Soto's grandfather immigrated to the US from Mexico and worked hard while earning little money, but grew fruit in his backyard that helped feed his family and allowed him to save more. In a personal essay, Soto will recount his grandfather's story of being a dedicated, hardworking man who never lost hope and inspired his family despite difficulties, establishing family roots through his garden where he grew an avocado tree.

1. The Grandfather
Gary Soto

2. Form & style
• Nonfiction is a true life story comes in many
forms.
• Forms of non-fiction
PERSONAL ESSAYExpository Essay
Biography
Memoir
Autobiography

3. A personal essay is usually short and informal
and often reveals a great deal about the
writer’s personality and taste while an
expository essay is usually formal in tone and
generally objective.
*Autobiography is someone's life written by
himherself while Biography is someone's life
written by another person
*A memoir focuses on a particular period in the
writer's life.

4. ]
DICTION
*formal
*informal
TONE
"attitude"
*figures of
speech
MOOD
"is created
through
*imagery
Style

5. Soto’s father immigrated to
the USA from Mexico. Like
many immigrants, his
grandfather worked hard
and earned little money.
The fruit he grew in his
backyard helped feed him,
allowing him to save more
of his hard earned money.
In this personal essay, we will read about
Soto’s grandfather, a hardworking man who
never lost hope and who inspired his family
with his dedication

7. How would you
describe Soto’s
word choice? Clear
and direct? Poetic
and imaginative?
Explain
Soto’s word choice is poetic
and imaginative. He uses
descriptive words and phrases
that create vivid images, such
as “tight-lipped pockets”

8. Platform sticking out from the ground over the sea where people can walk

13. To what senses do
these details appeal?
The images appeal to
the senses of touch,
taste, and sound

15. C) Soto’s style is characterized by
descriptive words and vivid imagery.
His sentences structure is clear but
complex

16. 1- Why did Soto’s grandfather
believe that ‘a tree is money’?
Trees that bore fruits saved
grandfather from spending
money to buy fruit.

17. 2- How does the grandfather’s garden
help establish his family roots?
It provides a place for the family to spend
time together, and it’s something they
can enjoy for many years.

18. 4- How would you describe Soto’s
grandfather? Consider his move to
California and his attitude toward the
avocado tree.
He is hardworking, persistent,
patient and positive.

19. 5- What differences did Soto’s grandfather
see between Mexico and California
• He sees California as more urban
and industrial than Mexico. He
misses aspects of Mexico which is
more natural environment

20. 6-
• Soto grows as a tree grows. The
images of him leaping over the tree
and latter sitting in its shade. Make
this clear.

21. Home fun
•Page 51 booklet