Date assigned
Friday, March 15
Assignment
Listen to Part 2 of the This American Life episode on Harper High in Chicago (link here).
Answer the following questions in at least 2 pages typed, 3 handwritten:
1) What decision does Principal Sanders make about the homecoming game and dance? How does that decision turn out? Regardless of its outcome, would you have made the same decision? Why or why not?
2) In Act One, "The Eyewitness," what has Thomas been an eyewitness to? How has it changed his life? How does he cope with his experiences? How does Anita (the school social worker) try to reach him? What do they have in common? How does Anita deal with it?
3) In Act Two, "Your Name Written On Me," what is TGC? What does it stand for? How did it come about? How did TG die? What did he do before he died? Why does Mr. Owens have such a hard time accepting his son's friend's story?
4) In Act Three, "Get Your Gun," where do Englewood kids get their firearms? How much do they cost? How do they sometimes get them for free? Where do they hide their guns? What is the most desired accessory? How are the guns getting into the neighborhood to begin with?
5) In Act Four, "Devonte, Part Two," Crystal is reading a book written by the reporter about gang violence in Chicago. She says, "it's hard to believe that 20 years later nothing has changed." Why has nothing changed? Why has nothing been done to help this neighborhood, or the city of Chicago in general? Is there anything that can be done to help a kid like Devonte? Growing up in this neighborhood with all of the violence, accidentally kills his younger brother, wracked with depression and guilt and anger, facing a huge prison sentence. If he can be helped, what can be done to help him?
6) In Act Five, "Reverse Turnaround Backflip," the extra money Harper received over 5 years has helped them immensely. But next year, that money will be gone - their budget will be reduced by 18%. What effect will it have on Harper? Which students at Harper will be most affected by the budget reduction? What did the principal say she would do with extra money? Have you noticed things at Grant that have changed since you were a freshman due to the budget cuts that have taken place every year you've been here?
7) In Act Six, "We Are Harper High School," other principals and superintendents talk about gun violence in their schools and communities. How is Harper representative of not just Chicago, but of the United States as a whole? What can be done to solve the problems faced by communities and schools in the US?
Due date
Monday, April 8
Friday, March 15
Assignment
Listen to Part 2 of the This American Life episode on Harper High in Chicago (link here).
Answer the following questions in at least 2 pages typed, 3 handwritten:
1) What decision does Principal Sanders make about the homecoming game and dance? How does that decision turn out? Regardless of its outcome, would you have made the same decision? Why or why not?
2) In Act One, "The Eyewitness," what has Thomas been an eyewitness to? How has it changed his life? How does he cope with his experiences? How does Anita (the school social worker) try to reach him? What do they have in common? How does Anita deal with it?
3) In Act Two, "Your Name Written On Me," what is TGC? What does it stand for? How did it come about? How did TG die? What did he do before he died? Why does Mr. Owens have such a hard time accepting his son's friend's story?
4) In Act Three, "Get Your Gun," where do Englewood kids get their firearms? How much do they cost? How do they sometimes get them for free? Where do they hide their guns? What is the most desired accessory? How are the guns getting into the neighborhood to begin with?
5) In Act Four, "Devonte, Part Two," Crystal is reading a book written by the reporter about gang violence in Chicago. She says, "it's hard to believe that 20 years later nothing has changed." Why has nothing changed? Why has nothing been done to help this neighborhood, or the city of Chicago in general? Is there anything that can be done to help a kid like Devonte? Growing up in this neighborhood with all of the violence, accidentally kills his younger brother, wracked with depression and guilt and anger, facing a huge prison sentence. If he can be helped, what can be done to help him?
6) In Act Five, "Reverse Turnaround Backflip," the extra money Harper received over 5 years has helped them immensely. But next year, that money will be gone - their budget will be reduced by 18%. What effect will it have on Harper? Which students at Harper will be most affected by the budget reduction? What did the principal say she would do with extra money? Have you noticed things at Grant that have changed since you were a freshman due to the budget cuts that have taken place every year you've been here?
7) In Act Six, "We Are Harper High School," other principals and superintendents talk about gun violence in their schools and communities. How is Harper representative of not just Chicago, but of the United States as a whole? What can be done to solve the problems faced by communities and schools in the US?
Due date
Monday, April 8
