TITLE OF BOOK: TO BE A SLAVEAUTHOR: JULIUS LESTERName: Kendall B.Class Period: 6th Period

Context CluesWord Sentence Correct

Dictionary Definition

Attribute Yet slaves are often pictured as little more than dumb, brute animals, whose sole attributes were found in working.

To regard as resulting from a specific cause.

Chattel If you needed provisions or chattel, get the money and buy them.

A slave.

Dexterity …during my eight years experience as a driver, I learned to handle the whip with marvelous dexterity and precision…

Skill or adroitness in using the hands or body.

Contended I have always been honest, just, and have contended for what was rightfully mine.

To strive in debate; dispute earnestly.

Trifling Slaves were whipped for the most trifling incidents, and the whip was as often wielded by the slave owner’s wife than the slave owner himself.

Of very little importance.

Text Purpose

I think the author wrote this book to explain the lives of other former slaves and how they were treated. The intended audience could be for anyone interested in how slavery was back then, and what the slaves thought about it.

Text Structure

The text structure that the author used is description. He used this to let the reader understand and visualize what’s happening throughout the book. He clearly states what he’s talking about and uses quotes from people with the experience of slavery.

Text Representation (Timeline)

The slave

owner w

ould get his w

hip

Author’s Perspective/Point of View

Subject Author’s Feelings

Text Evidence

Slavery The author felt that most of the slaves were treated with disrespect. They would have to work all day and get beat for small reasons. In his tone, you could tell that he felt sorrow.

In the book, he says, “ To be a slave was to be a human being under conditions in which that humanity was denied. They were not slaves. They were people. Their condition was slavery.” The tone in the author’s voice shows that he felt sad for the slaves.

Main Idea

Paragraphs Main Idea

Beginning-Page # 33 Whippings and how the slave owners gave them.

Middle-Page # 59 The plantation, how it was, and what the slaves did on it.

End-Page # 121 Slaves running away and where they hid.

Supporting Details

Details Page # Comments

The auction block was sometimes a source of joy.

51 He included the detail because it showed that although the auction block was depressing, there were some good sides to it.

The slaves had big jobs to do on the plantation, like picking cotton.

71 He said this because he showed the expectations of the slaves.

Slaves were treated with cruelty and disrespect

32 This was mentioned to explain the pain and hatred the slave owners showed to the slaves.

Draw InferencesWhat the Book Says Conclusions Drawn

Situation: A mom was a former slave, and her kid saw her scars from when she was a slave. They thought she was joking when she told them about the slave days.

Character Actions: The mom got her whip and spanked the kids until they bled.

The mom hated the memory of the whippings, and gave her kids a feeling of what it was like.

Situation: A man was whipped because he looked at a slave the slave owners killed and cried.

Character Actions: He was sad about how his father was whipped for having sympathy.

Some slave owners didn’t like when other slaves had strong feelings for one another.

Compare-Contrast

Title: To be a Slave

1. This book was during slavery.

2. This book has lots of people.

3. Talks about multiple people’s lives

4. More descriptive about slaves.

5. They both mention the Civil War

Title: How Slavery Really Ended in America

1. Ending of slavery

2. Limited amount of people

3. Mainly about 3 people

4. Mostly about the fleeing of 3 slaves

5. Talks of one specific part in slavery

Both

1. Both had to do with slavery

2. They both use some quotes

3. Both talk about how it ended

4. Both non-fiction

5. They both mention slaves who try to flee

Facts

Facts Page # Comments

Whippings were administered very frequently

33 Slaves were beaten for some of their actions

Some slave owners bred slave for the auction block

39 The slaves were taught how to act on the auction block

The slaves were treated as if they weren’t human.

28 The slaves were treated like animals: without respect and spanked for mistakes

Each slave has a sack to put the cotton they pick into.

68 When they picked the cotton, they put it in sacks.

To the slave, it was clear that slavery existed for two reasons: free labor, and the money that was gotten from the fruits of that free labor and from selling slaves.

38 Slaves were mostly kept for their work.

Opinions

Opinions Page # Comments

The plantation. It was like a country unto itself.

65 The plantation was like a huge world in a spacious farm.

The plantation was a world in itself

60 This statement showed that the plantation was very different from the normal world.

One of the more fascinating recorded stories of one who could be considered a “good” slave is the story of Josiah Henson.

93 Josiah Henson was a slave who had a popular and fascinating life

The houses of the slave were generally more fit for animals than human beings.

62 The houses of the slaves were very uncomfortable.

The most common was to appear to be the dumb, stupid “animal” that he knew his owner thought he was.

98 This was a trick that made the slave owner’s job a little bit harder.

Reading Response

When the slaves were whipped, mentioned on page 33, I felt sad that they were beat for no reason. I know the slave owners wouldn’t like it if they were beaten with a whip for making a small mistake.

Also, when the slaves’ children were sold on the auction block, on page 40, I disliked it because they took the mothers’ babies and sold them in front of her very eyes. After going through so much labor and pain, I would hate to see that it was just a waste.

The fact that the slaves were put through so much work, said on page 69, made me remember how I was (and still am) forced to do so many chores at home. With so much work, I can understand how they get tired everyday. Now, I see how they feel.