On Thursday, students completed a study guide on pages 1-33 of This Boy's Life. In case you were absent, here's a copy of the study guide:
cha.1_study_guide.doc |
For the remainder of the class period, students had time to read pages 37-64 to prepare for Friday's reading quiz.
On Friday, there was a reading quiz on pages 37-64. We discussed this section of the book as well as reading aloud a short section. Students have two tasks to complete over the weekend: 1. Read through page 75; and 2. Write a one-page response, due Monday, to one of the following prompts:
1. Wolff writes, “I thought Roy was what a man should be” (14). What is it about Roy that Toby finds appealing? From the narration, how can you tell that the adult author does not have the same perspective as his younger self, Toby? Use specific examples to explain your thoughts. Make connections to your own ideas about what a man should be.
2. This section is titled “Uncool” and to help illustrate this theme, Wolff writes: “But it wasn’t really our looks that made us uncool. Coolness did not demand anything as obvious as that. Like chess or music, coolness claimed its own out of some mysterious impulse of recognition. Uncoolness did likewise. We had been claimed by uncoolness” (43). First, provide an explanation of what this quote means. Next, using examples from the section, explain Jack’s efforts to be “cool” and how he ultimately fails. If possible, make contemporary connections to the cool versus uncool theme.
3.On pages 59-60, the reader learns more about Rosemary’s childhood and Toby’s grandfather, “Daddy.” First describe Daddy’s parenting style. Next, explain, using examples from the reading, how this connects to Rosemary’s approach to parenting. Include in your response an evaluation of Rosemary as a mother and Toby’s teenage problems (60-62).
On Friday, there was a reading quiz on pages 37-64. We discussed this section of the book as well as reading aloud a short section. Students have two tasks to complete over the weekend: 1. Read through page 75; and 2. Write a one-page response, due Monday, to one of the following prompts:
1. Wolff writes, “I thought Roy was what a man should be” (14). What is it about Roy that Toby finds appealing? From the narration, how can you tell that the adult author does not have the same perspective as his younger self, Toby? Use specific examples to explain your thoughts. Make connections to your own ideas about what a man should be.
2. This section is titled “Uncool” and to help illustrate this theme, Wolff writes: “But it wasn’t really our looks that made us uncool. Coolness did not demand anything as obvious as that. Like chess or music, coolness claimed its own out of some mysterious impulse of recognition. Uncoolness did likewise. We had been claimed by uncoolness” (43). First, provide an explanation of what this quote means. Next, using examples from the section, explain Jack’s efforts to be “cool” and how he ultimately fails. If possible, make contemporary connections to the cool versus uncool theme.
3.On pages 59-60, the reader learns more about Rosemary’s childhood and Toby’s grandfather, “Daddy.” First describe Daddy’s parenting style. Next, explain, using examples from the reading, how this connects to Rosemary’s approach to parenting. Include in your response an evaluation of Rosemary as a mother and Toby’s teenage problems (60-62).