Prep for Your Novel Take-Home Test; Writing your Local SOTA News Article

Period 7: 

Please turn in the answers to the 6 questions for our Chapter Unit on NEWSPAPERS. See homework from last class if confused.

Open a Google doc and share your chapter summary (the 5 W's & H for one of the chapters you read in your chosen novel) with your group. Individuals can use this information to help answer the 5 questions for their book test:

This assignment is due Wednesday, May 8. Answers should be thoughtful and use textual evidence. Note: there are many parts to each question. Make sure you answer ALL parts of the question posed.

In Cold Blood ?'s:

1. A journalist should always remain objective in reporting a story. Does the fact that Capote likely altered some of the dialogue and characterization in the book affect its merit as an example of the nonfiction novel? Does it affect your enjoyment of the work? How does his book differ in style from a newspaper article or feature? Give examples from the text to support your answer. What would this story have looked like if it had appeared as a journalistic article in the New York Times or a local newspaper like The City or The Democrat & Chronicle?
2. If the murder victims weren't as white, prosperous, or well-liked as the Clutter family, do you think Capote would have written this book? Give reasons (using the text to support your answers) why it is important for writers and reporters to represent race, gender, culture, or class objectively? 
3. Examine the writing/narrative techniques in this book. What's the effect on the reader of the author's technique of alternating between stories of the killers and the stories of the rest of the characters? What does this add or detract from the narrative of the story? What techniques does the author use to make this a nonfiction novel rather than just a history or work of journalism? How is this choice of narrative an effective one for Capote to make? 
4. Even though we know immediately that the Clutters were murdered, the author doesn't give us the eyewitness details until 264 pages in. What's up with that? How does this book not follow the traditional inverted pyramid used in journalism? Is this tactic better or worse (does it strengthen or weaken the book) and why? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
5. Would the story have been told differently if the author hadn't been an outsider to Kansas? If you lived in a small town where there were killers presumed to be on the loose, would you stick around? How is this novel a "romantic" view of small town American life? What scenes or passages conjure this romantic image? Given this viewpoint, how does this create conflict or irony with the violent murder? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

The Other Wes Moore ?'s:

1. During their youth, both Wes' spent most of their time in crime-ridden Baltimore and the Bronx. How important was that environment in shaping their stories and personalities? (Give examples from the text to support your answer). How does the author's own experience and upbringing create subjectivity in the book--remember that journalists aim to remain objective? What parts of the book are objective and which are subjective? Support your answer with the text.
2. Moore states that people often live up to the expectations projected on them. Is this true? If someone you care for expects you to succeed--or fail--will you? where does personal accountability come into play? Additionally, a reader's expectations of a news article or story may color or reaffirm their own biases. How might this book represent urban life in a negative light? Do you feel the book is an accurate depiction of life in an urban setting? Use textual support in your answer.
3. Discuss the writing/narrative structure and techniques used in the book. What's the effect on the reader of the author's technique of alternative personal narrative with that of the other Wes? What does this juxtaposition add or detract from the narrative of the story? What techniques does the author use to make this a nonfiction novel rather than just a history or work of journalism? How is this choice of narrative an effective one for Moore to make?
4. How does this book not follow the traditional inverted pyramid used in journalism? Is this tactic better or worse (does it strengthen or weaken the book) and why? Use examples from the text to support your answer. How does the book differ in style from a newspaper article or feature in the way it is structured (for ex. it has 3 parts...why does the author divide his book in this manner?)
5. Moore says "the chilling truth is that Wes's story could have been mine." Would the story have been told differently if the author had been an outsider: a stranger to Baltimore or from another State or from a rural setting or as a different gender? If you grew up like the other Wes how would you have made different choices? How is this novel pragmatic (useful) in "teaching" the reader about how to avoid tragic problems due to our environment or situation. For example, comment on the importance of family support, financial support, or education as ways to address America's crime and violence problem.

Period 7 or 8:

Choose a category of journalism and find an event that is happening at SOTA to report on: Ex.

• Rent, the musical
• Charlotte's Web (middle school production)
• NYS Math & English Exams
• Academic Eligibility Team
• Speech & Debate
• Chess Team
• SOTA Stream
• HSA
• Games Club
• GSA
• Community Service
• SAT exams
• AP exams
• Dial-a-Teacher
• Friends of School of the Arts
• Track & Field
• Science Department News
• Math Department News
• Special Education Department News
• English Department News
• Social Studies Department News
• Foreign Language Department News
• Visual Arts
• Student Government Elections
• The Superintendent Nominations
• ISS news
• Library news
• Lunch room news
• Guidance Office news
• The City School District
• Local church/temple news
• Other...
• Find out who you might contact regarding information on the idea or topic you selected. Make a list of who you might interview or get information from. Some information about SOTA can be found here at this link, but you might need to dig deeper and talk to real live people. The district's information can be found here...; you might also find information for the district the RTA website.
• Come up with some questions. Write these down.
• Use a press pass and go find out information about your topic/news event. [Please note: some teachers are unavailable at this time...do not bother them!] Ask the substitute today for a pass to interview a teacher or interested party related to your article.
• Complete the 5 W's & H. See handout for help.
• Use your information to write an article of 300-400 words in length. Do not waste your time in the lab--you have a lot to do...!

HOMEWORK: Complete the test questions (see above) for your chosen novel: The Other Wes Moore or In Cold Blood.