12

CREATIVE NONFICTION
Guided Learning Activity Kit
Analysis and Interpretation of Text
Quarter 3- Week 1
Creative Nonfiction– Grade 12
Guided Learning Activity Kit
Analysis and Interpretation of Text
Quarter 3- Week 1

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of
the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their
respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.

Development Team of the Activity Kit

Writer: Mary Deanne M. Mallillin

Roxsan M. Mostoles
Editors/Reviewers: Gina R. Borje/ Myra F. Huet
Layout Artists: Jimmuel R. Pagar
Management Team: Leonardo D. Zapanta EdD, CESO V
Michelle Ablian-Mejica EdD
Manolito B. Basilio EdD
Gina R. Borje
Garry M. Achacoso
Lani A. Miraflor EdD
Rachelle C. Diviva

Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education

Region III
Schools Division of Zambales
Zone 6, Iba, Zambales
Tel./Fax No. (047) 602 1391
E-mail Address: zambales@deped.gov.ph
Website: www.depedzambales.ph
 Analysis and Interpretation of Text

Introduction

Do you have a passion for writing? Are you somehow fascinated with the
creative themes of some books you often read from the library? Are you that one
curious fellow who always thinks about as if you were the writer of the book you
were reading? Were you thinking to write your autobiography? Well then, you are
up for a good start because you are about to learn how to become a creative
thinker in a factual milieu. As George Orwell said, “If people cannot write well,
they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking
for them.”
The goal of creative nonfiction is to present a convincing and cohesive
argument and version of certain scenarios that are factual, accurate, and possibly
elaborated but presented in a way that reads like fiction. By understanding this
concept, you need to be able to analyze each text and discover how these writers
achieve and maintain the interest of the readers by playing with words and
emotions as well as using their voice and style.
Unlike academic essays that you often do in most tests, where the use of
emotion is frowned upon, creative nonfiction requires passion from the writer. As
readers, you need to connect with the present ideas using your own emotion as
a direct and effective tool to analyze and interpret the theme and techniques used
in a particular text.
This lesson will provide you with a fundamental understanding of the
literary genre, skills to analyze texts that would be beneficial for you to be able to
write satisfactorily. So, buckle up and welcome to a week of a fruitful learning
experience.

Learning Competency

Analyze the theme and techniques used in a particular text.

 Objectives

After going through this Guided Learning Activity Kit, you are expected to:
1. identify the themes used in a literary text by recognizing the elements that
are being carried out;
2. explain the theme of a particular text or illustration with your
interpretation; and
3. formulate your story with a developed theme using the discussed
fundamental elements.

Review
Directions: Examine the pictures then fill out the table below. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

source: starcinema.abs-cbn.com Source: vanityfair.com

Picture No.

What is the title of the story?

Who are the characters in

the story?

What happens in the story?

What is the theme of the
story?
 Discussion

What is Literary Genre?

A story is a narration of how something happened. It tells us who, what,

when, where, and how a particular event took place. A story could be real or
imaginary, and the way you write a story is called literary genre.

A Literary Genre is a writing style in making or writing a piece. It is a

category used to classify the work of an author which can either be fiction or
nonfiction. When we say fiction, these are unreal writings or stories created from
the mind or imagination of the author while, nonfiction are writings that are
factual, realistic, and with real-life existence.

Each genre has different elements however, a genre has 4 general elements
namely: Character, Story, Plot, and Setting.

1. Characters – These are the person, animals, things, or creatures doing and
performing the actions in the story. These mainly involve the
voices of those who are primarily concerned. Characters are the
light of every action and scene of a story. It is necessary to
understand that characters are representations of man for they
portray feelings, behaviors, experiences, and aspirations

2. Story – The narration of the actions that took place in the story.

3. Plot – The sequence of events or the structure of the story. It is the

planned flow or series of events from the beginning, middle, and
end.

4. Setting – The situations, actions, and circumstances of a story that has

transpired in a certain time and place. It is a basic element that
provides the total environment of the story in consideration of
the time and space for the movements and actions of the
characters.

