallIcoulddojusttosurvive.Irememberlyingtherewithgunfireflyingpastmyears.AcreekthatrantothebeachwasclearwhenIfirstlaythere.Bynoonitwasbloodred.592“TheworstwerethefallensoldiersIhadtorunovertogoforward.Icouldn’tevenstoptosayIwassorry.Ijusthadtorunoverthemandkeepgoing.“Ihadtomovethroughthejungleatnight,broadcastingincodefromdifferentlocations.Oneunitneededmedicalsupplies.Anotherneededmachine-gunsupport.Ihadjustbegunbroadcastingtoanothercodetalker.‘Arizona!NewMexico!’Icalled.ThenextthingIknew,anAmericansoldierbehindmewasyelling,‘Doyouknowwhatwedotospies?’“‘Don’tshoot!’Isaid.‘I’mAmerican.Lookatmyuniform.’Hedidn’tbelieveme.Hehadjustheardtheforeignlanguage.Hehadseenmyhairandmyeyes.Japanesespieshadbeenknowntostealuniformsfromfallensoldiers.“Oneofmybuddiesjumpedoutofthebushesrightatthatmomentandsavedmylife.”593“Howdidyoustayalivetherestofthetime?”askedJohn.“Mybeliefwasmyshield,”Grandfatheranswered.Hedrewaraggedwalletfromdeepinsideofhisshirtpocket.“Insideofthis,Icarriedcornpollenfromthemedicineman.‘Neverbeafraid,’hesaid.‘Nothing’sgoingtotouchyou.’Andnothingeverdid.MorethanfourhundredcodetalkersfoughtinsomeofthebloodiestbattlesofWorldWarII.Allbutafewofussurvived.594“TheJapaneseneverdidcrackthecode.Whentheyfinallydiscoveredwhatlanguageitwas,theycapturedandtorturedonepoorNavajo.Hewasn’tacodetalkerandcouldn’tunderstandthemessagetheyhadintercepted.Hetoldthemweweretalkingaboutwhatweateforbreakfast.Ourcodewordforbombswas‘eggs’.“Sixmonthsbeforethewarended,NavajocodetalkerspassedmorethaneighthundredmessagesintwodaysduringtheinvasionofIwoJima.595“WhentheAmericanflagwasraisedontopofIwoJima’smountain,thevictorywasannouncedincodetotheAmericanfleet.‘Sheep-Uncle-Ram-Ice-Bear-Ant-Cat-Horse-Itch’camethecode.”Johntriedtospellouttheletters.“Suribachi?”askedJohn.“Yes,”saidGrandfather.“MountSuribachi.“WhenIcamehome,Iwalkedthetwelvemilesfromthebusstationtothisspot.Thereweren’tanyparadesorparties.“IknewIwasn’tallowedtotellanyoneaboutthecode.Ilookeddownatthatbeautifulcanyonfloorandthought,‘I’mneverleavingagain.’”596“Butwhydidyouleaveinthefirstplace?”askedJohn.Hisgrandfatherliftedhimgentlyontothehorse.“Theanswertothatisinthecode,”hesaid.“ThecodenameforAmericawas‘OurMother.’Youfightforwhatyoulove.Youfightforwhatisyours.”HeswunghislegbehindJohnandreachedaroundhimtoholdthereins.“Keepmywallet,”hesaid.“Itwillremindyouoftheunbreakablecodethatoncesavedyourcountry.”Johnclutchedthewalletwithonehandandheldthehorse’smanewiththeother.Hewasn’tasscaredofgoingtoanewplaceanymore.Hisgrandfatherhadtaughthimwhohewasandwhathewouldalwayshavewithhim.HewasthegrandsonofaNavajocodetalkerandhehadalanguagethathadoncehelpedsavehiscountry.Author’sPerspectiveHowdoestheauthorfeelabouttheNavajocodetalkers?Howcanyoutell?597DecodingtheFactsaboutSaraHoaglandHunterandJuliaMinerSaraHoaglandHunterwasateacherandajournalistbeforeshecombinedherinterestsandstartedherowncompany.Todayshewritesandproducesbooksaswellasvideos,scripts,andalbumsforchildren.ForthisbookSarainterviewedthe“codetalkers.”Shefoundthemkindandstrong,andshefeltprivilegedtobeabletotelltheirstory.JuliaMinerbecameinterestedinillustratingthisbookwhenhercollegeclassmateSaraHoaglandHuntertoldherabouttheidea.TheymadeseveraltripstoArizonatomeetwithactualcodetalkers,whichhelpedthemcapturethespiritoftheNavajocodetalkers’experience.Besidesillustratingchildren’sbooks,Juliaisanarchitectandwriter.Oftenshetravelstodifferentcountriesforinspirationforherillustrations.Author’sPurposeThisselectionishistoricalfiction.Whichpartsofthestoryarebasedonrealevents?Howwelldoestheauthorinformreadersaboutthoseevents?Explain.FindoutmoreaboutSaraHoaglandHunterandJuliaMineratwww.macmillanmh.com598ComprehensionCheckSummarizeUnderstandinganauthor’sperspectivecanhelpyouorganizeideasandmakejudgmentsaboutthepieceyouarereading.UseyourAuthor’sPerspectiveCharttohelpyouwriteasummaryofTheUnbreakableCode.ThinkandCompare1.UsetheAuthor’sPerspectiveCharttodescribehowtheauthorfeelsabouttheNavajocodetalkers.Explainhowthestorywouldchangeiftheauthorfeltdifferentlyaboutthesubject.GenerateQuestions:Author’sPerspective2.Rereadpage594.WhatisGrandfather’sbelief?Howwasitlikeashieldduringthewar?Analyze3.DescribewhyyouwouldorwouldnotliketohavebeenaNavajocodetalker.Explainyouranswer.Apply4.Grandfathersaysthat“Youfightforwhatyoulove.”Explainwhyyouagreeordisagreewithhisstatement.Includeexamplesfromyourexperienceinyouranswer.Evaluate5.Reread“Rita,theStoryteller”onpages580–581.InwhatwaysareRita’sandJohn’sfamilyhistoriesandtraditionssimilar?Inwhatwaysaretheydifferent?Useexamplesfrombothselectionstosupportyouranswer.Reading/WritingAcrossTexts599PoetryACinquainisafive-linestanzapoem.Thefirstlinehastwosyllables.Thenextlineshavefour,six,eight,andtwosyllablesrespectively.LiteraryElementsConsonanceistherepetitionofidenticalendconsonantsoundsinaseriesofwords.Symbolismistheuseofconcreteobjectstorepresentorexpressabstractconcepts,qualities,orideas.byMaryWillieUncleRemembershowHeandfellowfearlessNavajoCodeTalkerssavedlivesAndhope.TrytoImaginethis:DangerousnightwithstarsColdstarsdifferentfromtheonesBackhome.SecretsWesentkeptsafeInthisancientlanguage.NoenemiescouldunderstandSecrets.600ConnectandCompare1.Findanotherexampleofconsonanceinoneofthecinquains.Consonance2.HowdoesthepoetfeelabouttheCodeTalkers?Analyze3.ComparethesecinquainstoTheUnbreakableCode.WhatdetailsfrombothtextsgiveyoucluesabouthowtheNavajofeltaboutfightinginWorldWarII?Reading/WritingAcrossTextsPoetryFindoutmoreaboutcinquainsatwww.macmillanmh.comThiscodeBoldinvention,CreatedforwartimeBybravesoldiers,whomarchedinlinesLikeants.SoldiersGuardedtheFlag.ThewordAmericaWhisperedincodeas“ourmother”Keptsafe.601Writer’sCraftTransitionsGoodwritersusetransitionsbetweenparagraphstoconnecttheirideas.Transitionwordsandphrasesalsohelpyourwritingflowmoresmoothly.AComparisonofTwoStoryCharactersbyPearlN.Wesley,themaincharacterinWeslandia,issimilartothegrandfatherinTheUnbreakableCode.Wesleyisacreativepersonwhodoesn'tfeellikehefitsinwithkidshisownage.Similarly,asayoungboy,thegrandfatherfeltthathedidnotfitinatboardingschool.BothWesleyandthegrandfatherseemmosthappywhentheyarepursuingtheirowngoals.Asaresult,Wesleychangeshislifebycreatinghisowncivilization.ThegrandfatherchangeshislifebyjoiningtheMarines.Finally,languageisimportanttobothWesleyandthegrandfather.WesleycreatesanewalphabetandthegrandfatherusestheNavajolanguagetoaffecthistory.WritetoCompareandContrastIfoundthreesimilaritiesbetweenthecharactersinWeslandiaandTheUnbreakableCode.Iusedthetransitions“asaresult”and“finally”betweenparagraphs.602Writer’sChecklistIdeasandContent:DidIchoosethebestqualitiestocompareandcontrast?Organization:CanthereadereasilyfollowthetraitsIamcomparingandcontrasting?Voice:DoesmypersonalityshowthroughwhereIwantitto?WordChoice:DidIusewordsthatsignaltransitionsbetweenparagraphs?SentenceFluency:DidIrewriteanysentencesthatsoundedawkward?Doesmywritingflowsmoothly?Conventions:DidIusemoreandmostcorrectly?DidIcheckmyspelling?DescriptiveWritingYourTurnChoosetwocharacterstocompareandcontrast.Theycanbefromthesamestoryorfromtwodifferentstories.Writeacompareandcontrastessay.Becarefultoorganizeitsothatthepointsareeasytofollow.Includetransitionsbetweenparagraphs.Usethewriter’schecklisttocheckyourwriting.603