Preview
Copywork
About This Passage
This is Otis telling Opal the truth about himself. Notice how he says the same important word twice — 'I ain't dangerous.' Saying it two times helps Opal believe him. Notice also that he says 'I'm lonely' in between. He is admitting two things at once: he is not scary, and he IS lonely. Copying this sentence shows children how admitting a soft feeling can be as brave as admitting a hard one.
I ain't a dangerous man. I'm lonely, but I ain't dangerous.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell the story of why Otis went to jail. Do you think he was a bad man or just a man who made a mistake?
Discussion Questions
- Otis says he went to jail because he would not stop playing his guitar on the street. Why is this a small reason to go to jail? What does it tell us about Otis?
- Otis hit a police officer. Was that right or wrong? Can you hit a police officer even for a good reason?
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Critical Thinking
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