In writing or developing a story, you are writing not just because you need
to write something. You have to use the different elements of the story to create
a theme. The manner you combine or use these elements in writing your story
will serve as the technique in developing your theme.

What is a Theme?
The theme of the story is a message that the writer wanted to convey to
the readers. It is the idea, belief, lesson, or insights that would uncover or
 discover while reading the story. It is an undeciphered message that can manifest
within the story. The theme, most of the time, answers the “whys” of the story.

How to use the elements of literary genre in developing a theme?

When writing a story, the writer uses his intuitive thinking. He would look
at the things around them and from there, he starts to think of the elements to
write depending upon what he felt or imagined. Writers use these techniques as
the basis for creating something that would allow them to express their views,
ideas, or opinions creatively. They will incorporate these elements into their
writings and one- by- one creates a brilliant story with an incredible theme. By
there, the writer will then be able to connect with his readers by making them
understand the theme that the writer wants to convey.

Characters

Settings Elements Story

THEME

Plot

How to develop the theme of the story?

In developing a theme, it is essential to choose a certain topic too. A topic

can be anything that you would like to talk about, then identify the fundamental
elements that are previously discussed. The following are the commonly used
topics in a literary genre:
1. Family 5. Survival
2. Life and Death 6. Power and Corruption
3. Good vs. Evil 7. War and Peace
4. Courage and Heroism 8. Love and Hate
 After you’ve understood the fundamental elements of the literary genre
and the development of the theme, let us now analyze and interpret the theme
used in particular texts by looking into the following examples.
Example 1:

“Dinner with Father”

A son took his old father to a restaurant for a dinner. Father being very
old and weak, while eating, dropped food on his shirt and trousers. Other diners
watched him in disgust while his son was calm.

After he finished eating, his son who was not at all embarrassed, quietly
took him to the washroom, wiped the food particles, removed the stains, combed
his hair and fitted his spectacles firmly. When they came out, the entire
restaurant was watching them in dead silence, not able to grasp how someone
could embarrass themselves publicly like that. The son settled the bill and
started walking out with his father.

At that time, an old woman amongst the diners called out to the son and
asked him, “Don’t you think you have left something behind?”.
The son replied, “No sir, I haven’t”.
The old woman retorted, “Yes, you have!
The restaurant went silent.

Title of the story Dinner with Father

Characters Father, son, the old woman
It is a story of a son who brought his
Story father for an evening dinner.
1. A son took his father for an
evening dinner.
2. His father dropped food on his
shirt and trousers.
3. The son helped her father
Plot
remove the food particles and
wipe the stains.
4. An old woman asked the son if
ever he left something.
5. The restaurant went silent.

Setting Evening, restaurant

Topic Family

Give respect, care, and love to

Theme your parents for caring to
those who once cared for us is
the highest honor.
Example 2

“A Game of Too Much Potatoes”

A senior high school teacher had decided to let her class play a game. The
teacher told each student in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a
few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the student
hates. So, the number of potatoes that a student will put in his/her plastic bag
will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

When the day came, every student brought some potatoes with the name
of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes, some 3 while some up to 5
potatoes. The teacher then told the students to carry the potatoes in the plastic
bag with them wherever they go for one week. Days after days passed, and the
students started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten
potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After
1 week, the students were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The teacher asked, “How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you
for 1 week?” The students let out their frustrations and started complaining of
the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly
potatoes wherever they go.

Then the teacher asked them again, “If you cannot tolerate the smell of
rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench
of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?”

Title of the story A Game of Too Many Potatoes

Characters The teacher, senior high school students

Story It is a story about a teacher who asked his

students to bring potatoes with the name of
every person they hated for one week.
Plot 1. The teacher told each senior high
school student to bring a plastic bag
containing few potatoes and each
potato with the name of every person
they hated.
2. The students brought those potatoes
for one week.
3. The students complain about the
unpleasant smell let out by the rotten
potatoes.
 4. After one week, they let out their
frustrations and complaints about all
the trouble they carry.
5. After the teacher confesses her goal to
the students, they realized something
worth more than a game of potatoes.

