TTJocelyn

1. Put yourself in place of one of the boys who escaped the crash but was forced to watch "helplessly as Rob died." What is going through your head? How do you feel physically and mentally? How do you think that you will feel tomorrow?

2. When you hear or read of a car accident that involved teenagers, what do you tend to assume was the cause of the accident? What about if you hear about an accident involving the elderly? Explain your answers. When I hear about an accident involving teenagers, I would think that it was due to drinking and driving or not paying attention to the road. If teens are with their friends in the car, they might pay more attention to their friends than the road. When I hear about an accident involving the elderly, my first thought of how it happened would be poor sight or weak muscles. Older people have worse eye sight than younger people do. They could think they have seen something, swerve, and crash. Their muscles are also weaker. They might not have turned the steering wheel hard enough. That's what I would think if I heard of those accidents.

3. Andy and Rob have their own slang and manner of speaking. On the surface they seem to be putting each other down, but it is clear to us that they are close friends who respect each other. What purpose does this style of language serve? Does it draw you closer together? Does it set you off from others? Explain.

4. In a paragraph rich with sensory detail, write about your own most frightening moment.

5. Although many people did cry, Rhonda did not cry after the accident occured; she was angry. When or if a public tragedy occurs and it is not someone in your immediate family (9/11/01), how do you respond? Explain.

6. One //Herald// editorial says that statistics don't usually "mean much, but this statistic (Rob) had a name, face,..." Do you agree that it is hard to feel emotional about the statistics when you do not have a face to relate them to?

7. In his homework assigment, Gerald writes that he would rid the world of 3 things. What 3 things would you rid the world of? Stick to concrete items, and back up your choices with personal reasons why you are eliminating them. If I could rid the world of three things, I would get rid of guns, cigarettes, and alcohol. I would get rid of guns because all they do is help people kill other things. Cigarettes would not be in existence anymore because they harm the body. I don't like the smoke, but I've had to put up with it all of my life. I would get rid of alcohol because my cousin was killed in a drunk driving accident. Those are the things I would rid the world of if I had the choice.

8. Neither of Andy's parents bother to show up for the game. How important is it for you that your parents turn out for the events in which you participate? Explain. It is very important to me that my parents show up for things that I participate in. Them going shows me that they care and that they support me in what i'm doing. If they wouldn't come, I would be very hurt.

9. In Rob's absence, Andy becomes the star of the basketball team. Write about a time when your talents were overshadowed by a friend or a sibling. How did it make you feel? Did you wish that something would happen that would give you a chance to shine? Elaborate

10. Andy mentions that some kids at school haven't looked him in the face since the acident;one even taped a mean note to is locker. How would you treat Andy now? Elaborate. I would not treat Andy any different. He is probably trying to get his life back together. He doesn't need anymore stress. If anything, I would be kinder to Andy.

11.Does doing homework help you to perform better on tests? Does homework seem purposeful to you, or is it basically a waste of time? What alternate do you suggest? Defend your answer. Doing homework does help me do better on tests. It seems purposeful to me because it is practice for tests and other work. An alternate I would suggest would be practice tests.

12. Do you feel that your parents 'get' you or don't understand you at all? What makes you think this? Explain. I feel that my parents don't understand me at all. They never try to talk to me about anything. Neither of my parents care about my opinion about anything. Neither of my parents understand anything about me.

13. Andy believes that his friends would talk about him if he won academic awards, and then consider Marcus's unpopularity due to his achievement. Is academic failure or apathy built into teenager's notions about what is 'cool'? What effect does academic achievement have on you?

14. We learn about Andy's grades and study habits. Do you think the guidance counselor who advised him against pre-law was being realistic or unfair? Defend your answer.

15. In a class discussion, Keisha says, "All of us at one time or another feel like a "cinder among snowflakes. You stand out when you want to blend in. You get noticed whether you want to or not." In a paragraph, write about a time when you have felt like a "cinder among the snowflakes".

16. Andy envisions that Monty will have a future as a lawyer or a doctor. But when he thinks of his own future, he sees a blank or darkness. Can you picture who you will be in 15 years? What do you envision for your future?