Crevecoeur's Hidden Message
Crèvecoeur describes European immigrants as plants that “withered” before being transplanted to America. What literary device is used in this comparison?
Metaphor
“Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want without consequences.” Identify the definition technique.
Negation
McCandless enters the wilderness with limited supplies and little preparation. What character flaw does this reveal?
Recklessness
Crèvecoeur describes immigrants who were once poor but eventually earn enough to own land. What central idea does this evidence support?
America offers opportunities for immigrants to improve their lives.
In the ACE writing method, what does the letter A stand for?
Answer/Assertion
When Crèvecoeur describes immigrants as plants that have “taken root and flourished,” what does the imagery suggest about their lives in America?
Their lives have improved, and they have gained opportunities to succeed.
“Acts of courage include rescuing someone from danger, standing up to bullying, and defending someone who is being mistreated.” Identify the definition technique.
Exemplification
When McCandless cannot preserve the meat from the animal he kills, he becomes deeply upset. What does this reaction reveal about his values?
He respects animal life and feels guilty about wasting it.
Which quotation better supports the idea that Crèvecoeur views America as a place of personal transformation: “they have taken root and flourished” or “the power of the crown”?
“They have taken root and flourished.”
In the ACE method, what must students include for the letter C?
A relevant citation or textual evidence
Crèvecoeur describes children who once begged for bread as “fat and frolicsome.” What mood does this contrast create?
A hopeful mood
“Literary conflicts can be divided into internal conflicts and external conflicts.” Identify the definition technique.
Classification
McCandless survives independently in the wilderness for several months despite numerous obstacles. What positive character trait does this demonstrate?
Determination
McCandless writes, “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE.” What does this quotation suggest about his attitude near the end of his life?
He remains grateful for his life despite his suffering.
What does the letter E require students to do with their evidence?
Explain how the evidence supports their claim.
Crèvecoeur repeatedly asks questions that do not require an actual response. What literary technique is he using?
Rhetorical questions
“A democracy allows citizens to participate in government and influence decisions through elections.” Identify the definition technique.
Function
Krakauer reveals that McCandless had possible escape routes nearby but did not know about them. How does this information affect the reader's understanding of his death?
It makes his death more tragic because he might have survived with better information.
Which quotation better supports the idea that McCandless begins to value human connections: “HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED” or “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE”?
“HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED.”
A student writes, “Crèvecoeur uses imagery to show that America offers opportunity.” What should the student include next to support this claim?
A specific quotation or example of imagery from the text.
Crèvecoeur asks, “What attachment can a poor European emigrant have for a country where he had nothing?” What point is he emphasizing?
Immigrants have little reason to remain loyal to countries that offered them no opportunities.
“American workers can be grouped into agricultural, industrial, and service occupations.” Identify the definition technique.
Classification
Why does Krakauer avoid portraying McCandless as either entirely heroic or entirely foolish?
To show that McCandless was a complex individual with admirable qualities and serious flaws.
A student argues that McCandless's independence ultimately becomes dangerous. What specific event from Chapters 17–18 would provide the strongest evidence?
His inability to leave the wilderness when the Teklanika River becomes too dangerous to cross.
A student quotes “HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED” to argue that McCandless changes his understanding of happiness. What must the student explain to complete the ACE paragraph?
How the quotation demonstrates that McCandless comes to recognize the importance of sharing experiences and connecting with other people.