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7 NA M E CL A S S DAT E Defining Friendship Cluster Question: What is a friend? Directions: The passage in Organizer A below describes the relationship between two unusual friends: a street boy and a stray dog. Author Gary Paulsen defines the relationship by giving two kinds of examples: what the relationship is and what it is not. Using Organizer A as a model, fill out Organizer B by first giving examples from your own experience of what a friend does, and what a friend does not do. Then write a tentative definition of friendship. You may want to expand or refine your definition as you read the selections in The Best of Friends. Organizer A I had a bodyguard. It was as close to having a live nuclear weapon as you can get. I cannot say we became friends. I touched him only once, when he wasn t looking I petted him on the head and received a growl and a lifted lip for it. But we became constant companions. Dirk moved into the basement with me, and I gave him a hamburger every day and hustled up dog food for him and many nights we sat down there eating Ritz crackers and he watched me working on stick model airplanes. from Dirk the Protector, pages E xamples of What the Relationship Is mutual protection dog acts as a bodyguard and boy provides food and companionship E xample of What the Relationship Is Not I cannot say we became friends. Organizer B E xamples of What a Friend Does E xample of What a Friend Does Not Do My tentative definition of friendship The Best of Friends 2000 Pe r fection Learning Corp o r at i o n R E P R O D U C I B L E 11

8 NA M E CL A S S DAT E Cluster One Vocabulary Watch for the following words as you read the selections in Cluster One. Record your own vocabulary words and definitions on the blank lines. Dirk the Protector pages impasse standoff; stalemate menace danger; threat predatory threatening; taking advantage of the weak For Heidi With Blue Hair pages headmistress woman in charge of a school solidarity unity; standing behind someone Joe King pages mesmerized fascinated; hypnotized mourn to grieve; feel sorrow Dawn pages exotic foreign; strange; unusual rational reasonable; sensible rubbish junk; British slang term for nonsense spontaneity freedom; naturalness tentatively uncertainly; hesitantly 12 R E P R O D U C I B L E 2000 Pe r f ection Learning Corp o rat i o n The Best of Friends

9 Dawn by Tim Wynne-Jones, pages Short Story Summary As he boards a bus to travel to his grandmother s, 13-year-old Barnsey s worst fears are realized. He s sitting next to someone weird, an adventurous girl with nose rings and a Mohawk. Despite their differing tastes in music, she and Barnsey become mates. The memory of Dawn s spontaneity and her gift of a tape help Barnsey cope with his parents divorce. Reading Hint Thinking Skill E x t e n s i o n s Students may have trouble with Dawn s British slang. Using context, have them guess what the terms mean. Dawn calls Barnsey mate. Does that mean she considers him a friend? Invitation to Write: Barnsey learns from Dawn that looking through the eyes of a friend can open up a whole new world. Have students write about whether this has been true in their experience. Vocabulary exotic foreign; strange; unusual rational reasonable; sensible rubbish junk; British slang term for nonsense spontaneity freedom; naturalness tentatively uncertainly; hesitantly Discussing the Short Story 1. What is Barnsey s first reaction to Dawn? (Recall) He thinks she s weird because of her nose rings and Mohawk. 2. What can you tell about Barnsey and Dawn from their reactions to each other s music? (Analysis) Answers will vary. Dawn likes gentle, contemplative pieces while Barnsey enjoys hard rock. Both are willing to listen to the other s tape and allow themselves to enjoy the new experience. 3. Why does Barnsey want to find Dawn? (Analysis) Answers may vary. Barnsey is tired of the rubbish surrounding his parents divorce. He wants to find Dawn, because she is the embodiment of freedom, spontaneity, and self-assurance. 4. What does Dawn s gift mean to Barnsey? (Analysis) Answers may vary. Some may say that Dawn s spontaneity is the opposite of Barnsey s parents careful planning. Others may feel that she helps him discover how to make his own music and gives him hope for a new beginning after his parents divorce. Special Focus: Symbolism of Names Although Barnsey spends only a brief time with Dawn, she becomes a powerful influence in his life. Tim Wynne-Jones reinforces this influence by using the symbolism of her name. With your students, explore the symbolism of Dawn s name. You might use the following questions as a guide. What is the significance of the title? What do you associate with the word dawn? sun rising new beginnings renewal How does the author reinforce the symbolism of Dawn s name? Her friendliness and spontaneity evoke fresh beginnings. The description of Dawn s Mohawk on page 31 matches her name:... orange along the scalp and purple along the crest as if her skull was a planet and the sun was coming up on the horizon of her head. Discussing the Image What do you think the person in the photo on page 28 is like? 16 L I T E R AT U R E A N D T H O U G H T The Best of Friends

10 NA M E CL A S S DAT E Writing Activity: Defining Friendship Directions Create your own definition of friendship. Write your definition in either prose or poetry. When defining, begin by introducing the term you are going to define. A strong definition also lists the various characteristics and qualities of the term. Defining a topic as large and complex as friendship can be difficult. The chart below can help you organize your thoughts. Use the second column to record some of the words you would use to define the friendship in question. S e l e c t i o n Wo rds that Define the Friendship Example Dirk the Protector sharing I would smear a cracker, hand it to him....and then eat one myself (page 19). For Heidi with Blue Hair Joe King Dawn Untitled When you write your definition, choose only words that identify the most important characteristics and qualities of friendship. Then give an example for each characteristic or quality. Remember that a strong definition begins by stating the term to be defined lists the various characteristics or qualities of the term provides examples ends with a final definition The Best of Friends 2000 Pe r fection Learning Corp o r at i o n R E P R O D U C I B L E 19