Click here to read the various definitions of a "myth" by the Merriam Webster dictionary.
1.To your mind, which one can be used to depict the archetype of the cowboy in the American West?
2. Share and defend your opinion with a partner.
3.In the dictionary entry for the word myth, find and write down in your notebook twoadjectiveswith the privative prefixun-and oneadjectivewith a very negative connotation.
a.What do they tell you about the concept of myth?
b.How do you think they might apply to the myth of the cowboy?
Liens utiles
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myth
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mythInvisible Cowboys - Jigsaw Reading Worksheet
Jigsaw Reading Group Work
1. Individual work. Before Reading.
Keeping in mind the three adjectives you wrote down in the Pre-Reading activities, look at the sentence in italics below and answer the questions.
"Facts do not make myths"
a.What "facts" concerning cowboys do you think were hidden by the myth ?
b. In your opinion, did they have to do with their activities, their appearance, their way of life? What else?
2. Group work. Each group is going to focus on a different document about a group of invisibilized cowboys.
Read the text assigned to you by your teacher and do the following activities.
a.Read the whole document once, to get a feel for the general topic and discuss your reaction with your group mates.
b.Focus on the elements highlighted in green, yellow, pink or purple. Each color corresponds to a category of information. Use these elements to organize your understanding of the text and discuss meaning with your group mates.
c. Get ready to exchange with the rest of the class.
- Recap what you know about the people described in your text (appearance, skills, origin, activities, etc.)
- Recap the reasons why some cowboys were erased from history, and in what way they influenced the myth of the cowboy or how they questioned it.
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Toolbox
- Like the archetypal cowboys, ... ≠Unlike the archetypal cowboys, ...
- While the archetypal cowboys were ..., the ...
- The archetypal cowboy were ..., whereas ...
- ... had a major influence on ...
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3. Class work. Share your expertise with the rest of the class.
Share your findings with the other groups. To understand better the similarities and differences between the different communities and the archetype of the cowboy, fill in the following table. You can copy it in your notebook, fill it in online or download it.
Invisible Cowboys - Language Focus 1
Comparatif / superlatif
1. Comparatif de supériorité.
a.On appelle "adjectifs courts" les adjectifs d'une seule syllabe ou ceux de 2 syllabes se terminant par "y" (funny), "er" (clever), "ow" (narrow), "le" (noble) .
Au comparatif de supériorité, ces adjectifs courts prennent "-er" et sont suivis de "than".
Exemples : This cowboy istaller thanme. This rancher iscleverer thanyou. The trail becamegentleras we approached the valley. The sheriff lookedangrier thanusual after the robbery.
NB :les adjectifs terminant par "y" prennent “-ier” au comparative.
Exemples :tiny > tinier ; manly > manlier.
NB :pour les adjectifs d'une seule syllabe terminant par une voyelle puis une consonne, on double la consonne au comparatif.
Exemple :big > bigger, hot > hotter.
b. Tous les autres adjectifs sont appelés "adjectifs longs" (adjectifs de 2 syllabes ne terminant pas par "y-er-ow-le" et de plus de 2 syllabes). Ils sont précédés de "more" au comparatif.
Exemples :more pleasant than ... , more intelligent than... /more muscular than... /more powerful than…
2. Superlatif.
a.Les adjectifs courts prennent "the + -est" au comparatif.
Exemple :weak > the weakest cowboy.
clever > the cleverest
NB :les adjectifs terminant par "y" prennent "-iest" au superlatif.
Exemple : happy > the happiest.
NB : pour les adjectifs d'une syllabe terminant par 1 voyelle puis 1 consonne, on double la consonne.
Exemple :big > the biggest, hot> the hottest.
b.Les adjectifs longs sont précédés de "the most" au superlatif.
Exemple : the most famous outlaw. The most intelligent person.
Exemple :She’sthe most respectedrancher in Texas. This isthe most dangeroustrail in the region.
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Trois exceptions :
- Good >better > thebest
- Bad >worse > theworst
- Far > farther / further > the farthest / the furthest
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3. Comparatif d’égalité
Tous les comparatifs d'égalité se construisent de façon identique, quelle que soit la longueur de l'adjectif utilisé = As + Adjectif + as
A la forme négative : not as + adjectif + as
Ex:The cowboy isasdaringasthe sheriff. A cowboy's loyalty isas strong ashis sense of justice.
4. Comparatif d’infériorité
Tous les comparatifs d'infériorité se construisent de façon identique, quelle que soit la longueur de l'adjectif utilisé = Less + adjectif + than
Ex:The outlaw wasless bold thanwe expected. The new ranch isless comfortable thanthe old family farm.
Pour construire un superlatif d'infériorité, on utilise “the least” devant tous les adjectifs, quelle que soit leur longueur. Ex:That was the least excitingrodeo I have ever seen.
5. L'accroissement progressif ou la diminution progressive (traduction de "de plus en plus" ou "de moins en moins").
On coordonne 2 comparatifs avec la conjonction "and"
ex: C'est de plus en plus gros : it's bigger and bigger.
C'est de plus en plus dangereux: it's more and more dangerous.
C'est de moins en moins dangereux: it's less and less dangerous.
6. La progression parallèle / la diminution parallèle. (traduction de "plus..., plus ..." ou "moins..., moins...")
Dans chaque segment (proposition), on utilise "THE" suivi du comparatif de supériorité ou d'infériorité, et on repousse le verbe en fin de segment/ proposition. (on peut aussi l'omettre quand il est évident, par exemple le verbe BE)
the + comparatif + COD + verbe // the + comparatif + COD + verbe
Ex:
Thefasterthe horse runs, thestrongerthe cowboy feels.
Theharderthe cowboy works,thericherhis family (becomes).
The morethe horses run,the lessenergy they have left.
The stronger the rope,the better.
The more, the merrier.
The lessa cowboy shows fear,the lessthe outlaws dare to challenge him.
Theless skilleda cowboy is with a lasso, thelessusefulhe is on the ranch.
Invisible Cowboys - Language Focus 2
Modalité épistémique (passé et présent)
Use modals to express your hypotheses.