Aim. A writer’s aim is his or her purpose, or goal. People may write to inform (informative/expository writing); to tell a story, either true or invented (narrative writing); to reflect (personal/expressive writing); to share a perspective (imaginative writing); or to persuade readers to respond in some way (persuasive/argumentative writing). Writing may have more than one aim. As you read, try to determine Spinelli’s aim or aims.
Alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of syllables. The following sentence is an example because the y sound is repeated: “Yes, I know how to yo-yo,” yawned Yolanda, “and I yearn to be as good as you.” Alliteration is often used in poetry, but here Spinelli uses it in nonfiction. Look for examples as you read.
Repetition. Repetition is more than one use of a sound, word, or group of words. A writer may use repetition for many reasons, such as to stress an idea, to achieve coherence, or to create rhythm.
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• Being afraid of the dark is a common kind of fear, especially among young people. Darkness makes things seem bigger and louder than they normally are. Shadows distort the shape and appearance of people and objects, and it is difficult to see what is there in the darkness. In this selection, Spinelli explains why he was sometimes afraid of the darkness.
• Trains once played a key role in transporting people and cargo all over the country. However, with the growth of travel by car, bus, and plane, fewer people travel by train than in the past. Items that used to be transported by trains are now often shipped by truck or plane instead. But trains still do transport people and goods all over the country. In the past, trains had steam engines that were powered by coal or wood. Now most trains use diesel engines.
As you read, think about how the author associates different things with nighttime. Write words and phrases identifying these things in a graphic organizer like the one below. Then, write how the author reacts to each of those things.
Write about a time that you were afraid of the dark.
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