Creative Response Post: Week 1

Reflect on the discussion from the live chat about the video clip from Wonder.  How can you tell that bullying is taking place in your novel? Using Adobe Spark, create a post with the key quote (or quotes) from your novel. The background must represent you think the setting of your story looks like.

Step 1: Find a key bullying quote that sums up the beginning of your novel.  Using Adobe Spark (or another platform of your choice) create a Post with the quote from your novel.  The background must represent the setting of your story.  Include the quotes in your visual with the title of your book, as well as chapter and page number.

Step 2: Write a blog post that includes the image, and a paragraph that explains how your novel is about bullying.

Credit

• How does August feel about going on the 5th Grade Nature Retreat?
• Jack and August find themselves in trouble. What is the trouble and who helps them?
• August lies to the teachers about not being able to remember the 7th graders’ faces. Why do you think he did this?
• What animal does August use to represent himself? Do you think it is a good choice?
• There is a ceremony at school, what happens at the ceremony that shows a change from the beginning to the end of the school year?
• Mr. Tushman says “Always try to be a little kinder than necessary.” What does that mean to you? In your opinion what character shows this the best?

Credit

• Do you think Via is jealous of all the attention August gets?
•  Did Via have a good first day of high school?
• Who is Miranda and why did she call?
• August decided to change his costume. How do you think mom reacted to this?
• Would you describe Summer as a good person? Why or why not?
• Do you think Summer thinks Jack is a good friend?

Complete the following questions.

Credit

• Why do people look quickly away when they first see August?
• In this section August discusses the issue of him going to school.
• Why has he never gone to school? Do you think he should?
• August goes on the tour of the school and meets three students. In your opinion which one would turn out to be a bully?
• How would you describe the other students’ reaction to August in homeroom?
• What does September’s precept, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind,” mean?

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  Credit

  Even though Pony does not want to be a greaser and does not like many of the things that greasers do, the rumble allows him to be proud to be a greaser. Explain this contradiction.
• What is the difference between Tim Sheppard’s gang and Ponyboy’s?  Explain how Pony feels this difference might give his group the upper hand?
• What are the rules of the rumble? (pp. 140-142).
• Explain why Pony might rather anyone’s hate than their pity?
• What do you think is going on with Ponyboy when he says, “Johnny didn’t have anything to do with Bob’s getting killed”?

Credit

• Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny’s idea to disguise themselves? What does it take away from him?  Why do they have to disguise themselves?
• Why does Johnny think Dally is a hero?  Do you think Dally is a hero based on what he did?
• Why are the socs and the greasers going to fight in the vacant lot? What is at stake?
• Who is the spy for the greasers?  Does this surprise you? Why or why not?
• “Maybe people are younger when they are asleep”.  What do you think about this comment? What does it mean?
• When Pony asks what kind of a world it is, what comment is he making about how society judges people?

Complete the following questions.

Credit

• Describe each of the characters relationship with one another.
• Who are the socs?  Who are the greasers?
• How do Ponyboy’s relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ?  Explain.
• Why is the ‘gang’ important to Johnny?
• How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry?
• Do you think Darry loves Ponyboy?  Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does?

Credit

• What did Mr. Porter do wrong? What could he have done better? What will he do with the tapes when he gets them?
• How does Hannah and Clay’s dual narrative enhance the story? What additional details are revealed through this method of storytelling that might have otherwise remained secret if the book had been written from only one of their perspectives?
• How do you feel the teachers are handling the situation?
• What are specific experiences that have led to Hannah’s 13 reasons why?
• Hannah’s classmates even said that “whoever wrote the note just wants attention” (9.222). What do you think of this quotation?
• How do you think Clay internalizes all of what Hannah is staying on the tapes?

Credit

• And in the middle of the room, one desk to the left will be the desk of Hannah Baker. Empty. – Clay (Prologue, p.4) What is your reaction to this quote?
• How do you feel about Justin Foley? Are there any reasons you feel you should not trust him?
• Who is the last name in the list of people to receive the tapes?
• What is the purpose of Hannah’s tapes?
• Another student sabotages Hannah during a class project. Clay’s nightmares about Hannah spill over into the daytime. How does this make Clay feel?
• What does Tony do to support Hannah and Clay throughout this process? Do you feel he is a good friend who is making sacrifices for better or worse?

Complete the following questions.

Credit

• What are your initial thoughts about Clay? Support your answer with 2 direct quotations from the novel.
• What are your initial thoughts about Hannah? Is she sympathetic character? Do you like her? Why or why not?
• What was your reaction to listening to Hannah’s voice over the tape?
• What was Clay’s reaction when his mother wanted to listen to the tape?
• Do you think Hannah’s tapes will stay between the twelve people on the list, or will they be shown to the authorities and/or released to the public? Should they be? Why or why not?
• At the beginning of the first tape, Hannah says, “…there are thirteen sides to every story.” What does she mean by this?