During Reading
Recognize Dialect
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first stanza and the chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" aloud. Go back and read the first stanza and chorus, referring to the footnotes as you go. Notice that some words are simply clipped, meaning one or more letters are dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. Write examples of dialect in your chart along with a standard English translation.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own, referring to footnotes to help you understand dialectical terms. Keep recording dialect and its standard English equivalent. Do the same for "John, Anderson, My Jo."
Fix-Up Idea: Refocus
Both "Auld Lang Syne" and "John Anderson, My Jo" focus on special relationships. Once you understand the dialect, focus on the speaker's tone and what he or she is saying about a friend or loved one. Use the Guided Reading Questions to help you recognize some of the key ideas. Summarize the speaker's experience in each poem.