Teacher Guide for FAST-R Passage: FAST-R: Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading. Duke Ellington: Master Musician

Transcription

1 Teacher Guide for FAST-R Passage: FAST-R: Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading At a Glance Approximate Grade Range: Genre: Nonfiction/informational Topic: This biography of Duke Ellington is organized with sub-headings. Source: Was used on the Texas state exam; passage is based on the obituary that appeared in The Washington Post. Duke Ellington: Master Musician Informational/Nonfiction Difficulty Index: Considerate Challenging Structure: Purpose: Richness: Relationships: Vocabulary: Style: Lexile Measure: 1010L Duke Ellington: Master Musician Duke Ellington is known as one of the most important composers of his time, and his work has been enjoyed for more than 80 years by music lovers all over the world. During his lifetime Ellington turned musical sounds into many compositions, mostly in the style known as jazz. The Early Years 1 Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in 1899 in Washington, D.C. Given his dislike of piano lessons as a child, no one could have predicted that he would become one of the most important composers of his time. It wasn t until Ellington was a teenager that his interest in music blossomed. He taught himself to play the piano by listening to local piano players. These musicians were pleased by the likable boy s enthusiasm for music. With their guidance he practiced constantly, trying to copy the lively ragtime tunes they played and to make the music sound just right. When Ellington became famous, he never forgot to give them credit for his success. The Beginning of a Great Career 2 Sometime around 1916, Ellington, who had been nicknamed Duke because of his dignified behavior, began playing the piano at high school parties. Ellington realized that he enjoyed entertaining people with his music. He soon became a very popular musician, playing at parties and other events in the Washington area. He regaled audiences of all ages with his music and showmanship. Young adults seemed especially delighted by the peppy, modern pieces he composed. Success in New York 3 In 1923, when Ellington was almost 24 years old, he moved to an area in New York City called Harlem. Harlem was home to a thriving African American musical community. He joined The Washingtonians, a five-piece group of musicians he had known in Washington, and he became the group s leader in early In 1927 Ellington and his orchestra auditioned for and won an engagement at Harlem s prestigious Cotton Club. He Style: This informational text has accessible language, simple sentence structure, and straightforward ideas. The information is organized by sub-headings and presented in an almost textbook-like format. See especially: Questions 4, 10 Structure: Ellington s life is presented chronologically and is easy to follow due to the use of headings for each section. See especially: Questions 4, 10 Relationships: The most prominent relationship featured in this text is the one between Ellington and the world of music. See especially: Questions 1, 3, 5, 8 Continued on next page

2 added more musicians and changed the name of the group to Duke Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra. For the next three years, his orchestra played at the Cotton Club nearly every night. The Influence of the Cotton Club 4 Working at the Cotton Club sparked Ellington s creativity. Since the shows changed every six months, he was challenged by the need to continually develop new material. He had to compose a wide variety of music to accompany the various acts in the Cotton Club shows and to adapt that music to the strengths and weaknesses of the players in his orchestra. 5 Ellington also gained notoriety from working at the Cotton Club. By 1928 the popular nightspot began radio broadcasts. From the broadcasts, Ellington and his orchestra gained a national reputation. Vocabulary: Most of the vocabulary is very accessible. See especially: Question 7; words in bold italics On the Road 6 As Ellington s popularity increased, he realized that his orchestra could do well on concert tours. They left the Cotton Club in 1931 and toured America and Europe almost continually for the next 43 years. In addition to touring, Ellington made recordings and continued to compose music. In Tune with His Orchestra 7 Most of Ellington s music was a blend of African American gospel, blues, ragtime, European and American light classical, and popular music that formed the uniquely American sound called jazz. His compositions encompassed a wide range of styles, tones, and emotions. He was a master at creating dramatic beginnings and exciting, beautiful backgrounds for solo musicians. Ellington worked with each musician to develop unique sounds and effects, and he experimented with unusual harmonies, rhythms, and musical arrangements to produce scintillating music. 8 Duke Ellington played the piano, composed music, and led his famous orchestra for more than 50 years, until his death in Music lovers all over the world agree that the abundance of music he created will be enjoyed for many years to come. Purpose: This passage, which was adapted from Ellington s obituary in The Washington Post, is intended to inform readers of the musical accomplishments of Duke Ellington in the wake of his death. See especially: Questions 4, 5, 6, 9 Humanities Connections Research Ellington to learn more about his life and work. Research the Harlem Renaissance and the explosion of arts within the African-American community in the 1920s-1940s (following the Great Migration to the northern cities). Listen to Ellington s music and decide which of his many songs you would include on the soundtrack for a movie about his life. Ideas for Connected Writing Activities Rewrite the information in this passage as a poem. Write a conversation, using dialogue, that you can imagine happening between Duke Ellington and the manager of the Cotton Club just before the band left in Write a screenplay portraying a scene from Ellington s long career. Include descriptions of camera angles, the set and lighting, the actors locations and actions, etc.

