Discussion # 4 Missing the Signs

“When somebody is so special you don’t always listen closely enough to what they are saying.”

Discuss two instances when Spoon does not listen closely enough and so misses the clues/ warning signs that he is being given. Be sure to describe what important information he misses as well as what this reveals about Spoon himself.

Discussion #3 Signs of Poverty

Gabi apologizes for her phone being disconnected, saying: "Habla poverty?" in a letter to Spoon. How does the author show you that poverty in Gabi’s home and circumstances? What are the differences between her household and Spoon’s?

Discussion #2 -The Beast

Why do you think Walter Dean Myers named the story, "The Beast"? What two predictions can you make about the story based on this title and the cover picture?

Please Edit Your Posts

Guys, I am reading your responses but I cannot publish them. They need to be edited. I am seeing spelling errors and too many grammar errors. Plus I am not seeing paragraphs. You did not even take the time to restate the question. If you want a grade you need to do better than that.

Discussion #1

Based on the Biography posted and other readings we have done in class; discuss at least two experiences or incidents in Myers’ life that may have influenced his writing career and  writing style.

Walter Dean Myers

Biography

I was born on a Thursday, the 12th of August, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. My name at birth was Walter Milton Myers. For some strange reason I was given to a man named Herbert Dean who lived in Harlem. I consider it strange because I don't know why I was given away.


I was raised in Harlem by Herbert and his wife, Florence. Herbert was African American. Florence was German and Native American and wonderful and loved me very much.

As a child my life centered around the neighborhood and the church. The neighborhood protected me and the church guided me. I resisted as much as I could.

I was smart (all kids are smart) but didn't do that well in school.

I dropped out of high school (although now Stuyvesant High claims me as a graduate) and joined the army on my 17th birthday.

Basketball has always been a passion of mine. Sometimes at night I lie in bed thinking about games I've played. Sometimes I think about what would have happened if I had gone into the NBA (I was never good enough) or college ball.

Anyway.... I wrote well in high school and a teacher (bless her!) recognized this and also knew I was going to drop out. She advised me to keep on writing no matter what happened to me.

"It's what you do," she said.I didn't know exactly what that meant but, years later, working on a construction job in New York, I remembered her words. I began writing at night and eventually began writing about the most difficult period of my own life, the teen years. That's what I do.

http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/bio.html