Lesson 9

Lesson Goals

Texts

Core

• • In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2010

Materials

Tools

• In the Time of the Butterflies: Section 3 Compound Modifiers Handout

Activity 1: Discuss

We will discuss the different uses of hyphens.

As a class, discuss what the following sentences from the novel have in common.

A pretty people, golden-skinned, light-eyed, they seemed wary, as if somebody not so kind had come down the road ahead of us. (p. 160)

I could make out nothing in the smoke-filled room. (p. 161)

illustrious and well-loved Jefe (p. 120)

Mama looked old, even older than Papa with his dapper new hat and his linen guayaberas and his high black boots, and a debonair cane that seemed more like a self-important prop than a walking aid. (p. 90)

Her hair had gone steel gray, and she pulled it back in a severe bun that showed off the long-suffering look on her face. (p. 90)

same-colored khaki outfits were what the military wore (p. 78)

Activity 2: Write – Discuss

We will examine how the hyphen can be used to create two-word modifiers, also known as compound modifiers.

Step 1

Take notes in your Learning Log on the following questions and then.discuss them as a class:

1. What do you notice about how the hyphens are being used in this text?

2. What is the function of the hyphenated words?

Step 2

Compound modifiers are two or more words, linked by a hyphen, that act as an adjective, describing a noun directly before or after it. Compound modifiers are also called phrasal adjectives.

For example: bright-eyed freshman, over-the-counter medicine, swimmer-attacking shark, court-ordered visitation, case-by-case scenario.

Step 3

Now, discuss the following question:

1. What is the stylistic effect of using compound modifiers? Why do compound modifiers make the sentences more interesting to read?

Activity 3: Read – Write

We will examine how compound modifiers can impact meaning.

Each of the sentences below uses a compound modifier. Compound modifiers can make your writing interesting and add clarity to your sentence.

Read these two pairs of sentences:

• The man eating shark was finally caught.

• The man-eating shark was finally caught.

• Police found the one-armed robber holding the bag.

• Police found the one armed robber holding the bag.

What’s the difference in meaning between the two sentences in each pair?

Activity 4: Read – Discuss

We will search the text for other examples of compound modifiers.

Step 1

With a partner, find two examples of compound modifiers used in In the Time of the Butterflies.

Remember the following rules:

• Compound modifiers are two or more words, linked by a hyphen, that act as an adjective.

• Compound modifiers are sometimes called phrasal adjectives.

Step 2

Discuss the following question:

1. What is the stylistic effect of using compound modifiers? Why do compound modifiers make the sentences more interesting to read?

Activity 5: Read – Write – Discuss

We will find examples of compound modifiers in In the Time of the Butterflies.

Step 1

With a partner, skim In the Time of the Butterflies and find examples of compound modifiers, or phrasal adjectives.

Note: There are other ways to use a hyphen, so make sure the examples you find are cases in which the hyphen is used to link two adjectives.

To determine if your example is a compound modifier ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does this phrase describe a noun directly before or after it?

2. Is the phrase acting as an adjective? What noun is the phrase describing?

Step 2

Share one of your two sentences with the whole class. As you share, tell your classmates what noun is being described by a phrasal adjective.

Activity 6: Discuss – Write

We will collaboratively write a sentence with a compound modifier for stylistic effect.

As a class, co-construct a sentence with a compound modifier, similar to Julia Alvarez’s text. Create a compound modifier to describe a noun by separating the descriptive words, or adjectives, with a hyphen.

Activity 7: Discuss – Write

We will create a complex sentence similar in structure to Julia Alvarez’s that contains a compound modifier.

Working alone or in pairs, complete the Section 3 Compound Modifiers Handout