TT+Josh

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?

If I were to be one of the boys who escaped and had to watch Robbie die I would have a lot of things going through my head, like all of the good times we had together and why this would have to happen to him. Mentally I would feel terrible about what is happening to him and physically i would feel weak and tired. The next day I would feel really bad because I am sad and couldn't do anything about it.

2. When you hear or read of a car accident that involved teenagers, what do you assume is the cause of the accident - drinking, speed - drugs? What about if you hear about a car accident involving the elderly? Explain your answers.

Whenever I hear about a car accident with teenagers I think it is usually a mixture of drinking and driving and too much speed, which is probably from the alcohol .Usually when teenagers get in accidents it is because of it, a lot of people drink and drive. Whenever I hear about an accident involving the elderly I think it is because of a person who was drunk that hit them. The elderly are much more safe drivers than teenagers are and its likely that someone else caused the accident.

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 kids closer together? Does it set you off from others? Explain.

They are meaning to joke with each other when they put each other down. They are not saying it to each other seriously. I think it does draw kids closer together because they are talking with each other in a messing around way. It sometimes sets you off from others but other times it doesn't. Some people may like how you are talking with each other and others may not.

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

5. Even though many people cried, 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.

I respond by feeling bad for whatever happened and to who, but I don't really show all that much concern physically. I know that it is tragic, but it doesn't really effect my life that much. It could change some of my choices because it could be something that is near to what I am close to.

6. One //Herald// editorial says that statistics don't usually "mean much, but this statistic (Rob) had a name, face,..."When we hear of a statistic such as this that reports someone dying in a drunk-driving accident every 18 minutes - how do you feel? Do you agree that it is hard to feel emotional about the numbers when you do not have a face to relate it to?

It makes me feel sad because usually accidents can be prevented, especially when it involves drinking and driving. That person that dies in that accident has friends and family that care about them, its just stupid that this happens. It is hard to feel emotional about someone that died in and accident when you don't know them, but they are still a person that has lost their life and taken effect on other people's.

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.

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.

9. Andy mentions that some kids at school haven't looked him in the face since the accident; one even taped a mean note to his locker. How would you treat Andy now? Elaborate.

10.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 answerwith three (3) points.

Yes, it seems beneficial if they don't give too much homework, a little bit of it would be fine, but I can't stand to do more than 10 problems. I would suggest a study hall period so we could get some of it done. I would also like to have a good bit of time at the end of class to get some of it done. When you do homework, the things you learn come easier to you. It also helps you study for a test if they give some homework the day before the test.