Date: 2/6/2012
Name: Michael Heskiel
Current Events Journal
Title: Warm and Furry, but They Pack a Toxic Punch
Author: Natalie Angier
Source: The New York Times
The topic of the article is mammals’ defenses.
The main idea of the article is: (implied/stated) stated and is about the African crested rat and how he uses his defense mechanism. They also include different mammals such as the Capuchin monkey and the deer.
The author’s purpose for writing this article is to inform the reader about the African crested rat and other mammals that use toxins or chemicals to defend themselves against predators and other threats.
The author’s perspective in this article is objective because due to the fact that she is reporting the findings of others.
The pattern of organization of the article is cause and effect because the article talks about some mammals and how they use toxins to defend themselves. The effect is how the mammals succeed in protecting themselves using the chemicals.
The reason the author chose this pattern for the article is to let the reader have a better understanding of how mammals use chemicals and toxins to defend themselves.
The text features included in the article are: illustrations and photographs helps by giving the reader a better understanding of what the creature looks like.
This article is about (a summary in your own words) about mammals that use chemicals to defend themselves. The article gives specific examples about how each animal gets and uses their toxins. For example, the African crested rat nibbles bark from a tree whose bark is poisonous. He then spits on his fur so when a predator tries to eat him and bites him, the predator will become ill, and possibly die. Another example is how the skunk developed a gland that sprays a noxious chemical.
The significance (importance) of this article is that it educates the reader about mammals and defense different defense mechanisms they use. What also is important about the article is how not all mammals use claws or jaws to defend themselves.
What I learned from this article is how mammals can also use poison to defend themselves just like reptiles. I also learned in this article there was an animal called the African crested rat.
What I liked about this article is how the author didn’t just talk about the subject but gave examples. I also liked the fact I had vocabulary words to write about.
What I did not like about it was that it was very difficult for me to read and understand it. Even after the third time, I was not 100% sure I understood it.
Who should read this article and why: People who are interested in animals and learning about animals.
This article reminds me of (text-to-self) when I play video games that have strategy involved and I don’t succeed the first time, I would have to try a different strategy or a new plan to try and win.
(text-to-text) This reminds me of a book I just read, N.E.R.D.S.; M is for Mama’s Boy by Michael Buckley. The protagonist, Duncan Dewey, after failing many times, has to try a different strategy to defeat the antagonists at the end of the book.
(text-to-world) This reminds me of the bark used by the African crested rat is used as a poison to kill elephants.
New vocabulary I learned
Word Context Clues Meaning
1. Flamboyantly “…large, flamboyantly furred and thickly helmeted.” – flashy.
2. Potent “…with potent toxins harvested from trees.” - strong.
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