Run+StrategiesMD

1. First complete the **chart below** comparing the narratives of the two stories. How does the story start? || Gus is about to hear an important announcement from his teacher. Gus's teacher is telling the class about an assignment due Monday about what he is most thankful for. || The opening situation is an exposition on the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary. It starts by talking about how elephants that join the sanctuary's family always have a friend. Tara however makes a friend of "different color" || What has changed? || Gus is no longer in need of finding something he is most thankful for. He finds out he is most thankful for his new friend, Mr. T. || By the end, we can now know that two species of completely different origin can come together and be friends. There are never limits on friendship. || How is this achieved? || Yes, I see this story from one character's point of view. I think so because it focuses on Gus's adventure and his problem. He is also featured on every page of the book. His picture also appears on every page of the book. || The story is told in the third person by a narrator/news reporter. It speaks about the coming together of Tara and Bella. It is really told with two different views and was achieved by having a narrator tell the story. ||
 * || **Happy Thanksgiving Gus ...** || **Assignment America ...** ||
 * What is the opening situation?
 * What is the problem of challenge that is posed? || Gus's challenge is that he must find something he is most thankful for for Thanksgiving || The challenge is trying to understand how Tara, an elephant, and Bella, a dog, can become such great friends. ||
 * How does this create conflict between characters? || The conflict is Gus cannot choose one thing because he is thankful for so many things. He also has conflict with the farmer's grandson his is scaring Gus and Bean where ever they go. || It doesn't really create conflict among characters, but a conflict would be studying the complicated life of the two best friends. ||
 * How is this resolved? || Gus tours the whole farm and ends up making a new friend who's is named Mr. T (Turkey) || By seeing how loving and caring Tara was to stay as close as possible to Bella when ill, it shows that love can come in many shapes and sizes. ||
 * How is the closing situation different to the opening situation?
 * Do you see the story from one character's point of view?

2. Then, by paying particular attention to the visual images in the stories and the ways in which these provide clues to the meaning of the stories, write a paragraph explaining how you "read" the stories to get the full meaning of each of the stories. You may find it useful to consider some of these factors: //**Feliz dia de Gracias, Gus!**// **Paragraph Here**:
 * color
 * framing
 * composition
 * size
 * type of shot
 * subject matter
 * setting
 * lighting
 * pose
 * text (or voice)

To get the full meaning of this story, I had to put on my "thinking cap." Having to read in Spanish and take word clues was challenging, but also trying to understand the pictures was a challenge in itself. I would first find cognates in Spanish that are alike to the words in English. I found out then what the sentences were most likely saying. I found out easily the setting of the stories by the background. The school house to the farm house, you can tell how Gus is on a large adventure. He travels very far to find the thing he is most thankful for. It was very focused on Gus's adventure with his friend Bean also. By focusing on not just the writing, but also the drawings, comprehending the story was much easier**. (Very nicely done.)**


 * //Assignment America// Paragraph Here**:

For the full meaning of this story, you must listen from the beginning to the end. IT starts off with the story of how to creatures of completely different backgrounds can come together and form one. When listening to the story, you get to feel an old style country feeling that you can only get from heart warming tales. The subject matter is always kept contstant and is not bias in its information.There are panoramic shots and close-ups throughout the video. The picture shown also gives a warm feeling to you because of its lush surroundings and position. The lighting is perfect in a way that can only be describe as heart felt. How they can become friends is so beautiful.The colors are all light and touching and the background noises are also just as amazing. I read it almost like a love novel when two people finally come together at the end of one loving family. **(Very nicely done.)**