Page 168 - SpringBoard_ELD_Grade8_Flipbook

Interpret the Text Using Close Reading
Learning Targets
• Apply understanding of how essays are structured to comprehending the text. PII.8.1
• Explain how phrasing or different common words with similar meanings produce different effects on the audience. PI.8.8
• Use general academic words and domain-specific words to create some precision while speaking and writing. PI.8.12A
Read and Annotate
Read “Made You Laugh” independently or as a group. Annotate the text as you read.
■ Use the My Notes area to write questions or ideas you have about the text. ■ Underline words and phrases that are synonyms for “laugh” and “laughter.” ■ Put a star next to the topic sentence in each section.
■ Circle unknown words and phrases.
aCTIVITy 1.3
my notes
essay
by Marc Tyler Nobleman
1 Would you like to know a language everyone in the world understands? You already do—because you laugh. Any two people from vastly different cultures who don’t speak a word of the other’s language still know exactly what is meant when the other person laughs.
2 Think of laughter as the unofficial language of Earth. Yet how much do any of us really understand about humor?
On the Laugh Track
3 What makes things funny? READ asked John Ficarra, the editor of MAD magazine. After all, he should know. Here’s what he said: “Monkeys. They’re unbeatable. For example, show a photo of a dentist— not funny. Show a photo of a dentist with a monkey in his chair, and it’s comedy gold. Try this theory out on a few of your family photos, and you’ll see.” OK, so monkeys are funny. What else? How about this?
4 Two hunters were in the woods, when one collapsed. He didn’t seem to be breathing. The other called the emergency number and said, “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator said, “Calm down,
I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” After a second of silence on
Unit 4 • The Challenge of Comedy • Part 1: Made You Laugh 145
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