Setting School, weekdays

Topic Hatred and forgiveness

Theme Throw away any hatred for anyone from

your heart so that you will not carry a
burden for a lifetime. Forgiving others
is the best attitude to take. Negativity
about someone will keep the peace out
of you.

Activities

Guided Practice 1
Fill me up!
Directions: Below is a summary of a famous Filipino literary text. Read the
selection and analyze the theme of the story by filling out the table. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Title of the story

Characters
Story

Plot

Setting

Topic

Theme
 The World is an Apple
by: Alberto S. Florentino

It is a story about a man, named Mario, who suffered in extreme poverty,

so, he walked through the sinful road. He steals with his friends to experience
pleasures. He gained a lot of money from it. However, he changed when he met
Gloria who is a pious woman and he became his husband. Gloria, despite of
Mario’s past, she accepted him because she believed that Mario will change.
Indeed, Mario had changed. He chose a legal job. For four years, his family
suffered in poverty but, Mario never went back to the life he had before, because
he knew that his wife will get angry, until such time God tested his faith.

His daughter, Tita, fell ill because she has not eaten anything nutritious.
And because of this, he was forced to steal an apple for when he took his
daughter for a walk, they passed a grocery store that sold delicious apple as
they’re on their way home. His daughter wanted him to buy one but he couldn’t
because he has no enough money that time. What he did is he buys her one of
small green apples they sell on the sidewalk, but she just threw it away, saying
it was not a real apple. And for an apple, he lost his job. He did not inform his
wife about it because he wanted her not to worry.

He looked for another job but he never found one, so, he approached his
friend, Pablo, and told him that he will join their group again. He was tired to do
good things. He wanted his family to have a beautiful life, so, he chooses to return
to the life he had before, the stealing. One day, he arrived home. His wife slips
her finger to take some money to buy Tita a biscuit, but Mario was annoyed and
moved away from his wife.

Then, they began to quarrel. Gloria was asking some of the money from
his pay but Mario insisted that he has none. Mario told her that he spent it all
for a woman and drinks but Gloria didn’t believe in it. So, Mario told her
everything. Gloria got angry after hearing it. Nevertheless, Mario told her that he
had found a good job and his going to meet someone.

Gloria then became glad after hearing it, not until Pablo showed up. She
hated Pablo because Pablo was one of Mario’s friends who do illegal things. Pablo
offered some money to Gloria but, Gloria did not accept it. Pablo came to their
house to fetch Mario because he thought that Mario would change his mind. He
even told Gloria about Mario willing to work with him. Gloria was shocked and
she insisted that Mario wouldn’t do such things like that because she knew that
Mario knew anything that makes her angry. But Mario confirmed it to her that
what she heard is true and that he only wanted what is good to his family. Gloria
convinced him not to go and reminded him of God. But Mario never listens to
her. He told her to take good care of herself and that he will be home safely.
Gloria was then left crying with her daughter.

Source: http://princessro95.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-world-is-apple-my -
summary.html
Guided Practice 2
Find my Theme!
Directions: Create your title, topic, a 5- 10 sentences plot, and identify the theme
using your interpretation of the comic strip below. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

Source: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/story/2020-05-
07/comic-strips-coronavirus-dilemma

Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
Plot:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Theme:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Independent Practice
It’s My Turn!

Directions: Now it’s time to unleash your creativity by making your own simple
story. Develop your story with your theme using the combination of all
fundamental elements discussed. Create 1 paragraph consisting of 15- 20
sentences. Your story will be evaluated through the given rubrics. Write your
story on a separate sheet of paper.
 Criteria Exemplar (5) Developed (4) Limited (3)
The writings are
Appearance/ visually The writings are The writings are
Neatness appealing and clear and colorful. adequate and clear.
clear.
Exceptional idea Satisfactory idea Unclear, incorrect,
development development with or limited idea
with supporting some supporting development with
Content details written in details written lack of details.
Knowledge the learner’s own mainly in the learner’s own words
words, or learner’s own words, are not used, or
correctly credited or correctly credited quotes are not
if quoted. if quoted. correctly credited.
The story is The story is
Conveys the highly engaging appropriate to the Story detract from
purpose of the for content and content and some is inappropriate for
topic theme are clearly points are not the content.
stated clearly stated.

Assessment

Directions: Analyze the short stories below and fill out the table. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Title of the story

Characters

Story

Plot

Setting

Topic

Theme
 1. “A Blank Question Paper”

One day a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to
prepare for a surprise test. They waited anxiously at their desks for the test to
begin. The professor handed out the question paper with the text facing down
as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked his students to turn the page
and begin. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions, just a black dot in
the center of the page.

The professor seeing the expression on everyone’s face, told them the
following, “I want you to write what you see there.” The confused students got
started on the inexplicable task. At the end of the class, the professor took all
the answer papers and started reading each one of them aloud in front of all the
students. All of them with no exceptions described the black dot, trying to
explain its position in the middle of the sheet etc.

After all had been read, the classroom was silent. The professor began to
explain, “I am not going to grade on you this, I just wanted to give you something
to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone
focused on the black dot and the same happens in our lives. We have a white
paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is
a gift given to us by God with love and care. We always have reasons to
celebrate, nature renewing itself every day, our friends around us, the job that
provides our livelihood, the miracles we see every day.”

2. “The Lazy Farmer”

The rain gods had been smiling the whole night. The roads were muddy
and the potholes were filled to the brim. It was the day for the market and Raju
the farmer was riding his cart along the country road. He had to reach the
market early so that he can sell his hay. It was very difficult for the horses to
drag the load through the deep mud. On his journey suddenly the wheels of the
horse cart sank into the mire.

The more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheel sank. Raju climbed
down from his seat and stood beside his cart. He searched all around but could
not find anyone around to help him. Cursing his bad luck, he looked dejected
and defeated. He didn’t make the slightest effort to get down on the wheel and
lift it up by himself. Instead, he started cursing his luck for what happened.
Looking up at the sky, he started shouting at God, “I am so unlucky! Why has
this happened to me? Oh God, come down to help me.”
 After a long wait, God finally appeared before Raju. He asked Raju, “Do
you think you can move the chariot by simply looking at it and whining about
it? Nobody will help you unless you make some effort to help yourself. Did you
try to get the wheel out of the pothole by yourself? Get up and put your shoulder
to wheel and you will soon find the way out.”

Raju was ashamed of himself. He bent down and put his shoulder to the
wheel and urged on the horses. In no time the wheel was out of the mire. Raju
learned his lesson. He thanked God and carried on his journey happily.

3. “Wealth without Value”

A collector had buried his gold in a secret place in his garden. Every day
he went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it piece by piece to make
sure it was all there. He made so many trips that a Thief, who had been
observing him, guessed what it was the Miser had hidden, and one night quietly
dug up the treasure and made off with it.

When the collector discovered his loss, he was overcome with grief and
despair. He groaned and cried and tore his hair. A passerby heard his cries and
asked what had happened.

“My gold! O my gold!” cried the collector, “someone has robbed me!”

“Your gold! There in that hole? Why did you put it there? Why did you not
keep it in the house where you could easily get it when you had to buy things?”

“Buy!” screamed the collector angrily. “Why, I never touched the gold. I
couldn’t think of spending any of it.”

The stranger picked up a large stone and threw it into the hole. “If that is
the case,” he said, “cover up that stone. It is worth just as much to you as the
treasure you lost!”
 Reflection

Hmmm, Because…?
Directions: Complete the following reflective statements. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

3. I have learned that literary genres consists of fundamental elements

namely
___________________________________________________________________
are essential in interpreting the theme of the story because
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

1. In developing a theme of the story, the writer must possess creativity

and intuitive thinking because
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

2. Interpreting a particular text to develop an effective theme can be a

first competency to improve my writing skill
because____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 References

Ezez. 2018. "THE WORLD IS AN APPLE – my SUMMARY". Princessro95.blogspot.com.

http://princessro95.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-world-is-apple-my-
summary.html.

Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt. 2020 "What Exactly Is A Theme Of A Story, And How
Can I Recognize It?".Cliffsnotes.Com.
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/writing/what-exactly-is-
a-theme-of-a-story-and-how-can-i-recognize

"Moral Stories". . 2021. Moral Stories. https://www.moralstories.org/.

Ray, Bilingsley. 2021. "Comic-strip dilemma: Address coronavirus, or not?". San

DiegoUnion-Tribune.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/story/2020-05-
07/comic-strips-coronavirus-dilemma.

Wright, Zach. 2020. "A Handy Strategy for Teaching Theme". Edutopia.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/handy-strategy-teaching-theme.
Assessment
Story No. 1
Title: A Blank Question Paper
Characters: The professor,
students
Story: This is a story of a
professor who gave a blank
question paper with a black dot
to his students.
Plot: - Answers may vary
Topic: Positive thinking,
motivation
Theme:
The theme of the story is that
life is a bag of good and bad
things, we all have positives
and negatives along the
way. But we must always
concentrate greater on the
positives for a healthy and
happy life. Life goes on no
matter what so do not waste
your time thinking about the
negative.
Key to Corrections
Review:
- Answers may vary
Guided Practice 1
Title: The World is An Apple
Characters: Mario, Gloria,
Pablo
Story: This is a story of how
wrong decisions become
greater burdens to a family
Plot: - Answers may vary
Topic: Family, honesty,
culture
Theme:
The theme of the story is,
it is man’s basic instinct
that drives him towards
his survival. But, no
matter what he should not
forget that society expects
him to confirm to its
norms. One’s action is
weighed right or wrong and
thus should be kept
towards the proper action
and his wrong decisions
become greater burdens to
a family
Guided Practice 2
- Answers may vary
Independent Practice
- Rubrics provided
Assessment
Story No. 3
Title: Wealth without Value
Characters: The collector, thief
and the stranger
Story: This story is about a
collector whose gold and other
treasures were stolen in his
garden.
Plot: - Answers may vary
Topic: Putting money in a good
purpose, greed
Theme:
The theme of the story is that
money can make people greed.
Saving and spending wisely
and appropriately is a good
sign if you do it for a good
purpose. Otherwise, a
possession is worth no more
than the use we make of it.
Assessment
Story No. 2
Title: A Lazy Farmer
Characters: Raju the farmer,
God
Story: This is a story of Raju
the farmer whose horse cart got
stacked in a deep mud the God
helped him.
Plot: - Answers may vary
Topic: Perseverance and self-
confidence
Theme:
The theme of the story is that
God helps those who help
themselves. One must strive
harder than complain.
Remember that great things
come to those who perseveres.
 Acknowledgment
The Schools Division of Zambales would like to express its heartfelt gratitude
to the following, who in one way or the other, have contributed to the successful
preparation, development, quality assurance, printing, and distribution of the
Quarter 2 Guided Learning Activity Kits (GLAKs) in all learning areas across grade
levels as a response to providing the learners with developmentally-appropriate,
contextualized and simplified learning resources with most essential learning
competencies (MELCs)-based activities anchored on the principles of guided learning
and explicit instruction:

First, the Learning Resources (LR) Development Team composed of the writers
and graphic artists for devoting much of their time and exhausting their best efforts
to produce these indispensable learning kits used for the implementation of learning
delivery modalities.

Second, the content editors, language reviewers, and layout evaluators

making up the Division Quality Assurance Team (DQAT) for having carefully
evaluated all GLAKs to ensure quality and compliance to DepEd standards.

Third, the Provincial Government of Zambales, for unceasingly extending its

financial assistance to augment the funds for the printing of these learning resources
for use by learners and parents at home;

Fourth, the teacher-advisers and subject teachers, in close coordination with

the school heads, for their weekly distribution and retrieval of the GLAKs and for
their frequent monitoring of the learners’ progress through various means; and

Finally, the parents and other home learning facilitators for giving the learners
the needed guidance and support for them to possibly accomplish the tasks and for
gradually helping them become independent learners.

To deliver learning continuity in this challenging circumstance would not be

possible without your collective effort and strong commitment to serve our
Zambaleño learners.

Again, our sincerest thanks!

The Management Team

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