Spirit Bear Conclusion

Now that you have finished Touching Spirit Bear, do you think the restorative process was more helpful than traditional punitive punishments, not just for Cole but for everyone involved? Why or why not? Who do you think benefited or did not benefit from this process? What were some positive or negative outcomes? What would have been different for Cole, his mom, his dad, Peter, Peter's family, Garvey, and Edwin if Cole had just received the traditional punitive punishment of being put in jail -- would things have been better or worse? WHY? Remember to use specific examples from the book to support your arguments.

Restorative Circles

You have read and acted out the first parts of Cole's Restorative Circle process and you've watched a real-life circle process involving boys who burned down a historical bridge in Pennsylvania. Compare and contrast the two circles. What similarities and differences do you notice between the process, the parents, the community members, and the boys in trouble? Remember to use specific examples from your reading to support your arguments.

Mystery Resolution

Now that you have finished your book, what was the resolution to your mystery? If you did not write about the climax yet, briefly explain the climax and how it led to the resolution. Remember to use specific examples. Did you like how your story ended? Why or why not?

Mystery - THICK Question

Last week, you were to write four thin and four thick questions for the Discussion Director role. You were to have answered your thin questions but not your thick questions. Choose one of your thick questions to answer today. Rewrite the question and answer it, being sure to give support to your argument and specific examples to back-up your statements.

Mystery - Climax

As discussed in class, you should at the very least be half-way through your mystery novel. Tell me how far you are and briefly summarize the mystery of your story so far. What is the main mystery that is trying to be solved? Also, since you are half-way through, you should be experiencing some rising action which may or may not have led to a literary climax at this point. What are some of the components of your plot that you believe contribute to the rising action of your mystery? Do you think you have read the climax yet? Why or why not? Make sure your answer shows your understanding of how the plot works to create a rising action that leads to the climax of the plot.

Mystery Comparisons

You have met with at least two other peers to discuss the summary of your mystery, at least one significant event, and the tone. How is your mystery similar to or different than one of the other mysteries you learned about from your group? Remember to use specific examples to support your answer.

Mystery -- Tone

We have spent a lot of time talking about tone or voice in composition and how one can create a certain mood or tone with words in writing. What is the mood, tone, or voice of your mystery so far? How do you know this is the tone? Triangulate your evidence. Also, why do you think the author is using this tone at this point in the story?