Name: Ms. Cryder/Mrs. Sanborn Period: Letters from Wolfie Contents: Pre-Reading Documentary Vocabulary Comprehension Character Analysis Mood & Tone Non-Fiction Reading Types of Conflict Socratic Seminar Argumentative Writing 1
Pre-Reading Questions (Pre-Reading Activity) Read each statement. Circle Yes or No based upon your own opinion. Be prepared to discuss your responses with your teacher and classmates. War is always wrong. YES NO Our government tells us the truth. YES NO The enemy is always obvious and evil. If your intentions are honorable, you should be able to change the minds of others easily. Humans are smarter than domestic animals. Moms and Dads always have their children s best interest at heart. YES YES YES YES NO NO NO NO An enemy can never become your friend. YES NO The side that is right always wins. YES NO Domestic animals do not think. YES NO Once you have donated something, it is no longer yours. YES NO Killing is okay if it is done within a war. YES NO 2
(Pre-Reading Activity) War Dogs of the Pacific a film by Harris Done War Dogs of the Pacific is a documentary that will assist us in better understanding of the topic and gain some background information about the plot of our novel. The documentary is 46 minutes long. As you watch, please answer the following questions and take notes on what you see and hear. Enjoy! 1. Which war is depicted in the documentary? 2. Which breed(s) of dogs are used in the war? Why are these breeds chosen? 3. What training is given to the handler and his dog? 4. What tasks are the dogs expected to complete? 5. Describe a normal day for the handler and his dog. Additional Facts: 3
Chapter Page # Word Definition Sentence 1 3 malamute 1 4 permanent 2 9 concourse 3 21 infiltrated 4 33 mortars 4 35 turmoil 9 86 dissent 10 92 rappel 10 93 asset 12 113 volatile 4
Chapter Page # Word Definition Sentence 13 120 self-indulgent 14 127 rehabilitation 14 128 abridging 16 152 braille 18 160 lynch 25 220 calligraphy 5
Comprehension Check Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Use textual evidence to support your answers. Chapters 1-2 1. What does Mark s description of his brother, Danny, tell you about Danny? 2. Do you already have a sense of who Mark is from the first two chapters? Explain. Chapters 3-4 3. What questions do you still have after reading the letter from Captain Linz? 4. How does underlying worry impact the whole family? 6
5. How would you describe Mrs. Heimbach as a listener? As a friend? Chapters 5-7 6. What more did you find out about the Vietnam War? 7. What were the most meaningful questions asked by Mr. Casey and by Mark in these chapters? 8. What can you infer about Mark and Rick s relationship based on the clues the author gave? 9. How does Randall s comment about Agate show his perspective? 7
10. What can you infer about Mark based upon his call with the Army? Chapters 8-10 11. Characterize Mark and Claire s relationship based upon the dance. 12. What can you infer peaceniks believe? 13. Can people disagree and still be friends? Explain. 14. Eve makes a bold statement about Vietnam. What do you think she will do next? (see page 86) 8
15. Why did the author have Tucker start writing from Wolfie s perspective instead of his own? Chapters 11-13 16. Randall does not normally respond to non-verbal cues, but on page 103 he does. Why? 17. On page 105, Mark says jealousy is not a proper thing to feel. Do you think he d still be jealous if he had ever faced that feeling head-on? Explain. 18. Mr. Casey believes the government works for us. On page 112, Mark says the government does not have much to do with him. Compare and contrast these two perspectives. 9
19. On page 118, Danny mentions music that the Denver stations won t air. Why do you infer this is true? 20. On page 118, Eve references opinions Danny might be having. Why would he write everywhere EXCEPT home with those thoughts? Chapters 14-16 21. Compare and contrast how things are run at Claire s house and Mark s house. (see page 139) 22. In your opinion, why is reality such a surprise for soldiers? Should basic training prevent that? 23. On page 153, why did the author have Eve give Mark those books? 10
Chapters 17-19 24. Why does Effie give an example of a lynching? 25. Why did they enforce their protest rules with Denver University, but change them for the Vietnam veterans? Chapters 20-22 26. From Tucker s letters, Mark realizes Danny describes Vietnam differently. Explain. 27. The U.S. has been accused of being the policeman for the world for a long time. What examples can you name? (see page 180) 11
Chapters 23-24 28. On page 203, Mark says, Danny made it too hard for people. What does this mean? 29. What does Rick s sitting in silence with Mark tell us about him? (see pages 215-216) Chapters 25-26 30. Which character is most like Wolfie in the book? Use proof from the text. 31. On pages 221-223, how did Tucker s letter make you feel? Explain. 12
(On-Going Activity) Character Analysis There are numerous ways to determine character traits. You may choose to look at a character s direct quotations, or quotations made by other characters about the character you are analyzing. You may also choose to consider the character s actions, body language, facial expressions, thoughts, gestures, reactions to events, and other character s opinions. When you see a consistent pattern of reactions, words, thoughts, or actions, you have identified a character trait. As you read, complete the Character Analysis Chart. You are to provide who the character is, what trait you have identified, and two examples of text evidence to support the character trait. Character Character Trait Text Evidence #1 Text Evidence #2 Mark #1 Page # Page # Mark Mark #2 Danny #1 Page # Page # Danny Danny #2 #1 Page # Page # #2 13
(Chapter 5-8 Activity) Mood & Tone: Music Critiques The songs below are unique to the time period of the story. Sit back and enjoy the tunes! Directions: While listening to the following songs, determine the tone that the singer uses, the mood that is created by the song, and provide an overall star rating (5 stars is the best). Song/Artist Tone Mood Star Rating Fortunate Son by Creedance Clearwater Revival Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul, and Mary For What It s Worth by Buffalo Springfield War by Edwin Starr Volunteers by Jefferson Air Plane Unknown Soldier by The Doors We Gotta Get Out of this Place by The Animals 14
(Chapter 7 Activity) Reading Non-Fiction: Jigsaw Activity Directions: Each small group will receive one non-fiction article. The provided articles will be Vietnam-specific. As a group, read the article carefully. Following, identify 5 main ideas to explain your topic to your classmates. Use the space below to organize your main ideas. Group Articles: Circle your group s article The Final Solution Hilter s Nazis Genocide Concentration Camps and Mass Murder The Domino Theory- An Interview with Dwight Eisenhower Main Idea Supporting Details 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 15
(Chapter 12-14 Activity) Types of Conflict By the end of Chapter 12, several conflicts have been revealed to the reader. Choose three conflicts to reflect upon by filling out the chart below. Be descriptive in your details! 1. Characters Involved Describe the Conflict Type of Conflict Include: Internal vs. External Include: Man vs. Man/ Self/ Nature/ or Society 2. 3. 16
(Post-Reading) Argumentative Writing Objectives: 1. Students will be able to introduce claims and organize reasons and evidence. 2. Students will be able to support claims with reasons and relevant evidence using words, phrases and clauses to clarify the claims. 3. Students will be able to provide a concluding statement that follows from the argument. Essential Question: Many characters influence Mark s perspective of Vietnam. Who is most influential? Directions: On notebook paper, create an argumentative essay to answer the essential question above. Your essay should include a claim, supportive evidence from the text, and a proper conclusion. Use the space below and the Student Checklist to plan your essay. Claim: Evidence #1 Evidence #2 Evidence #3 Conclusion: 17