3 Teacher Guide for FAST-R Passage: FAST-R: Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading Duke Ellington: Master Musician Informational/Nonfiction The annotated answer key below highlights common reasons students might choose each answer, and the sidebar gives more insight into the question types, to help you understand patterns of student responses. Always make time to follow up with students in conferences or small groups to probe their thinking, teach in response to patterns, and help them apply effective reading and thinking strategies to their everyday reading. Note: You may find it helpful to refer to the Types and Levels of Questions on FAST-R sheet from your teacher resource folder as you examine your students responses. The icon in the right-hand column, below, corresponds to that sheet s more detailed explanations of the kinds of thinking each type of question asks of readers. 1. Who did Duke Ellington credit for his success as a musician? A. his childhood piano teacher (OOP2, 1) B. the manager of the Cotton Club (OOP2, 3-5) C. local piano players in Washington D.C. D. Edward Kennedy (OOP2, 1) 2. For how long did Duke Ellington lead his orchestra? A. more than fifty years ( 8) B. for twenty-four years (OOP2, 3) C. for forty-three years (OOP2, 6) D. nearly thirty years (OOB) 3. Ellington was known for playing a style of music called A. blues. (OOP2, 7) B. ragtime. (OOP2, 7) C. jazz. ( 7) D. classical. (OOP2, 7) 4. What is the MAIN idea of the section titled The Early Years? A. As a teenager Ellington taught himself to play the piano and learned all he could from local musicians. B. Ellington performed popular tunes with other piano players at neighborhood parties during the summer. (OOP2, wrong section) C. Ellington, born in Washington D.C., disliked piano lessons as a child. (OOP2) D. When Ellington became famous, he never forgot to give his teachers credit. (OOP1) 5. The author tries to convince the reader of Ellington s leadership by A. showing that he began taking piano lessons when he was a child. (OOP2) B. explaining that he assumed responsibility for a band and added new musicians. C. stating that he did live radio broadcasts in New York City. (OOP2) D. describing his hometown as a place where African American music thrived. (OOB) FE1: Identify evidence explicitly stated in the text FE1: Identify evidence explicitly stated in the text FE1: Identify evidence explicitly stated in the text MI2: Determine a singular meaning from the sum total of a particular paragraph MI3: Determine implicit meaning by understanding the organization of information in the text

4 Grades 8-9 Nonfiction Duke Ellington: Master Musician 6. The author provides sufficient evidence to show that Ellington A. wanted to be involved in theatrical productions. (OOP2, 4) B. preferred mature audiences to young adults. (OOP2, 2) C. could sing as well as he played the piano. (OOB) D. had a natural talent for musical composition. 7. In paragraph 5, the word notoriety means A. infamy. (OOB) B. fame. C. money. (OOB) D. dignity. (OOB) 8. Information in the passage suggests that many people consider Ellington s music to be A. boring. (OOB) B. reserved. (OOB) C. timeless. D. riotous. (OOB) 9. Which of the following is the best summary of this passage? A. Duke Ellington blended African American gospel, blues, ragtime, European and American light classical, and popular music to create his own musical style. (OOP1, 7) B. Duke Ellington worked with other musicians to develop unique sounds and effects by using unusual harmonies and rhythms. (OOP2, 7) C. Duke Ellington composed a wide variety of music and adapted it to the strengths and weaknesses of players in his orchestra. (OOP2, 4) D. Duke Ellington spent most of his life composing and playing music that entertained people all over the world. 10. Which of the following headings could best serve as the next heading in this passage? A. The Duke Ellington Audience (OOP2, mentioned in previous sentences - not a focus) B. The Legacy Lives On (follows chronological structure of passage) C. The Birth of Jazz (OOP1, mentioned in 7, but not a focus of passage) D. The First Ellington Recordings (OOP2, radio mentioned in 5, but not in chronological order) MI3: Determine implicit meaning by understanding the organization of information in the text MI1: Determine implicit meaning from words in context MI2: Determine a singular meaning from the sum total of a particular paragraph MI2: Determine a singular meaning from the sum total of a particular paragraph MI4: Determine new meaning and apply it beyond the passage

5 FAST-R + Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading Name Duke Ellington: Master Musician Nonfiction Date Teacher/Class Duke Ellington: Master Musician Duke Ellington is known as one of the most important composers of his time, and his work has been enjoyed for more than 80 years by music lovers all over the world. During his lifetime Ellington turned musical sounds into many compositions, mostly in the style known as jazz. The Early Years 1 Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in 1899 in Washington, D.C. Given his dislike of piano lessons as a child, no one could have predicted that he would become one of the most important composers of his time. It wasn t until Ellington was a teenager that his interest in music blossomed. He taught himself to play the piano by listening to local piano players. These musicians were pleased by the likable boy s enthusiasm for music. With their guidance he practiced constantly, trying to copy the lively ragtime tunes they played and to make the music sound just right. When Ellington became famous, he never forgot to give them credit for his success. The Beginning of a Great Career 2 Sometime around 1916, Ellington, who had been nicknamed Duke because of his dignified behavior, began playing the piano at high school parties. Ellington realized that he enjoyed entertaining people with his music. He soon became a very popular musician, playing at parties and other events in the Washington area. He regaled audiences of all ages with his music and showmanship. Young adults seemed especially delighted by the peppy, modern pieces he composed. Success in New York 3 In 1923, when Ellington was almost 24 years old, he moved to an area in New York City called Harlem. Harlem was home to a thriving African American musical community. He joined The Washingtonians, a five-piece group of musicians he had known in Washington, and he became the group s leader in early In 1927 Ellington and his orchestra auditioned for and won an engagement at Harlem s prestigious Cotton Club. He added more musicians and changed the name of the group to Duke Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra. For the next three years, his orchestra played at the Cotton Club nearly every night. Continue reading on the next page

