Journal #4 Option A

 Earlier in the novel, Francis and Larry LaSalle compete against each other in an intense game of table tennis (ping pong).

o   How does the interaction between Francis and Larry on pages 109 through 118 resemble a game of ping pong?

o   How is ping pong a larger metaphor for Francis’ and Larry’s relationship, in general? 

Journal #4 Option B

Francis has a very big secret about the war.

o   What is the big secret that Francis reveals to Larry about his motivations for going to war? 

o   In your opinion, can Francis still be considered a hero even though he didn’t intend to do what he did?

Journal #4 Option C

  During their conversation, Larry asks Francis, “Does that one sin of mine wipe away all the good things?”

o   Do you really think Larry only committed that “one” sin as he claims and why or why not?  

o   If you were Francis, how would you respond to this question that Larry poses? 

Journal Update

1- Because this is practice for NJASK, it is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT that you do not spend more than 15 minutes on an entry.  You will be doing yourself a disservice if you write for too a time period.

2- You are given one lined page to write a response... learn to be precise and succint.  Writing an essay here is not going to help you practice for a one-page response.

3- Textual quotes are needed!  If you see a 2.5 it means that you have two paragraphs and a connection, but no quotes. 

Reading Journal 3 (pgs. 73-103) Option C

On pages 102 through 104, Francis experiences a serious internal conflict.

o   Explain why this internal conflict occurs AND how he overcomes it.

o   What is your opinion of his decision?

Reading Journal 3 (pgs. 73-103) Option B

 On page 87, while describing Larry LaSalle’s return to Frenchtown during the war, Francis says that the parents of Frenchtown “knew that Larry LaSalle had been a bright Pied Piper for their children in the bleakness of the Depression.” 

o   What does this literary allusion mean?

o   How is it shown, again, later in the same chapter?  

Reading Journal 3 (pgs. 73-103) Option A

  On pages 84 and 85, Francis shares that he burns up Dr. Abrams’ address and phone number in his kitchen sink. Next, he burns up a list from Enrico, detailing possible hospitals in which he planned to live until he found his “proper method of disposal.”

○Why does Francis burn up these contacts?

○What does he mean when he says, “proper method of disposal”?