1a. Who does Luke choose as a companion?
2a. When Luke makes his proposition to Uncle Henry, what does Uncle Henry want to say to Luke? Why doesn't he say it? What does he say instead?
3a. What is Luke's vow?
4a. Collect from the story references to the type of person Luke wants to be when he grows up. How do his ideals shift or change as the story progresses? Also, identify passages of the story that show Luke gaining a better understanding of others.
5a. View the struggle between Luke and Uncle Henry through the eyes of Aunt Helen. How would she explain why Luke and his uncle acted as they did?
1b. Why might Luke choose this companion?
2b. What does this tell you about Uncle Henry?
3b. Is Luke's vow practical or emotional? How does Luke's vow fit with the lesson Uncle Henry wants him to learn?
4b. What does Luke learn about his uncle? What does Luke learn about Mr. Kemp? How does what he learns about each man help him learn about himself? How has Luke kept—or failed to keep—the promise he made to his father?
5b. How might Aunt Helen have reacted if Uncle Henry had not accepted Luke's proposition?
Character. Review the story, "Luke Baldwin's Vow," and make a list of all the characters involved. Make a list of significant details from the story about each character. Reflect on these details and determine which characters in the story are three dimensional and which characters are one dimensional. Which characters, if any, do you find difficult to classify? Write a few sentences on each character briefly explaining why he or she is one dimensional, three dimensional, or difficult to classify.
Plot. What is the central conflict of the story? A plot includes the introduction of the conflict, its development, and its resolution. Look at your picture map of the plot in "Luke Baldwin's Vow." What point in the story is the climax? Label the picture in your sequence that corresponds with the climax. Then look at the pictures that appear before that point in the sequence. Comparing them to the parts of a plot defined in Elements of Fiction on pages 532–533, label the picture that corresponds with exposition. Looking at the pictures that follow the climax, label those that correspond with crisis, resolution, and dénouement.
1. Imagine that you are a teacher at Luke's school. Luke has come to you to discuss the fact that Uncle Henry wants to get rid of Dan. Write a letter to Uncle Henry explaining why owning Dan is truly valuable to Luke. In your letter, refer to the previous losses that Luke has suffered in his life and to the role that Dan plays in Luke's private life.
2. Write the first paragraph of a story that Luke might tell his grandchildren about Dan and his Uncle Henry.
3. A contract is a written agreement between two people, companies, or other parties. Write a contract between Luke Baldwin and Uncle Henry stating the terms of the agreement that they come to in the story. Make sure to include details about what happens if either side fails to meet the terms of the agreement.
Evaluating Internet Sites: Research Log. Using an Internet search engine, look for Internet sites of organizations that promote specific dog breeds. Find at least five organizations' sites by using keywords such as poodle, husky, rottweiler, spaniel, beagle, collie, or chihuahua. As you work, keep notes about the sites you visit. Indicate what type of information you find at each site, how much information each site offers, and how valuable that would be for a person deciding what type of dog to adopt. After analyzing the five sites, evaluate each one in a brief paragraph. Consider the following questions. How user-friendly is the site? How much information does it provide? How helpful is that information? Rate the sites in order from best to worst based on your findings. For address of and information on Internet search engines, see the Language Arts Survey 5.27, "Conducting an Internet Search."
Internet sources:
Researching a Variety of Sources: Starting with either a book or an Internet site that provides general information about dogs, create a list of some of the common aspects of canine healthcare. Possible topics include grooming, vaccinations, dental care, spaying and neutering, and aging. Select and investigate a topic that interests you by using a wide variety of source materials. Use library books, the Internet, encyclopedias, magazines, journals, and interviews with experts. Your interviews can include brief question-and-answer sessions with breeders, veterinarians or vet assistants, pet shop owners, groomers, or employees of the Humane Society of the United States or the American Kennel Club. After you have gathered information on your topic from as many sources as possible, compare and contrast your findings. Do any sources contradict one another? If so, which one do you think offers the correct information? Why? Confirm your ideas by making a follow-up call or consult another reliable source. When you are confident about all the information you have gathered, organize it in a logical way and present your findings to the class. Also report on your sources and your methods of research. Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Books and print sources:
Information:
Action and State of Being Verbs. Identify the verbs in the following sentences adapted from "Luke Baldwin's Vow." Tell whether each verb is an action verb or a state of being verb.
Example: Luke's father died that summer. action verb
1. Uncle Henry was the manager of the sawmill.
2. He had a rough-skinned, brick-colored face.
3. The four employees were always polite.
4. Luke's Aunt Helen, a kindly, plump, straightforward woman, never argued with Uncle Henry.
5. Luke liked the fresh, clean smell of the newly cut wood.
6. Uncle Henry carried a black notebook in his pocket.
7. They all moved out to the veranda.
8. The dog was sleepy.
9. The dog licked Luke's hand.
10. That dog's teeth are gone.
Synonyms. Review the Words for Everyday Use from "Luke Baldwin's Vow." Then indicate the letter of the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
Example: IMPOSING a a. impressive b. annoying c. ignorant d. surprising
1. WIRY click to select answer a. hyper b. sinewy c. connected d. husky
2. METHODICAL click to select answer a. belligerent b. confused c. timid d. orderly
3. PONDEROUS click to select answer a. heavy b. ethereal c. useless d. scholarly
4. PROPOSITION click to select answer a. scandal b. suggestion c. boundary d. feeling
5. EXULTATION click to select answer a. bravado b. sorrow c. fearfulness d. joyousness
6. FURTIVE click to select answer a. trustworthy b. muscular c. sneaky d. decadent
7. COMPETENT click to select answer a. capabl b. competitive c. foolish d. bizarre
8. ALOOF click to select answer a. high b. distant c. comical d. dangerous
9. DIVERT click to select answer a. distract b. tempt c. ignore d. falsify
10. PRECISE click to select answer a. estimate b. short c. evade d. exact