6 The Influence of the Cotton Club 4 Working at the Cotton Club sparked Ellington s creativity. Since the shows changed every six months, he was challenged by the need to continually develop new material. He had to compose a wide variety of music to accompany the various acts in the Cotton Club shows and to adapt that music to the strengths and weaknesses of the players in his orchestra. 5 Ellington also gained notoriety from working at the Cotton Club. By 1928 the popular nightspot began radio broadcasts. From the broadcasts, Ellington and his orchestra gained a national reputation. On the Road 6 As Ellington s popularity increased, he realized that his orchestra could do well on concert tours. They left the Cotton Club in 1931 and toured America and Europe almost continually for the next 43 years. In addition to touring, Ellington made recordings and continued to compose music. In Tune with His Orchestra 7 Most of Ellington s music was a blend of African American gospel, blues, ragtime, European and American light classical, and popular music that formed the uniquely American sound called jazz. His compositions encompassed a wide range of styles, tones, and emotions. He was a master at creating dramatic beginnings and exciting, beautiful backgrounds for solo musicians. Ellington worked with each musician to develop unique sounds and effects, and he experimented with unusual harmonies, rhythms, and musical arrangements to produce scintillating music. 8 Duke Ellington played the piano, composed music, and led his famous orchestra for more than 50 years, until his death in Music lovers all over the world agree that the abundance of music he created will be enjoyed for many years to come.

7 FAST-R + Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading Name Duke Ellington: Master Musician Nonfiction Date Teacher/Class Directions: Answer the following multiple-choice questions by filling in the circle for the best answer on your answer sheet. 1. Who did Duke Ellington credit for his success as a musician? A. his childhood piano teacher B. the manager of the Cotton Club C. local piano players in Washington D.C. D. Edward Kennedy 2. For how long did Duke Ellington lead his orchestra? A. more than fifty years B. for twenty-four years C. for forty-three years D. nearly thirty years 3. Ellington was known for playing a style of music called A. blues. B. ragtime. C. jazz. D. classical. 4. What is the MAIN idea of the section titled The Early Years? A. As a teenager Ellington taught himself to play the piano and learned all he could from local musicians. B. Ellington performed popular tunes with other piano players at neighborhood parties during the summer. C. Ellington, born in Washington D.C., disliked piano lessons as a child. D. When Ellington became famous, he never forgot to give his teachers credit. 5. The author tries to convince the reader of Ellington s leadership by A. showing that he began taking piano lessons when he was a child. B. explaining that he assumed responsibility for a band and added new musicians. C. stating that he did live radio broadcasts in New York City. D. describing his hometown as a place where African American music thrived.

8 Name Date School Teacher/Class 6. The author provides sufficient evidence to show that Ellington A. wanted to be involved in theatrical productions. B. preferred mature audiences to young adults. C. could sing as well as he played the piano. D. had a natural talent for musical composition. 7. In paragraph 5, the word notoriety means A. infamy. B. fame. C. money. D. dignity. 8. Information in the passage suggests that many people consider Ellington s music to be A. boring. B. reserved. C. timeless. D. riotous. 9. Which of the following is the best summary of this passage? A. Duke Ellington blended African American gospel, blues, ragtime, European and American light classical, and popular music to create his own musical style. B. Duke Ellington worked with other musicians to develop unique sounds and effects by using unusual harmonies and rhythms. C. Duke Ellington composed a wide variety of music and adapted it to the strengths and weaknesses of players in his orchestra. D. Duke Ellington spent most of his life composing and playing music that entertained people all over the world. 10. Which of the following headings could best serve as the next heading in this passage? A. The Duke Ellington Audience B. The Legacy Lives On C. The Birth of Jazz D. The First Ellington Recordings

9 Teachers: Please duplicate and use this answer sheet only for students for whom you did not receive a pre-printed answer sheet! FAST-R Answer Sheet Name School Date Grade Class Passage Title Completely fill the circle for the correct answer. Teacher Name Write your answer to the open response prompt in the lined space below if your teacher directs you to do so. 1. A B C D 2. A B C D 3. A B C D 4. A B C D 5. A B C D 6. A B C D 7. A B C D 8. A B C D 9. A B C D 10. A B C D OFFICE USE ONLY RESEARCH: Y N OPEN RESPONSE: