1st Approach Paper

Your first Approach Paper rough draft is due next Wednesday. Here is the sample I handed out in class. be sure to follow the format precisely as it will count as part of the overall grade.


Sample Approach Paper
Melissa
October 18, 2010
Different Dragons

SUMMARY PARAGRAPH-
Different Dragons is the story of Ben Tucker who is spending the weekend at his Aunt's house while his parents are away. His Aunt has agreed to keep a neighbour's dog thinking that Ben would love this idea but it turns out to be quite the opposite because Ben is afraid of dogs. Hana the girl next door loves dogs and has no fear of them. Ben and Hana find themselves stuck in the attic and only Gully the big labrador hears their yells for help over the loud music coming from the radio. Gully alerts Aunt Rose who discovers the two of them in the attic. Ben learns to face his fears, his "Dragons."

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS-
Ben: afraid, determined, intelligent, lonely,
Hana: tomboyish, protective, imaginative, trusting
Aunt Rose: understanding, kind, thoughtful, fair,
Gully: friendly, loyal, gentle, very large

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS-
1.Ben and even Hana had to face their own personal dragons, can you describe a time when you had to face your dragons and were able to overcome a problem.

2.Why was it so important for Ben to get up into the attic no matter what?

3.What moment of the book was the scariest moment for Ben do you think? Explain

KEY PASSAGE-
From Chapter 8, page 59:
"His face went down onto Gully's warm fur and his arm wrapped itself around the dog's great neck. He did not remember that this was a dog and he was afraid of dogs.”

KEY PASSAGE EXPLANATION-
Like most of us Ben has more than one dragon in his life. Ben is afraid of dogs but even more afraid of loud thunderstorms. When he squeezes under the bed, he finds someone else who is afraid of thunderstorms almost as much as he is...Gully. Gully and Ben hug each other to get through the thunder and the lightning and in this way Ben learns that Gully is not a dog to be feared but a real friend he can count on.

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