Theme Comparison
Give a one-sentence claim about how Buck's physical environment throughout the text changed him?
Buck's owners and other dogs created an environment that physically changed him throughout the text.
According to "The Moral Call of the Wild" excerpt, name two psychological benefits people get from spending time in nature.
Benefits include reduced stress, improved mood, faster recovery (hospital patients with views), increased well-being.
Who is the human author of the novel Call of the Wild?
Jack London.
Define "restorative" as used in the article.
"Restorative" = having the ability to restore health, strength, or well-being.
Quote or paraphrase one sentence from the article that supports the claim that nature reduces stress.
"Psychological research has shown that natural experiences help to reduce stress, improve mood..
Define, in one sentence, the main moral theme of "The Moral Call of the Wild" excerpt.
Nature restores well-being and shifts human priorities toward community and intrinsic aspirations.
In "Call of the Wild," what experience triggers Buck’s shift from domesticated to more wild priorities?
Buck’s exposure to the primitive North, kidnapping, and harsh treatment (club) trigger his shift.
Name the man who rescues and loves Buck in the novel and describe in one phrase how this relationship differs from Buck’s experience with earlier masters.
John Thornton; relationship is loving and reciprocal versus exploitative or utilitarian with earlier masters.
Define "intrinsic" (as in intrinsic life aspirations) and give one example from the article.
Intrinsic" = originating from within; example: deep and enduring relationships.
Find and paraphrase a short passage from the novel (from the provided PDF text) that shows how Buck first learns that "a man with a club" is lawgiver/master.
Passage describing "club was a revelation" and how Buck learned a man with a club was a lawgiver (see pages where the red-sweater clubbing occurs).
Define, in one sentence, the main moral/transformational theme of Jack London’s Call of the Wild (as seen in the provided PDF text).
Nature awakens primordial instincts, leading Buck from domestication to the law of club and fang and then to leadership in the wild.
From the uploaded texts, explain one way modern American lifestyle changes (over the past 20–40 years) are linked to value shifts away from community focus.
Increased indoor activities (internet, games, on-demand media) reduce outdoor time; this correlates with more self-focused, extrinsic values.
In the nonfiction extract, which researchers conducted studies showing nature shifts people from extrinsic to intrinsic aspirations? Name two authors.
Netta Weinstein and Andrew Przybylski (and Richard Ryan).
Provide the meaning of the affix "pre-" and give one word from either text that uses a prefix or suffix (e.g., "predisposed"—note: use a relevant example from the texts).
pre-" = before; example from texts might be "predecessors" (or teacher can choose context word like "predicated" if present).
Identify a sentence or short passage from the article describing the method of Weinstein et al.'s first study (what participants did).
Article: participants viewed an 8-minute slideshow of natural vs. human-made scenes and then completed life-aspiration questions.
Compare how “community and connection” (from the article) versus “pack and primal law” (from the novel) influence decisions in each text. Give one example from each.
Article example — nature scenes reduce extrinsic aspirations; Novel example — pack life and survival shift values toward dominance/survival.
Compare how “restorative properties” of nature are described in the nonfiction piece and how nature restores (or transforms) Buck in the novel. Give one parallel and one contrast.
Parallel — both describe restorative/transformative effects; Contrast — nonfiction: nature increases prosocial, intrinsic human values; novel: nature triggers primal survival instincts and decivilization.
Identify two turning points in Buck’s life from the novel that represent moral or behavioral changes (brief phrase for each).
Kidnapping/transport to the North; final joining of wolf pack after Thornton’s death (or fight with Spitz).
Define "decivilization" as applied to Buck in the novel and explain its connection to an affix or root in the word.
"decivilization" = loss of civilized behaviors; "de-" = removal/reversal + "civilization" root.
From the novel text, choose a passage that shows Buck's reawakening of ancestral instincts (one short quote or paraphrase).
Novel: "instincts long dead became alive again" (Passage noting domesticated generations falling away and ancestral tricks returning).
Analyze whether nature causes similar or different value outcomes in humans (article) and in Buck (novel). Provide two supporting points (one per text).
Humans: intrinsic, prosocial shift; Buck: survival, pack loyalty and dominance — similar in that both are deep changes; different in moral direction.
Using both texts, craft a short thesis (1–2 sentences) that compares how nature influences moral priorities in humans (from the article) and ethical/instinctual behavior in Buck (from the novel).
"Both texts show nature reshapes priorities: the article argues it fosters intrinsic, community-focused values in humans, while London shows nature reawakens ancestral survival instincts in Buck that override civilized morals."
Explain how the kidnapping and crate-transport episodes function as catalysts for Buck’s moral/behavioral transformation. Use two specific details from the novel text.
Kidnapping removes Buck from civilization and exposes him to club/fang law; crate and abusive transport produce rage and adaptation, leading to decivilization and new moral code.
Choose three academic words found across the two texts (e.g., "primordial," "restorative," "aspirations"). For each, give: definition, part of speech, and an affix or root analysis (show meaning of root/affix).
Sample analyses:
Evidence synthesis — provide two short textual pieces (one from each text) and explain in one sentence how they can be paired as supporting evidence for the claim: "Nature changes priorities and behavior."
Pairing example: Article sentence about nature increasing intrinsic, community-oriented aspirations; London passage about Buck's ancestral instincts awakening — paired as evidence that nature triggers deep priority shifts across species, though toward different ends.