How to teach grammar in context with The Call of the Wild - a one sentence warmup

Choose a sentence to put under the microscope. Look for a sentence that contains some of the following: figurative language, sensory imagery, alliteration, allusion, clauses, prepositional, infinitive, gerund or appositive phrases. Example:

Twice his teeth clipped together, like the steel jaws of a trap, as he backed away for better footing, with lean and lifting lips that writhed and snarled.

·       simile: like the steel jaws of a trap

·       alliteration: lean, lifting lips

·       sensory imagery: teeth clipped together, snarled, lean and lifting lips

·       clauses: as he backed away, that writhed and snarled

·       prepositional phrases: like the steel jaws, of a trap, for better footing, with lean and lifting lips

The goal is to increase a student’s reading comprehension and writing skills. Analyzing a single sentence makes readers aware of figurative language and symbolism as they read. Identifying an author’s use of clauses and phrases demonstrates writing strategies anyone can use.

The Grammardog Guide to The Call of the Wild features 16 multiple choice grammar, style, proofreading and literary analysis quizzes that use sentences from the literature. Answer key is included.