Discussion Director Discussion Director: Your job is to develop a list of questions that your group might want to discuss about this part of the reading. Don t worry about the small details: Your task is to help people talk over the big ideas in the reading and share their reactions. Usually the best discussion questions come from your own thoughts, feelings, and concerns as you read, which you can list below, during or after your reading. Or you may use some of the sample questions below to develop topics for your group. Do not use the questions in your study guide packet. Remember: Good questions start with why and how. Limit your questions that start with what, when, and where. Do not use questions that evoke yes, no, or one-word responses. Possible discussion questions or topics for today: 1. Why was the boss suspicious of George? 2. How did you feel when Curley was talking to Lennie for the first time? 3. Do you think it s fair that Curley won t ever get canned [fired] cause his old man s the boss? (page 27) Explain your response. 4. Why doesn t Lennie like the ranch? 5. What do you think Slim means when he says, Ain t many guys travel around together. I don t know why. Maybe ever body in the whole world is scared of each other (page 35). Sample questions: How do you think the main character felt? How did you feel while reading this part of the book? Did today s reading remind you of any real-life experiences? What questions did you have when you finished this selection? Did anything in this section of the book surprise you? Predict some things you think will happen next.
Super Summarizer Super Summarizer: Your job is to prepare a brief summary of today s reading. The other members of your group will be counting on you to give a quick (one or two minute) statement that conveys the gist, the key points, the main highlights, the essence of the reading assignment. Write a paragraph below that summarizes the reading: (continue on the back if needed) Chapter two begins with a description of the bunk house. We learn that the men on the ranch have a romantic side, because they keep Western magazines and are dreamers. Candy, the old swamper, explains that the boss was expecting George and Lennie last night, and because the two men didn t show, the boss is mad. The boss takes out his frustration on the stable buck, Crooks. Candy shows George and Lennie where they ll be sleeping in the bunk house, and talks about the previous man who stayed there. George unpacks the few possessions in his bindle; George and Lennie make their beds. Then we meet the boss, who wears high-heeled boots and spurs to prove he [is] not a laboring man (20). George introduces Lennie and himself. The boss is suspicious. Lennie does not remember to keep his mouth shut, repeating strong as a bull (22). The boss assigns George and Lennie to Slim s team. Later, Curley goes into the bunk house and is hostile toward Lennie. After he leaves, George tells Lennie to stay away from Curley. Candy explains that Curley s wife has got the eye and she is a tart (28). Soon after, Curley s wife goes into the bunk house and she says that she s looking for Curley. George gives Lennie a warning about her, too. In this chapter, we also meet Slim and Carlson. We learn that Slim s dog just had puppies and that Carlson thinks Candy should get rid of his old, smelly dog.
Literary Luminator Literary Luminator: Your job is to locate a few special sections of the text that your group would like to hear read aloud. The idea is to help people remember some interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling, or important sections of the text. You decide which passages or paragraphs are worth hearing. You will be reading these passages out loud when you share. Location Page 31, paragraphs 2-12 Page 35, paragraph 1 Page36, paragraph 1 Reason for Picking Funny: Curley s wife goes into the bunk house and reports that she s looking for Curley, when she really is just checking out the new guys on the ranch. She s playful and flirty; the only woman on the ranch, she s sure to stir up some trouble for her belligerent and jealous husband of only two weeks. Thoughtful: Slim and George are talking to each other for the first time. They are discussing work, as well as the fact that George and Lennie are traveling together, which not many do. Slim is friendly and trustworthy, and George confides in him. This passage helps to explore the theme of loneliness in the novel. Important: Carlson reveals his insensitive personality when he dismisses Candy s dear old sheep dog as smelly and useless. Carlson thinks the dog should be shot, with a complete disregard to how much the dog means to Candy. This raises an important and controversial issue that may have importance for events that occur later in the novel. Possible reasons for picking a passage to be shared: Important Informative Confusing Surprising Controversial Well-written Funny Thoughtful or pick your own!
Word Wizard Word Wizard: Your job is to be on the lookout for a few especially important words (new, interesting, strange, important, puzzling, or unfamiliar words). These are words (or phrases) that members of the group need to notice and understand. While you are reading, write these words down and then later write down their definitions, either from the text or from a dictionary. During discussion you will help members find and discuss these words. Remember: Your study guide is a great starting point for literary devices that is, words that are used figuratively (rather than literally). Word Page & Paragraph Definition Poop 20, 7 energy; desire Bum steer 21, 3 false information or directions Flapper 23, 8 mouth Get the can 27, 3 get fired Got the eye 28, 5 looking around at somebody other than your spouse Poison 32, 7 trouble Rattrap 32, 11 hopeless situation
Cool Connector Cool Connector: Your job is to find connections between the book your group is reading and the world outside. This means connecting the reading to your own life, to happenings at school or in the community, to similar events at other times and places, to other people or problems that you are reminded of. You might also see connections between this book and other writings on the same topic, or by the same author. Whatever the reading connects you with is worth sharing But be specific! Some connections I found between this reading and other people, places, events, authors 1. The bunk house is a place for the ranch hands to go to get away from the demands of hard work and manual labor. Here, their minds are a little more at ease, and they are free to dream. Similarly, Melinda s sanctuary is the janitor s closet, where she goes to escape the pressures of her high school. 2. The stable buck is mistreated by the boss; he is treated differently and lives separately from the other ranch hands. Crooks, a black man, is a victim of racism. 3. The names of characters are important. Just as Melinda s last name, Sordino, means mute and give us insight into her behavior, George s last name, Milton, is a literary reference that gives us insight into his personality. That is, John Milton was a poet who wrote about the Garden of Eden, or paradise. 4. George and Lennie have a dream of owning their own land the agrarian dream. Similarly, Disney s movie Up features a couple, Carl and Ellie, who dream of living next to Paradise Falls in South America. Both dreams are nearly impossible, yet the two sets of people cling dearly to their dreams. 5. John Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath both take place in California during the Great Depression. Both tell the stories of people struggling to earn a living and own land, despite the economic hardships and other setbacks.
Artsy Artist Artsy Artist: Your job is to draw some kind of picture related to the reading. It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, flow-chart, or design. You can draw a picture of something that s discussed specifically in your book, or something that the reading reminded you of, or a picture that conveys any idea or feeling you got from the reading. Any kind of drawing or graphic is okay you can even label things with words if that helps. Make your drawing on the other side of this sheet or on a separate sheet. Remember: Put some effort into your artsy creation! Details and color can add a lot to it! Ask the teacher if you need anything to assist you in creating a work of art! Presentation Plan: When the Discussion Director invites your participation, you may show your picture without comment to the others in the group. One at a time, they get to speculate what your picture means, to connect the drawing to their own ideas about the reading. After everyone has had a say, you get the last word: tell them what your picture means, where it came from, or what it represents to you. *Please see separate drawing
Idea Investigator Idea Investigator: Your job is to dig up some background information on any topic related to the book. This is not a formal research report, however. The idea is to find bits of information that help the group better understand the characters, setting, plot, and themes of the book. Thus, you will probe into something that really interests you - something that was puzzling or curious while reading the assignment. Remember: Your study guide is a great starting point for themes, characters, and allusions. You may also wish to consider historical and cultural references. Possible ideas for investigation today: 1. Great Depression photo essay: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/photoessay.htm 2. Great Depression economic maps: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/about.htm 3. Dust Bowl timeline: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/dustbowl.htm 4. Reasons why OMM has been banned in some high schools: http://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/books/miceandmen.asp 5. Okie Migrations Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/o/ok008.html