Focusing Question Task

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Focusing Question Task 1: What makes Bud a survivor?

Introduction: For the past four lessons, we have discussed the setting, events, and characters in Bud, Not Buddy and analyzed what Bud’s reactions reveal about his character. In this task you will apply those understandings and write about what makes Bud a survivor. Writing about this topic and practicing the ToSEEC paragraph will help prepare you for later Focusing Question Tasks and the EOM Task.

Task: For an audience who has read and studied Bud, Not Buddy the way you have, write a ToSEEC paragraph in which you explain what makes Bud a survivor. Please remember to include proper citations for your textual evidence and follow the conventions of standard written in English.

Hint: Think about all of the things we’ve learned about Bud so far and select one of the qualities that allows him to survive the hardships he’s faced up to this point in the novel. You may use the graphic organizer provided below (and or in your resource packet) if it helps you prepare your thinking before writing. Though the organizer has only two evidence rows, you are not limited to two pieces of evidence for your paragraph.

Criteria for Success: Your paragraph should include: ƒ

• a topic statement that presents your idea about what makes Bud a survivor.

• ƒ textual evidence that develops your idea.

• ƒ elaboration that explains how the evidence develops your idea.

• a concluding statement that reinforces your idea and topic statement.

• ƒinternal citations to indicate where in the text your evidence is located.

Sample Essay:

Write an essay that explains how Bud’s actions prove that he is a survivor. Use evidence from at least two events from chapters 1-5 of Bud, Not Buddy in your response.

Topic sentence: Bud’s actions prove that he is a survivor when he stands up to Todd. (Evidence): “I swung as hard as I could at Todd’s big balloon head. Somewhere between the time I threw my punch and the time it landed my fist came open and when my hand landed it made a pop like a .22 rifle going off. Todd fell on the floor like he’d been coldcocked (13). Elaboration): Bud’s action shows that he is a survivor because even though he was being tormented by a boy two times his side, he did not let Todd’s size intimidate him and stop him from fighting back. Todd, previously called Bud, Buddy, stuck a pencil up Bud’s nose while he was asleep, and then teased him about doing it. This caused Bud to jump up and fight back.He states, “he wasn’t about to let anybody call him Buddy and stick a pencil up his nose all the way to R” (13). (Conclusion): Although he does not win, his action proves that he is a survivor.

Topic sentence: Bud is a survivor because he stands up to the vampire in the shed and then escapes the shed (Evidence): The text states, "Three hornets found me at the same time and all four of us fell out the window. As soon as we hit the ground I rolled as far as I could from the shed (29). (Elaboration): In this example after Bud, faces his fear of being locked into the shed, he stands up to bees who he assumed was a vampire bat by splitting the hornet’s nest in half. In the end he discovered that what he thought was a vampire bat, was actually a hornets nest. This shows how he is a survivor because he didn’t just stand there and let the bees sting him, he faced his fear and fought back, while also breaking the window to get out of the shed. After he faces his fear, he breaks free from the shed, and he vows to seek revenge on the Amos. (Conclusion): Therefore, this is the second reason why Bud is a survivor.

Closing: What is a survivor? A survivor is someone that perseveres through a tough situation in order to survive. Thus, Bud’s actions proves that he is a survivor because he stands up to Todd, faces his fear of the vampire bat, and then escapes the shed.

Prompt 2: Students will use ToSEEC format to write an essay about: "What hardships did people face during the Great Depression using the example listed below.

Focusing Question Task 4: What were the positive outcomes that came from people working together in Hooverville?