Plot Elements
What are the names of the three main characters in "The Missing Homework"?
Marcus, Mom, and Emma
Who does Marcus call for first when he realizes his project is missing?
His mom
How does Emma's action with the volcano contribute to the plot development?
She creates the main conflict by destroying Marcus's project, which sets the whole story in motion.
Find and cite the sentence that shows Marcus's initial emotional reaction to the missing project.
"Marcus stared at his empty backpack in horror."
What caused Emma to destroy the volcano?
She wanted to see it work, so she added water, which made it mushy and fall apart.
What is the main problem (conflict) that Marcus faces at the beginning of the story?
His science project (volcano) is missing/destroyed and it's due first period.
Cite evidence from the text that shows Emma feels guilty about what she did.
"Emma's eyes got wide. 'I'm sorry! I wanted to see it work...'" or her wide eyes showing fear/guilt.
If Mom had not suggested making a poster, how would the plot have been different?
Marcus would have had nothing to present, likely failed the assignment, and wouldn't have learned the lesson about family support.
What text evidence shows how much time and effort Marcus put into his original project?
"He had worked on it for two weeks, building a volcano that actually erupted with baking soda and vinegar."
What was the effect of Marcus discovering his project was missing?
He called for his mom and searched for it, eventually finding out what happened to it.
Identify the climax of the story. What is the most tense or important moment?
When Marcus presents his poster to Mrs. Rodriguez, not knowing if it will be good enough (or when he discovers the volcano is destroyed - both acceptable).
How does Marcus's interaction with Emma show his character development? What does he do that shows maturity?
He tries to stay calm when asking Emma about the volcano, even though he's upset. He doesn't yell at her.
Analyze how the interaction between Marcus and his mom moves the plot from rising action to climax.
Mom's suggestion and their collaboration creates the solution (poster) that Marcus will present, which leads directly to the climax (the presentation moment).
Cite evidence that shows the time pressure Marcus is under.
"His science project was due first period" and "He had thirty minutes before school started."
What caused Marcus to feel nervous when presenting his poster?
He wasn't sure the quickly-made poster would be good enough compared to his original volcano project.
Describe the resolution of the story. How are Marcus's problems solved?
Marcus gets a B+ on his poster project, and he realizes his family will always help him when he needs it most.
Draw a conclusion: Why does Mom suggest making a poster instead of giving up? What does this tell us about her character?
She's a problem-solver and supportive. She wants to help Marcus succeed and doesn't let him give up when things go wrong.
How does Emma's participation in making the poster (coloring the lava) contribute to both plot development and theme?
Plot: It shows family working together to solve the problem. Theme: It reinforces the idea of family support and forgiveness - Emma helps fix what she broke, showing redemption.
Find two pieces of evidence that show the family working together as a team.
: 1) "He and his mom worked together, drawing diagrams and writing facts about volcanoes." 2) "Emma even helped by coloring the lava red and orange."
Explain the cause-and-effect chain: How did Emma's mistake ultimately lead to Marcus learning an important lesson?
Emma destroyed the volcano → Marcus had to make a new project → His family helped him → He got a good grade → He learned that family support matters and good can come from disasters.
List all three rising action events in order that lead to the climax.
1) Marcus discovers his project is missing, 2) He finds out Emma destroyed it, 3) He and his family quickly create a poster as a replacement.
Analyze the interaction between Marcus and Mrs. Rodriguez. Cite evidence that shows her reaction and explain what it reveals about her as a teacher.
Mrs. Rodriguez smiled and said "This is excellent, Marcus. You clearly understand how volcanoes work, and your diagrams are very clear." This shows she values understanding over fancy presentations and is encouraging.
Analyze how Mrs. Rodriguez's positive reaction to the poster contributes to the resolution and Marcus's character development. Use evidence from the text.
Her positive feedback ("This is excellent, Marcus" and giving him a B+) resolves the conflict successfully and leads Marcus to his realization that "sometimes disasters can lead to something good." Without her positive reaction, Marcus wouldn't have learned this lesson.
Cite the sentence that best represents the theme/lesson of the story and explain why.
"He realized that sometimes disasters can lead to something good---and that his family would always help him when he needed it most." This is the explicit statement of what Marcus learned
Analyze: If Marcus had found his volcano intact, how would this have affected his character development and the story's theme?
He wouldn't have learned the lesson about family support or that disasters can lead to good outcomes. The theme would be lost, and Marcus wouldn't have grown as a character through adversity.