Into the Lifeboat Formative

To express her own feelings about the events

To describe how best to respond in an emergency situation

To show how passengers and crew first reacted when the ship began to sink

To introduce characters who will be important later in the selection

Most passengers decline to board lifeboats, believing that the ship will not sink.

Most passengers board lifeboats in an orderly way, following the crew’s instructions.

Some passengers eagerly board lifeboats, while others need encouragement.

Some passengers refuse to board lifeboats, while others ignore directions from the crew.

distraction by unimportant details

sense of time passing

faith that all will be fine

first feelings of alarm

a bone-cracking thud which started the baby crying in earnest (paragraph 23)

the women in the boat started to weep (paragraph 27)

the boat descended a fearful distance into that inky blackness beneath
(paragraph 21)

She was getting lower in the water (paragraph 26)

Only three decks now, and still not a list to one side or the other (paragraph 27)

Groaning, the boat descended a fearful distance into that inky blackness beneath, intensified as the lights fell on it occasionally. (paragraph 21)

We touched the water with a terrific thud, a bone-cracking thud which started the baby crying in earnest. (paragraph 23)

A tiny breeze, the first we had felt on this calm night, blew an icy blast across my face; it felt like a knife in its penetrating coldness. (paragraph 29)

One awful moment of empty, misty blackness enveloped us in its loneliness, then an unforgettable, agonizing cry went up from 1500 despairing throats . . . (paragraph 30)

record her personal experience during an important event

inform the reader about the key details of an important event

reveal the untold truth about an important event

convince the reader to agree with her opinion about an important event

She recounts the events objectively, as though she knew that the Titanic would sink.

She recounts the events objectively, from the perspective of those left behind.

She recounts the events subjectively, from the perspective of her friend Ann.

She recounts the events subjectively, as though they were happening in real time.

Boats were now being lowered more rapidly and a crowd of foreigners was brought up by a steward from the third class. (paragraph 13)

One of the mailmen from our sorting office joined us. (paragraph 16)

I nearly fell over the tackle and oars as I tried to assist Ann in beside me. (paragraph 18)

We touched the water with a terrific thud, a bone-cracking thud which started the baby crying in earnest. (paragraph 23)

Only three decks now, and still not a list to one side or the other. (paragraph 27)