Language and Grammar: Summarize

Pair Talk Work with a partner to summarize one section of “Escaping to Freedom.” Use subject and object pronouns correctly. Share your summary with the class.

We read the first section, “Bonds of Slavery.”

Josiah Henson was a slave in Kentucky. He tried to buy his freedom Josiah’s owner took the money but didn’t release him.

Writing and Grammar: Write About Freedom

Study the Models When you write about an important topic like freedom, you want your readers to understand all your ideas. Use pronouns correctly so that your readers know whom or what you are talking about.

Not Ok

Jonathan Walker was born in 1799. Him opposed slavery strongly. Walker worked hard to try to stop them. Once, Walker helped seven slaves escape. The slaves sailed from Florida to freedom in the Bahamas. The authorities caught Walker and punished us. The incident did not stop her, however. For many years, they traveled around America and spoke out against slavery.

The reader thinks: “I’m confused. I can’t tell whom the writer is talking about.”

Ok

My aunt and my grandmother came to the United States from Saudi Arabia. They were amazed at all the freedom here. In Saudi Arabia, they could not drive a car or have a job. Everyone expected them to stay home most of the time. Now my aunt has a job. She works as an Arabic language teacher. Aunt Nadia loves it. She teaches us Arabic, too!

This writer uses correct subject pronouns and object pronouns. It’s easy to tell whom the writer is talking about.

Revise It Look back at the NOT OK passage. Work with a partner to revise it. Fix subject and object pronouns.

Illustration of a pen icon WRITE ON YOUR OWN Write about something you have done or would like to do to improve the rights or freedoms of others. Use subject and object pronouns correctly.

REMEMBER

SingularPlural
Subject PronounsIyouhesheitweyouthey
Object Pronounsmeyouhimheritusyouthem