Characters & Context
The Malawian teenager who becomes determined to build a windmill.
Who is William Kamkwamba?
This economic problem prevents William from continuing his education.
What is poverty?
The statement “Individuals can overcome obstacles through personal initiative” is an example of this.
What is a claim?
He is William's close friend who helps him collect materials and supports his efforts to build the windmill.
Who is Gilbert?
Can one person overcome every obstacle alone?
What is rhetorical question?
The mathematician who calculates flight trajectories for NASA.
Who is Katherine Johnson?
This type of discrimination limits opportunities for Katherine, Dorothy and Mary because they are women.
What is gender discrimination?
On the other hand, some may argue that obstacles should be overcome individually because relying on others can limit a person's independence and determination.
What is the counterclaim?
She independently develops a valuable technical skill, but her decision to share that knowledge allows an entire group to adapt to technological change.
Who is Dorothy Vaughan?
Knowledge, determination and cooperation can help people overcome barriers.
What is the rule of three?
The mathematician who challenges the barriers preventing her from becoming an engineer.
Who is Mary Jackson?
This system separates people based on race and affects Katherine's experiences at NASA.
What is racial segregation?
However, the experiences of William and the women in Hidden Figures demonstrate that accepting support does not eliminate individual responsibility; instead, individual skills can become more effective when combined with the abilities of others.
What is the rebuttal?
He is a NASA engineer who works alongside Katherine and initially questions why she needs access to classified calculations.
Who is Paul Stafford?
We need opportunity. We need equality. We need change.
What is anaphora?
The woman who learns FORTRAN and helps the other computers adapt to NASA's new technology.
Who is Dorothy Vaughan?
These environmental crisis causes crops to fail, creates food shortages and threatens William's community.
What are drought and famine?
Some may argue that individuals should overcome obstacles independently. However, this ignores the importance of support and shared resources.
What are counterclaim and rebuttal?
He is the NASA supervisor who eventually recognises Katherine's mathematical ability and gives her opportunities to contribute more directly to the space mission.
Who is Al Harrison?
No young person should be forced to face hunger, poverty and discrimination simply because of where they were born.
What is pathos?
The organisation where Katherine, Dorothy and Mary work to support America's space programme.
What is National Aeronautics and Space Administration?
This type of obstacle affects both texts because characters must challenge expectations about who can succeed and what they are capable of achieving.
What are social expectations?
Both texts provide examples of individuals contributing specialised knowledge to larger efforts: William contributes his understanding of windmills, while Katherine contributes her mathematical expertise to NASA's team.
What is warrant?
She is Dorothy Vaughan's supervisor at NASA who initially overlooks her abilities and refuses to give her the promotion she deserves.
Who is Vivian Mitchell?
One person may begin the journey, but a community can help carry it forward.
What is juxtaposition?