Author+Study+Questions

=Maya Angelou Author Study Questions=

Locate one place Maya Angelou performed on stage. OR Write out one sentence that you think tells a high point in Angelou’s life.
 * Knowledge**

Retell a positive experience in Angelou’s childhood.
 * Comprehension**

Compare Maya Angelou’s childhood to your own. How are they alike and different?
 * Analysis**

Modify one of Angelou’s poems to show a different ending. Why did you change it this way?
 * Application**

Predict what type of poetry Angelou would have written if her life had been easier.
 * Synthesis**

Rank Maya Angelou on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest. Why did you rank her this way? OR Summarize Angelou’s life in five sentences, including what you think are the most important things.
 * Evaluation**

=Issa Author Study Questions=

Pick one haiku by Issa and give it a title.
 * Knowledge**

Give examples of how Issa had a difficult life growing up.
 * Comprehension**

Separate the events in Issa’s life into good or bad. Create a graphic organizer to show his life.
 * Analysis**

Transfer Issa’s written biography into a timeline, including his birth, childhood, adulthood and writing career.
 * Application**

Suppose Issa had a happier childhood. What types of haiku do you think he might have written? Explain.
 * Sythesis**

Determine what effect Issa’s life had on his poetry, if any. Why do you feel this way?
 * Evaluation**

=Gary Soto Author Study Questions=

Locate one place that Gary Soto lived. OR Name one way that Gary Soto is similar to and different from you.
 * Knowledge**

Retell one of Soto’s poems in your own words.
 * Comprehension**

Compare the life of Soto to your own. Find at least two facts and two opinions. Based on this information, explain if you would want to be his friend.
 * Analysis**

Use what you know about libraries and discuss Soto’s library. OR Complete this sentence: “Gary Soto is a good writer because…”
 * Application**

Predict what Soto will be doing in ten years. Explain.
 * Synthesis**

Select one of Soto’s works and recommend it to a friend.
 * Evaluation**

=Langston Hughes Author Study Questions=

Find at least one way Langston Hughes is like you or not like you. OR Locate why he wanted to become a poet.
 * Knowledge**

Read one of Hughes’ poems to yourself and then to your partner. Explain if you like the poem.
 * Comprehension**

Draw conclusions about Hughes based on his life.
 * Analysis**

Complete this sentence: “Langston Hughes was a successful poet because…” OR Select one event in Hughes’ life and tell why you think this was the one event that played the largest part in shaping his life.
 * Application**

Arrange the important dates of Langston Hughes’ life in order of how important they are. OR Compose a short not to Langston Hughes telling him what you think about one of his poems.
 * Synthesis**

New York City renamed East 127th Street as Langston Hughes Place. Support this decision.
 * Evaluation**

=Alice Walker Author Study Questions=

Identify Alice Walker’s parents’ occupations.
 * Knowledge**

Translate what you think Alice Walker is proud of into an outline of events.
 * Comprehension**

Why do you think Alice Walker wanted to become a poet? Would these reasons motivate you? Explain.
 * Analysis**

Richard Bird said that people who try and fail are greater than other people. Discuss how this idea could apply to Alice Walker.
 * Application**

Write a short letter to a friend explaining why you think Walker is a successful writer and poet.
 * Synthesis**

Determine what effect Walker’s life had on her poetry, if any. Why do you feel this way?
 * Evaluation**