Eleven
How does Rachel feel about being eleven?
Rachel feels that turning eleven does not magically make her feel different or wise.
Name three items the boys bring on their camping trip.
Blanket, beans, ax, compass, mattress, soda, crackers, hot dogs, mustard, frying pan, etc.
What is the setting of the story?
A middle school in a Midwestern suburb.
How does Rey feel when he is not rewarded for his work?
Betrayed, upset, mad, used
A logical conclusion supported by clues in the text
Inference
Give an example of a moment in "Eleven" when Rachel felt embarrassed.
Rachel's teacher, Mrs. Price, forces her to wear a smelly, ugly red sweater that does not belong to her in front of the whole class
How familiar is the narrator with "The Country?"
What is the main conflict in "The Magic Marker Mystery?"
The graffiti targeting Principal Abrego.
How was Mr. Sanchez disrespected in the story?
Hernando showed disrespect to Mr. Sanchez when he called him "vato."
Nearby words and ideas that help explain an unfamiliar word.
Context clues
How does Rachel react when life gets hard?
Retreating into her younger, more vulnerable past selves and crying uncontrollably, like she was three.
How do the boys' experiences contribute to the plot?
The experiences/ challenges force the boys to react to unexpected situations which ultimately leads to the conclusion where the boys go back home.
Why was Bucho initially accused of being the culprit?
He is the school bully, the graffiti was signed with a "B," and an anonymous email pointed the finger directly at him.
What internal (in his head) conflict does Rey face in the story?
Rey contemplated whether he should help Mr. Sanchez fix his flat tire or not.
The underlying message, lesson, or universal truth about life and human nature that an author shares through a story
Theme
Describe a theme of the story "Eleven"
Our younger selves stay alive inside us even as we grow older.
How do the characters from "Scout's Honor" change from the beginning to the end of the story?
The boys started out on their journey confident, however their confidence slowly goes away with each conflict thrown at them and they admit they still need help and cannot do everything by themselves.
Describe the characterization of principal Abrego.
fair, open-minded, supportive, helpful, compassionate
What is the theme of "The Good Samaritan?"
You should have integrity and do the right thing, even though that person may not deserve it.
improving ideas, organization, clarity, or details
Revision
The Red Sweater: Beyond being scratchy and ugly, what does the red sweater symbolize regarding public humiliation and powerlessness?
The red sweater acts as a visible mark of shame that separates Rachel from her peers. Because it is described as ugly, old, and smelling like cottage cheese, being forced to claim it immediately targets her social standing.
Rachel knows the sweater is not hers, but her eleven-year-old voice is too small, shaky, and unauthoritative to defeat the word of the teacher.
What is the theme of "Scout's Honor?"
It is better to be honest and accept your limits than to pretend to be something you are not.
Why do Mickey’s friends automatically suspect Bucho, and how does Bucho's past behavior create prejudice (meaning judging someone before you have any real evidence) in the investigation?
The "B" Signature: The graffiti artist signed the messages with a "B," which Mickey’s friends immediately presume stands for "Bucho." Bucho is widely known as the school bully so everyone suspects Bucho because he has been involved in vandalism before.
What does this story say about people in general?
People are imperfect. Even when someone messes up, help them. You never know when you will need help.
What is an Allusion?
An allusion is a brief, indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, work of art, or story that readers or listeners are expected to recognize