TT+Nick

1. Put yourself in place of one of the boys who escaped the crash but was forced to watch "helplessly as Rob died". What is going through your head? How do you feel physically and mentally ?How do you think that you will feel tomorrow?

If I were in the crash and I escaped it I would look for everyone that was with me in the crash. I would look and see if I was okay before that. In my head I would thinking if I can get help or try to help the other people out of the car if I possibaly can. I would probaly be in pain from the crash. In my head I would be thinking of so many things. Tomorrow I would be sore from the crash.

2. When you hear or read of a car accident that involved teenagers, what do you assume is the cause of the accident - drinking, speed - drugs? What about if you hear about a car accident involving the elderly? Explain your answers.

When I here of an accident that involved teenagers I think that they were drinking. I think this because most teens think it is cool to drink because they think cool people do drugs or drink.

3. Andy and Rob have their own slang and manner of speaking. On the surface they seem to be putting each other down, but it is clear to us that they are close friends who respect each other. What purpose does this style of language serve? Does it draw kids closer together? Does it set you off from others? Explain.

4. In a paragraph rich with sensory detail, write about your own most frightening moment.

My most frightening moment was when I broke my leg sleding. I was thinking I was going to die because I hit my head off a tree branch and hit a tree with my leg.

6. Even though many people cried, Rhonda did not cry after the accident occured; she was angry. When or if a public tragedy occurs and it is not someone in your immediate family (9/11/01), how do you respond? Explain.

I was sad about it but i did not cry about it. I just was just sad because I thought that the people who did it were big meanies.

7. One //Herald// editorial says that statistics don't usually "mean much, but this statistic (Rob) had a name, face,..."When we hear of a statistic such as this that reports someone dying in a drunk-driving accident every 18 minutes - how do you feel? Do you agree that it is hard to feel emotional about the numbers when you do not have a face to relate it to?

I feel sad about it because my uncle died of drunk-driving a four-wheeler. This also makes me sad because one of those could be a friend or family.

8. In his homework assigment, Gerald writes that he would rid the world of 3 things. What 3 things would you rid the world of? Stick to concrete items, and back up your choices with personal reasons why you are eliminating them.

If I could get rid of three things in the world I would get rid of gold rings, wepons, and bil-boards. I would get rid of gold rings because of all the rich people wearing them around and acting like their worthless. I would get rid of wepons because they cause nothing but death. I owuld get rid of bil-boards because the are a waste of money because they put up advertisements that are far away from what they are advertising.

9. Neither of Andy's parents bother to show up for the game. How important is it for you that your parents turn out for the events in which you participate? Explain.

This gives me some some more confidence. Being sorounded be my friends and family makes me more confident.

10.Andy mentions that some kids at school haven't looked him in the face since the accident; one even taped a mean note to his locker. How would you treat Andy now? Elaborate.

11.Does doing homework help you to perform better on tests? Does homework seem purposeful to you, or is it basically a waste of time? What alternate do you suggest? Defend your answerwith three (3) points.

12. Do you feel that your parents 'get' you or don't understand you at all? What makes you think this? Explain.

I think that my parents get me very little.They always talk like im still ten years old.

13.Andy believed that his friends would talk about him if he won academic awards. Then consider Marcus's unpopularity due to his achievement. Is academic failure or apathy built into teenager's notions about what is 'cool'? What effect does academic achievement have on you?

14. We learn about Andy's grades and study habits. Do you think the guidance counselor who advised him against going into pre-law was being realistic or unfair? Defend your answer.

I thought that the guidance counselor's idea was a good idea because he has not so good grades and he does not want to follow the careir of his dad.

15. In a class discussion, Keisha says, "All of us at one time or another feel like a cinder among the snowflakes. You stand out when you just want to blend in, you get noticed whether you want to or not". In a paragraph, write about when you have felt like a "cinder among the snowflakes". . 16. Andy envisions Monty will have a future as a doctor or lawyer. But when he thinks of his own future, he sees a blank, or darkness. Can you picture who you will be in 15 years? What do you envision about your future?