a project presented to prof. dwight watson hamline university in partial fulfillment of the...
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a project presented to Prof. Dwight WatsonHamline University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for GED 7871: Literacy in the
Middle and High School by
Reina Malakoff Dave Ostrom
Kimberly StromPeter Sunnarborg
Penny Thompson- Burke Jessica White Stanley
ThemeWho is the character?
Greg “Slam” Harris
Family
Moms
Derek
Pops
Grandma
Friends
Mtiesha
Ice
Classmates
Margie
Teammates
Nick
Ducky
Coach
Goldy
School personnel
Mr. Tate
Math teacher
ThemeHow did the character develop?
Character development
Relationship with family?
Relationship with friends?
Relationship with teammates?
Relationship with school personnel?
Relationship with classmates?
ThemeWhat is the setting?
ThemeWhat is the problem?
At school•Principal insistent on tutoring•Video project; partner hard to work with•Demeaning teachers
With friends and at home
•Ice suspected of dealing drugs•Conflicting romantic interests (Mtisha vs. every other female he encounters)•Derek loses the camera
On the team•Conflict with coach and other players•Skill level of other players
Slam’s attitud
e
ThemeHow was the problem resolved?
Problems ResolutionPrincipal insistent on tutoring Slam is apprehensive of letting another
man tutor him and keen to the threat that his father might feel. Randall doesn’t tutor him but rather Mtisha tutors him minimally.
Video project; partner hard to work with Creates a video of the neighborhood that Margie calls “ghetto”, teacher wants to enter it in awards competition
Demeaning teachers Slam has a blowup at one teacher who refers to him in a derogatory manner, then gets his attitude in check.
Lots of trouble in math Mtisha tutors him minimally. Not as resolved as could be.
At school
ThemeHow was the problem resolved?
At home and with friendsProblem Resolution
Ice suspected of dealing drugs
Ignores despite Mtisha’s urging to confront him until the night of the victory party when he sees him giving someone drugs. They fight and Slam leaves
Conflicting romantic interests
Slam thinks about marrying, dating, and (Mtisha vs. every other female he encounters) mating with many girls. After he makes out with Kicky, Mtisha admits her true feelings for Slam. He realizes that she’s the one he wants despite his rampant daydreams.
Derek loses the camera
The pawn shop owner finds the camera when someone in the neighborhood tries to sell it. Mtisha delivers the good news and Slam gets it back.
Strained relationship with dad.
Dad is an alcoholic who is straight when he’s working and drunk when he’s not. Dad is unemployed by the end and not close to Slam because of lack of common interests. Not really resolved.
Moms wants him to hang with Mr Randall, the tutor
Slam never gets tutored by Randall for the sake of Pops’ ego and his own as well
ThemeHow was the problem resolved?
On the teamProblem Resolution
Conflict with coach and other players
When Slam’s attitude lightens up, the coach starts to play him more. We are just seeing the beginning of this by the book’s end. It foreshadows that Slam learns to put his attitude in check.
Slam appreciates Goldy who has been a support from the start.
Slam begins to accept Ducky for what he is and become his friend.
Begins to get along with Nick despite the fact that Nick is being scouted for college and he isn’t as wanted.
Begins to get along with Jimmy despite having received an unwelcome talk with him about Slam’s attitude. Slam begins to see the only other black player as a teammate.
Skill level of other players
Slam begins to get his ego in check by the book’s end as he tries to help Nick look good for scouts.
ThemeHow did this book relate to the other books?
Mentor relationship
Social isolation Maturation
On the sheets of paper around the room, write down a statement that relates how each book relates to the above themes.
Instructional qualityReadability Conceptual Level
Length of words in passage: ModerateLength of words in sentence: shortSize print: medium (12 pt. Font)Pictures: noneSlang: There is a fair amount of slang in the basketball scenes, but it isn’t hard to figure it out from the context:
oWedgiesoGoing for the pill/the pebbleoA little head fakeoRun him into a pickoPinned his stuff against the boards and pulled it downoBreakaway jamoThe top of the key
Themes: friendship, drug use, drug dealing, racism, romantic/sexual love, loyalty, addiction, povertyConcepts: independence, motivation, perseverance, self-controlAge of characters:
oSlam: 17o Ice: 17o Mtisha: 17o Parents: Moms and Pop: late 30s early 40s?oDerek: 9oGoldy: 50-60ish?
Moderate readability + high conceptual level =
9th grade target audience
Dynamics of circle time
Ah-ha moments• Slam’s ego and how he perceives himself: a protection mechanism?• Slam’s closeness to his family: protecting his mom’s feelings; taking to heart
his grandmother’s advice• The pride Slam takes in his video project for school.• Envisioning his future: marriage, family, and a career in the NBA• Caring for his friends.• Trying out for the team• Kicky• Coming to realize how his work on the video might be exploited by his
classmates• Goldy’s lecture
Parallels to our experience as teachers• Interacting with students talented in sports but struggling at school• Understanding Slam’s attraction to girls, dealing with friends involved with
drugs, dreaming about the future
ConclusionYeah. Okay. Maybe that was the way to work it. Maybe if I could get my
game right, all my game, on and off the court, I
would get over.
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