Shared InquiryThe Old Man of the Sea by Maeve Brennan

Session 1 Pre-reading What is the difference between

compassion and pity? Use an instance to define the two terms.

Compassion and Pity Having compassion means you have

EMPATHY for another person. You are Identifying With another person’s situation and sharing a common feeling!

Having PITY for someone means you feel sorry for them. You may look down on them and you may try to be nice to them, but it’s because you feel sorry for them.

Focus on the following concepts Idea—Generating and clarifying ideas

about a selection’s meaning Evidence—Supporting and checking

ideas, based on what is in the text Response—Listening to and considering

the ideas of others

Session 1 First Reading Listen as the text is read aloud, marking

places where you have questions. Use a question mark (?) to denote your

questions. Write your questions in the margins or on a separate sheet of paper!

Use an exclamation point (!) to denote important passages.

Session 1—Recording Questions All questions will be recorded on the

board. Identify any vocabulary questions. In small groups, label questions

according to type.

Question Types If the question has… One correct answer that comes from the

text it is a FACTUAL question. One reasonable answer that comes from

sources outside the text such as encyclopedias it is a BACKGROUND question.

Reasonable answers based on imagination or guessing it is a SPECULATIVE question.

Two (or more) reasonable answers supported by evidence from the text it is an INTERPRETIVE question.

How can you test a question and determine its type?

Question—

Answer #1-- Answer #2—

Evidence: Evidence:

Source of your answer? Source of your answer?

Type of Question? Factual Background Speculative Evaluative Interpretive

Session 1 Now, choose two questions (one

interpretive and one evaluative) that continue to puzzle or intrigue you and record them.

Session 2 Share questions according to type. Vocabulary—Determine word meaning

using context and outside sources.

Session 3 Reread the selection and mark passages

using the following prompt: Mark passages with a C when the

mother is compassionate. Mark passages with NC when the

mother is not compassionate.

Session 4 You will explore the text’s meaning by

discussion an interpretive question. You will support your ideas with evidence

from the text. You will be an attentive and active

listener. You will refer to classmates by name. You will expect the teacher to ask

questions and not provide answers.

How to participate in Shared Inquiry What happened that gave you that

idea? What part of the story supports your

idea? What do you think about____________? Are you agreeing with Sam’s answer? So how does your idea fit with Jasmine’s

answer?

Interpretive Question #1 Interpretive Question: Why does the

mother lose her compassion for the man selling apples?

Record your answer prior to the discussion!

Interpretive question #2 Was the man with the apples

responsible for the family’s change of heart?

Record your answer prior to discussion.

Focus Question Why does the mother’s attitude change

toward the old man?

Questions to Consider

Why does the mother

lose compassion for the old

man with the apples?

Why does the old man call through the

letter box?

Why does the narrator

compare the old man with the apples to

The Old Man of the Sea?

How is the mother

influenced by others?

Did the uncle see the old

man on O’Connell

Street?

Session 4 After the discussion, enrich your answer

based on the evidence that was presented during the conversation.

5th Block Questions Why didn’t the uncle tell his family that he knew

the old man was wealthy? Cortlin Aghast Elizabeth Why didn’t the old man sell any more apples? Nia Why did the old man sell apples if he was

wealthy? ashley Who is the old man and what does he do?

Brendan Why does Sindbad come to hate the old man of

the sea? Monyelle

5th Block Questions What did the narrator mean when she said

the old man had talon-like hands Trevion Why did the old man keep coming to scam

the woman when he was wealthy? Christopher

Why does the narrator compare the old man selling apples to the Old Man and the Sea? Monyelle?

Is the mother poor like the old man seems to be? Phoebe

5th Block Questions Is the old man wealthy? Matt B Why did the narrator keep comparing him to the

Sindbad story? Eliz Is the old man actually the uncle? Cortlin Did the uncle have anything to do with the old

man to prove a point to his sister? Marquise Why did narrator look back on her past? Isaac Why is the narrator so gullible? Cortlin If the old man was wealthy, why did he resort to

scams? Matt F.

7th Block Questions What is dismayed? Dmike Disappointed shock! Did they not have any other transportation

besides carrying people? DS—Not relevant Where did the old man get the money for the

suit? Jack Where did the old man get the $ for the

apples?Morgan What does relish mean?D mike

Enjoyment/Delight

7th block questions Why didn’t the old man sell his apples at any of the

other houses? Joe They didn’t want to buy them. Where did the old man get the apples?Carly How much was he selling the apples for? Romeo

More than McRory’s. What does aghast mean? Teddy Horrified/Amazed Why is the old man so persistent? Taryn/Bc the

family is his only customer.He knows they’ll keep buying them.

Who is Sindbad the sailor?

7th Block Questions Why does the old man beg if he has family to support him?

Joe Is the old man crazy? Was the old man scamming the mother? Sam Why did the family feel remorse when the old man left

them at the end of the story? What does mirth mean? Was the old man Sindbad the sailor? Where does the old man go after he sells apples? What does talonlike mean? What does dismally mean? Apalled?

8th Block Questions Why was she so ashamed to bargain? JG What was the old man wearing when he

came to the family? AS What does vicinity mean? MJ Was the old man really poor? JR What does the word aghast mean?SL Was the old man really 90? BK

8th block questions Why didn’t the family call the police? D What does mirth mean? K Why did the old man sell his apples? AS What was the family’s financial

situation? Was the old man really poor? Bk Where was Maeve’s father? JR What does the uncle mean by, “I could

tell by the way she wore her hat?”

8th Block Questions Who is Sindbad the sailor and how does

it relate to the story? Why was Maeve so obsessed with the

man’s talonlike hands? JG