BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER READING

Instructions:
Through journal writing, you will respond to events in the novel (i.e. sharing your feelings, beliefs, etc.), relate the events to your prior experiences (i.e. making connections beyond the novel), and reflect on the events (i.e. considering their significance to your existence). In so doing, you will become an active thinking participant as the story unfolds. Write personal written responses (i.e. journal entries) to the prompts below, at the designated points in the novel.
After Reading the Epigraph: Predict what the poem’s lines have to do with the novel.
After Chapter 1: Describe your first impressions of the novel. What elements of the first chapter do you find appealing?
After Chapter 2: Relate a personal loss that you or your family have had to experience. Describe the emotions involved.
After Chapter 3: What do you think happens at the end of the chapter? Relate your imagery.
After Chapter 4: Pretend you are the judge. What would be your sentence for Reef?
After Chapter 5: Do you believe in luck? Explain.
After Chapter 6: Do you think both Reef and Leeza were lucky? Explain.
After Chapter 7: What is your opinion of the Judge’s sentence? Explain.
After Chapter 8: Predict Brett’s future influence on Leeza.
After Chapter 9: How can Leeza’s rehabilitation be compared to Reef’s sentence? OR Predict Alex’s future influence on Reef.
After Chapter 10: Relate a time when you have had a serious injury that required physiotherapy or other intervention.
After Chapter 11: Why do you think Frank assigned Reef the task of repairing the greenhouse?
After Chapter 12: How would you feel about the boy’s (Reef’s) sentencing if you were Leeza?
After Chapter 13: Are there signs that Reef is changing? Explain.
Part Two: Why do you think the author chose to indicate a major division in the novel at this point? Predict what will now happen. (NOTE: Part One consists of approximately half of the novel.)
After Chapter 14: Have you ever volunteered? If so, relate your experiences.
After Chapter 15: Evaluate the doctor’s comments about youth and injuries. Do you agree with him? Explain.
After Chapter 16: Have you ever been away from your friends for an extended period of time and then been anxious about seeing them again? Explain.
After Chapter 17: Predict what will happen when Reef meets Leeza.
After Chapter 18: Relate an embarrassing situation or interesting icebreaker that you have experienced when meeting someone for the first time.
After Chapter 19: Do you believe in destiny or fate? Explain.
After Chapter 20: Is Brett good for Leeza? Who is good for you? Explain.
After Chapter 21: Predict why Shelly calls Reef away from Brett and Leeza.
After Chapter 22: What fears do you deny or mask? Explain.
After Chapter 23: Explain Reef’s focus on words. Does this incident represent an epiphany for Reef?
After Chapter 24: Predict what you think is about to happen.
After Chapter 25: If you were Reef, what would you do now?
Part Three: Account for why the author has created another major division within the novel. Predict what you think will happen next.
After Chapter 26: How can these classroom talks be considered cathartic for Reef? Explain.
After Chapter 27: With one chapter remaining, outline what you hope happens.
After Chapter 28: Was the novel’s conclusion satisfying to you? Explain.
After Reading the Epigraph Again: Explain what the poem’s lines have to do with the novel. Were your earlier predictions correct?
After Reading the Author’s Note: Is the advice to “Write what you know.” the approach taken by Don Aker in his writing of the novel, The First Stone? Explain.

Journal Writing: Respond, Relate, Reflect