Part II of The First Part Last

Good Morning!

You should have read through Part II of The First Part Last. I would like to spend part of class reading and discussing today, so that we can finish the book by the end of the week (Monday at the latest.)

HW: Read all of Part III of your novels and write a one paragraph summary/reaction in order to prove that you completed the task.

Some Discussion Questions
Feel free to come up with your own as well! Take notes.

1. Describe the main characters—their personality traits, motivations, inner qualities. Why do they do what they do? Are their actions justified? Do you admire or disapprove of them? Do they remind you of people you know?

2. Is the plot engaging—does the story interest you? Is this a plot-driven book: a fast-paced page-turner? Or does the story unfold slowly with a focus on character development? Were you surprised by the
plot's complications? Or did you find it predictable, even formulaic?

3. Talk about the book's structure. Is it a continuous story...or interlocking short stories? Does the time-line more forward chronologically...or back and forth between past and present? Does the author use a single viewpoint or shifting viewpoints? Why might the author have chosen to tell the story the way he or she did—and what difference does it make in the way you read or understand it?

4. What main ideas—themes—does the author explore? Don't forget to talk about the title, often a clue to a novel's theme.

Writing Assignment
On Monday, we started to design a character for our next story. Please choose one of the following options for your writing:

1. Study the spare, lyrical writing of Angela Johnson and try to write a story with a similar quality and the same economy of words.

2. Angela Johnson used the ideas of Then and Now to alternate between different times in The First Part Last. Write your own unique short story using this style.

Please do not worry about length or a deadline for this story yet. I would like you to get started without worrying about these elements yet.