Vignette 7.3. Reading, Analyzing, and Discussing
Complex Texts in American Literature
Integrated ELA/Literacy, ELD, and History in Grade Eleven (cont.)Ms. Robertson: Okay, would you like me to help you understand that part? How about if
we take a look at the whole sentence first. Let’s read it together: Because
the Cherokees numbered several thousands, their removal to the West
was planned to be in gradual stages, but the discovery of Appalachian gold
within their territory brought on a clamor for their immediate wholesale
exodus. So, the first thing I’m seeing is that there are actually three ideas
packed into this sentence, which makes it kind of tricky to figure out. When
you have a big long sentence like this, it helps to unpack it. Let’s see if we
can do that.
Ms. Robertson shows the students where the three clauses are and has them underline
them:- Because the Cherokees numbered several thousands,
- their removal to the West was planned to be in gradual stages,
- but the discovery of Appalachian gold within their territory brought on a clamor for
their immediate wholesale exodus.
David: So, the first idea is something about there being several thousand
Cherokees. But it’s starting with because. I thought you couldn’t do that.
Ms. Robertson: You can, but you can’t have that sentence on its own because it’s a
dependent clause. It depends on another clause for its meaning.
Ms. Robertson writes two more examples to demonstrate when because would be
acceptable or unacceptable at the beginning of a sentence.
Chue: Yeah, I think it’s the next part because it’s telling about how they were
going to remove them: “in gradual stages.”
Ms. Robertson: What does that mean?
Sara: Not all at the same time? A stage is like, the stages of metamorphosis,
or like steps or phases. So they were going to move them to the West in
stages because there were so many of them. “In gradual stages,” so slowly.
Ms. Robertson: Okay, so how about that word but, which starts the next clause. What does
that tell us?
Adriana: It’s telling us something’s going to be different, or the opposite. (Reads
the clause) “... but the discovery of Appalachian gold within their
territory.. .” I think they discovered gold on their territory.
Ms. Robertson: Who’s the “they”? Who discovered the gold?
Chue: I think it’s the army. Or the white people who settled there. The U.S.
government knew there was gold there.
Sara: Yeah, it says “within their territory.” That’s not the U.S.’s territory. I think it
means the Cherokee’s territory, on the Cherokee’s land. So they wanted to
get them out fast, instead of slowly, like they were planning to do so they
could get the gold.Grades 11 and 12 Chapter 7 | 799