On the following page, you will be given three different journal options. Choose one of them.
Then, using websites from the resource page as well as your copy of the novel, you will write believable journal entries from Billy's point of view. The passages should exhibit knowledge from both the book and your research. Regardless of which option you choose, you must write eight entries from the topics provided below.
Topics:
You must do one entry from each of these 6 topics.
1. The Great Depression - How did living during the depression affect Billy and his family (i.e. - his parents can't afford to buy him his dogs.)?
2. Redbone Hounds - Talk about their physical attributes as well as their personalities.
3. Cherokee Nation - Billy lives where he does because his mother is part Cherokee. Talk about the tribe that greatly influenced this area of America.
4. Native American Legends - The novel ends with the telling of the legend of the Red Fern. What other legends might Billy have heard?
5. Natural habitat and landscape of the Ozarks - Billy spent his night and days walking through this landscape. What did he see?
6. Raccoons - How does Billy view these creatures? He spent so much time tracking them, he must know quite a bit about them.
Also, pick two of the following four themes and write a journal entry on each. You don't need a website for these.
1. Write about his passage from youth to maturity.
2. Write about the rewards of hard work and diligence.
3. Write about the achievements gained through love and understanding.
4. The need to work together to find common goals.
