Seventh Grade By: Gary Soto

1. Seventh GradeBy: Gary Soto

2. Setting • This story takes place in Fresno, California. • Fresno islocated in the San Joaquin Valley, southeast of San Francisco.

3. More about the setting… • Fresno, California’sclimate: • Dry, hot summers • Cool, humidwinters • The climateis excellent for growinggrapes • A large number of Hispanicswhosefamilies are originallyfromSpanish-speaking countries are employed in Fresno’svineyards • 8th largest city in California • Biggestfoodproducer in the United States

4. a regional variety of language. A variety of speech differing from the standard form. Dialect • I couldn’t understand what my guide was saying because he spoke in a different dialect than what I had learned.

5. About the Author • Gary Soto • Born in 1952 • Grew up in Fresno, California in a Mexican-American community • Writes poems, essays, and novels • He also teaches and has won many awards www,umich.edu

6. Point of View – the perspective of the one telling the story 1st Person – narrator is the character in the story -- Look for pronouns – I, me, we, us www.barnesandnoble.com

7. Point of View – the perspective of the one telling the story 2nd person – narrator tells story to someone • Look for pronoun – you www.barnesandnoble.com

8. Point of View – the perspective of the one telling the story 3rd person – narrator is not a character -- Look for pronouns – he, she, it , they, them

9. Narration/Narrator • Omniscient – “all knowing” tells about other thoughts and feelings • Limited – knows only what’s in the mind of one major or minor character • Objective – does not discuss the thoughts or feelings of the characters but reports only what they DO.

10. Conflict a struggle between opposing forces • Internal Conflict: takes place inside the character • External Conflict: a character’s struggle against a force outside himself or herself