As you read this book, you are to keep a journal. You must pretend that you
are a student in Harrison High, in 11th or 12th grade, and also an ace reporter
for the school newspaper. Some of your journal entries will be diary entries
and some will be news articles. I will collect and read your journals every 3
days.
Pages 4-9: Respond in your
diary:
What type of school administrator would organize the beginning of
the day this way? How would you organize it? Comment on a memory you have
about Dr. Palleni (you have to make this
up).Write about Philip Malloy - what would you put it a news story about
this new freshman? Comment on your old teacher, Miss Narwin
- looking back on her, what was she really like (draw your information
from her letter, do not make it up). What do you think of when you say her
name? Comment on what is important to you - what are your goals
for this year? For your life? Be truthful.
Chapters 2-4: An editorial
for the school newspaper: Respectful Silence? Write about respect as it is found in your
school. Comment on Mr. Lunser's behavior during
the Announcements, on the general attitude of 9th grade boys toward girls,
on the attitude of students toward their exams and their teachers. You
should mention events from the reading assignment, but you should also
express your own opinion.
Chapters 5-8: Respond in your
diary:
Write about "the money crunch" - the need for money
(yours, your family's, your school's), what it is needed for, and respond
to the idea that there may not be enough of it. Imagine something that you
(as an 11th or 12th grader) want which costs money - imagine how you will
feel if the money is not available.
Then respond to a poor grade which you have gotten on a major
test.
Chapter 9: An article for the
school newspaper: Rules Trip Malloy In the article, give the facts and
interview the Coach, Miss Narwin and Philip. Be
careful not to give your own opinion.
Be prepared to discuss this question in class tomorrow: Why
does Philip not tell his father the truth about the track team? Is he
telling himself the truth? What are some strategies you can think of to
help him get along better with Miss Narwin?
Chapter 10 to page 55 (we
will read the rest aloud in class): Respond in your diary:
You have heard about Narwin vs.
Philip Malloy and about the humming. What do you think?
Also - in play form, record a conversation you had at the
dinner table with one or both of your parents.
Chapter 11-12 to p.83:
Respond in your diary:
Pressure - what are the pressures on you? Talk about
pressures you teachers and/or parents and/or friends might be feeling. How
do these pressures affect the way you act and react?
Rewards - what has someone said or done to make you feel good about
yourself, to make you feel your efforts are worthwhile?
Be prepared in class to discuss Mr. Malloy's problems and
what "sticking up for yourself" means
in these chapters. Be prepared to discuss the relationship Mr.
Malloy has with his son.
p. 84-99: Write an article
for the newspaper: Student Suspended for Humming Include in your article the facts and
statements from Philip, Miss Narwin, Dr. Palleni, Ken Barchet, and
one of Philip's parents. The point of the article is to try to
uncover and express the truth.
Be prepared to discuss in class: Why does Philip try to stop
his father from calling Ted Griffin? What happens to the "truth"
on p.96-99? How could this have been prevented?
Chapter 13: Write a humorous
article for the newspaper: 10 Rules We Should Have(but
don't)
Chapter 14: You must
also either listen to 10 minutes of a 6:30 news report or read any front
page newspaper article & bring it to class. Respond in your
diary:
In Language Arts class you discussed the topic: Does the News
Media Control Our Opinions? Write your further thoughts about the
topic. Refer to the news article on p.113. Are any of your opinions
controlled by the news media - about President Bush, about fashion, about
sports or TV shows or movies, about anything?
Also answer this question: How do the adults in your life
influence your opinions. Give at least one good example.
Chapter 15: Respond in your
laptop journal/diary: Imagine that...
You have heard the Jack Barlow Talk Show. What do you think
of Jake and his callers? Do you agree with their points of view? What
would you write to Miss Narwin
& to Philip? (we will write those postcards and telegrams at the very
beginning of class tomorrow)
Chapter 16: Respond in your
diary to Philip Malory's motives and actions.
In class, be prepared to respond to Dr. Seymour's actions.
Chapter 17-18:
Respond in your diary to what Miss Narwin
tells the reporter, Mr. Duval, on p.191-2. Do you agree that people like
to hear the worst and rarely seek out or talk about the best? Give some
examples of this.
Write a short newspaper article: Students
Support Narwin, which reports on what
might have happened if a student petition had been circulated.
Chapter 19: Respond in your
diary:
What do you make of the ending of the book? What is fair,
what is not fair? You need to pretend that you, the student, know
"the whole story." It is time to present your opinion.
