Bully (podcast)
What is the message of the podcast?
*answers may vary*
same as the article- violence creates more violence, without consequences, we can't learn, etc.
What is the message of the article?
*answers may vary*
The same as the podcast- violence leads to more violence, when you do not experience consequences you never learn, etc.
Does the following information show up in the podcast, the article, or both?
McElroy is illiterate
podcast
a main idea is.....
the central idea, theme, or message of a text
How old was Trena when Ken intimidated her/her family into marrying him?
13
border.
He knew that whole area, including Iowa and Kansas. And the one state patrolman that had stood up to McElroy over the years, Richard Stratton, heard the call that McElroy had shot Bowenkamp and was running. And Stratton figured out exactly how he was gonna run, that he was gonna go over a bridge, a little bit north of St. Joe, into Kansas.
Paraphrases this excerpt
*answers may vary, check with Ms. G*
What can the reader infer based on the information in the section titled “Branded
as vigilantes”?
Trooper Boyer could have prevented McElroy’s murder.
Trena McElroy was lucky she was not shot with her husband.
McElroy’s revenge murder was carried out by a group of people.
People across the United States approved of the death of Ken McElroy.
McElroy’s revenge murder was carried out by a group of people.
Does the following information show up in the podcast, the article, or both?
McElroy claims self-defense at trial.
article
tone is.....
the author's attitude towards their subject
How many people did Ken shoot before the town took matters into their own hands?
2 people (one in the stomach, one in the neck)
What is the most likely reason for interviewing multiple people throughout the podcast?
It presents the listener with information from different perspectives.
It persuades the listener to believe one person’s view of events.
It soothes listeners during a story that describes disturbing events.
It omits less important facts that might confuse the listener.
It presents the listener with information from different perspectives.
Read the excerpt from the article:
Charismatic, with jet black hair and piercing eyes, McElroy could sweet-talk his way around women and has been married three times in his early 40s
The word ‘charismatic’ is often used to describe someone who is ‘magnetic, captivating and charming.’ Why do you think the author used charismatic to describe McElroy?
*answers may vary*
charismatic people are able to influence other people's behavior; Ken McElroy used his personality and physical strength to influence other people
Does the following information show up in the podcast, the article, or both?
Trena claims that McElroy is a good man.
Both
an inference is....
an educated guess based on facts and experience
In what town/state does this crime spree occur?
Skidmore, Missouri
Which quotation from the podcast supports the key idea that it was difficult for the victims of Ken McElroy’s bullying to obtain justice?
Even though he was bigger than everyone else, Ken McElroy figured out pretty early that the easiest way to control someone is to scare them. (2:32–2:40)
And even though the sheriff’s department investigated, they never managed to bring charges. It’s tough to get a witness to talk when they don’t feel safe. (3:18–3:27)
The closest police station to Skidmore was 14 miles away. So, if there was any real trouble, it took a while for police officers to show up. (5:30–5:39)
Some of these women and children said he was generous, not the monster everyone said he was. He was apparently a pretty caring father. (8:31–8:40)
"And even though the sheriff’s department investigated, they never managed to bring charges. It’s tough to get a witness to talk when they don’t feel safe. (3:18–3:27)"
Read the excerpt from the article:
The retribution Ken McElroy receives is not handed down by a judge or jury
Infer why the author would use the word ‘retribution’ instead of a word like ‘justice”
*answers may vary*
Connotation! People typically associate 'justice' with 'doing the right thing' and by using the word 'retribution' the author leaves it open to interpretation whether or not killing Ken was 'the right thing'
Does the following information show up in the podcast, the article, or both?
McElroy put snakes into jurors’ mailboxes.
podcast
paraphrasing is....
rewriting a piece of text in your own words
How many witnesses saw Ken McElroy get shot?
about 40
Maybe the people in town talked to each other about who did what that day. But they’ve still never opened up to the police or to the press. It’s amazing to imagine an entire town keeping a secret together. Dell Clement died in 2009. So, if Trena was right and he really did do it, his town protected him for 28 years.
Which word best describes the tone created by this excerpt?
*answers may vary*
possible answers: solemn, sober, mysterious, serious, disbelief
Infer: Why is ‘vigilante’ in quotation marks in the title?
*answers may vary*
Legitimacy! If something is in quotes, it implies that it is not entirely true.
Perspective! Some people may view the killing as justified, others do not
How does the purpose of the podcast most differ from the purpose of the news article?
The purpose of the podcast is to present facts about the life of Ken McElroy, while the purpose of the article is to persuade readers that McElroy’s murder investigation should
be reopened.
The purpose of the podcast is to persuade listeners that Ken McElroy’s background caused his behavior, while the purpose of the article is to argue that McElroy did not deserve to
be murdered.
The purpose of the podcast is to describe events by telling the story from Ken McElroy’s perspective, while the purpose of the article is to entertain readers by presenting the events in a sensational way.
The purpose of the podcast is to describe the events surrounding Ken McElroy’s murder from a crime-solving perspective, while the purpose of the article is to inform readers about the murder from the townspeople’s perspective.
The purpose of the podcast is to describe the events surrounding Ken McElroy’s murder from a crime-solving perspective, while the purpose of the article is to inform readers about the murder from the townspeople’s perspective.
connotation is...
the feelings or associations a word envokes
What did Ken do to intimidate the jury during his first case?
He put rattlesnakes in their mailboxes