TT+Brittni

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?

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If I were one of the boys who escaped and had to watch helplessly, there would be alot going through my head. I would be thinking that it was my fault. I would also be thinking about all the times we had together, and how good of friends we were. I would feel that I should have saved him. I would physically feel weak, and mentally feel horrified. The next day, I would probably be feeling the same, maybe even more upset. Something like that would devastate me. ======

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 read or hear of a car accident involving teenagers, I tend to assume that it was alcohol that caused the accident. Alot of teenagers tend to drink and drive. When it is the elderly, I think that the cause was that they fell asleep at the wheel, or that they were driving too slow. I think that the elderly drive very slowly. It's actually kind of annoying if you ask me.

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.

Even if it is not immediate family, when a public tragedy occurs, it upsets me, and most of the time I will start crying. I think of the familes who have lost loved ones and what they were going through at the moment.Also, how scared and worried they must have been while it was going on.

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.

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 whether my parents turn out for events. When they don't, it makes it seem like they don't care for what is going on in my life. I think that any child would feel this way when parents do not show up for things, like games or school concerts.

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 wouldn't treat Andy badly at all. I think that what the other kids were doing to him was heartless. Andy was going through alot. It's not easy to lose your best friend. The one who taped the note to Andy's locker, I think should be in trouble. I don't feel that Andy was completely responsible. All but one of them were drinking, and teenagers do make mistakes.

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.

I feel that homework does help me perform better on tests. It helps me better understand what I'm doing. Homework is also good for studying. Homework is purposeful to me, and I don't think that it's a waste of time.

12. Do you feel that your parents 'get' you or don't understand you at all? What makes you think this? Explain.

No, I feel that my parents do understand me. I actually think that my parents help me through alot. What makes me think this, is that they tell me that they've gone through things that I have before. They help me to become a better, more responsible person.

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?

I don't feel that academic failure makes you "uncool". Academic achievement doesn't affect me. I think that most kids in our school that are popular make good grades. I don't see how academic achievement does anything, but help you in the future.

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". ﻿A time when I felt like a "cinder among the snowflakes" was about two years ago at my bestfriend's party. She had recently became friends with people from another school, and I felt that she was blocking me out because she felt more cool around them instead of her normal school friends. I talked to her about it, and it made me feel alot better that she apologized. She no longer does that to me, and I've become friends with the people she is friends with.

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?