Scholastic Writing Awards
First Part Last Projects
How do you think your life would change as a teenager if you suddenly had the responsibility of an infant? Make a schedule of your life as it is now (look at your day planner) and then make a new one based on a life with baby.
Knowledge:
1. Describe how Bobby and Nia’s parents react to the news of her pregnancy. How would yours?
2. Find a quote that most reveals who Bobby is as a person. Explain why you picked it.
Comprehension:
1. Find three examples that show what kind of father Bobby is to Feather.
2. What do you think is the most difficult thing for Bobby? Why? (Answer this question after a few chapters, answer it again at the end of the novel and see if the answer changes)
Application:
1. Predict what happens to this family ten years into the future. Explain why.
2. Write ten questions you would ask Bobby, Mary, and Nia if you could.
Analyze:
1. On page 35 Bobby says, “ … which pisses her off and makes her scream, and then I look around my room and miss me.” Explain what he means.
2. Angela Johnson tells the story in a non-linear fashion. Why, do you think, she chose this literary device to reveal the story?
Synthesize
1. How would you cope under the extraordinary circumstances that Bobby finds himself?
2. Would you make the same choices?
Evaluation:
1. If Bobby had Nia’s help raising Feather would he be a different father? What makes you think so?
2. Do you agree with Mary and Fred’s approach to grandparenthood? Why or why not?
Multiple Intelligence Projects for
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Verbal/ Linguistic
Write at least five letters to Nia explaining what is happening with both Bobby and Feather. Be specific!
or
Study the spare, lyrical writing of Angela Johnson and try to write one scene of a story with a similar quality and the same economy of words.
Logical/ Mathematical:
Find the most recent statistics that you can about teen pregnancy in America. Create at least one graph explaining the results you discovered.
Visual/ Spatial:
Create a piece of art that you feel represents Bobby’s emotions throughout the novel. Think about form, color and line as you create your work. Explain your art in a brief, but illuminating paragraph.
Body/Kinesthetic
In small groups, act out scenes from the novel.
Or-
Write the dialogue and act out the scenes that are left off camera (like what Nia says when she meets Bobby with a balloon on his birthday).
Musical/ Rhythmic
Either create an original piece of music yourself to accompany the story or, find at least three songs that you think belong on the soundtrack of the movie version of this book. Explain why you chose these songs (and include a copy of the lyrics) in a brief journal.
Interpersonal:
Cooperative Learning Project:
In groups of no more than three explore and research one aspect of teen pregnancy (or choose one of your own):
How sex education affects pregnancy rates
Social implications of teen pregnancy on communities
Long-term effects for the mother (and/or father) for future success
Long term success for the infant in health and education
The availability of birth control and other services on pregnancy rates
Which children are most at risk for teen pregnancy
Adoption
Foster care system
Teen shelters
Outstanding programs for young mothers and fathers
Abstinence programs
Then, create a website (or pamphlet) sharing your compilation of facts with the public. Invite the public +/or other teens in a discussion via a message board about it.
Intrapersonal:
Write a letter to yourself about where you want to be in ten years. Reflect on how your goals would be compromised if you were forced to turn your attention to another human being. Assume that your responsibilities would be maximized similar to Bobby’s and that adults would let you assume the brunt of your own mistake.
Refer to the letter as needed.
CREATE a movie trailer for the book using Movie Maker utilizing music and images
First Part Last/Nonlinear narrative
A frame story (also known as a frame tale or frame narrative) is a literary technique that sometimes serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, whereby an introductory or main narrative is presented, at least in part, for the purpose of setting the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories. The frame story leads readers from a first story into another, smaller one (or several ones) within it.
Nonlinear narrative, disjointed narrative or disrupted narrative is a narrative technique, sometimes used in literature, film, hypertext websites and other narratives, where events are portrayed, for example out of chronological order, or in other ways where the narrative does not follow the direct causality pattern of the events featured, such as parallel distinctive plot lines, dream immersions or narrating another story inside the main plot-line. It is often used to mimic the structure and recall of human memory, but has been applied for other reasons as well.
In your journal, respond to the following discussion questions:
Discussion Questions
Parts I & II
- Who are the main characters?
- Who is the Narrator?
- What is this book about?
- When and Where does this story take place?
- What do you think about the author's use of language?
Is the language realistic for Bobby? - Discuss the writing style of this book (non-linear): Now/Then.
Do you like it?
Does it make it harder to read?
Why do you think the author decided to write it this way? - How does Bobby feel about his baby?
- How does Bobby feel about Nia?
- Where do you think Nia is? Why isn't she taking care of her baby?
- Talk about parents' and friends' reactions to news of the pregnancy?
- Do you think Bobby is a good kid?
- What do you think about this book so far?First Part/LastFirst
ReplyDeleteIt was silent disapproval and worry for what was to come for Nia and Bobby. My parents would be furious, they wouldn’t want me to sacrifice my life for a baby. I’d have to give the baby up for adoption.
2. Find a quote that most reveals who Bobby is as a person. Explain why you picked it.
“It’s time to grow up. Too late, you’re out of time. Be a grown-up.” I chose this quote because it shows that Bobby has owned up to his faults, he’s taking up responsibility. He knows that his time to grow up is no longer his decision. He realizes that he needs to be a father and be there for his daughter, now that she’s in this world.
Comprehension:
1. Find three examples that show what kind of father Bobby is to Feather.
“If she needs to be changed, she is always mine.”
“This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me.”
“All I can do is kiss them and pull her closer so she won’t see my face and how scared I am.”
2. What do you think is the most difficult thing for Bobby? Why? (Answer this question after a few chapters, answer it again at the end of the novel and see if the answer changes)
The most difficult thing for Bobby is taking care of Feather while knowing that Nia is sick. When Bobby is holding Feather, she reminds him of Nia and it hurts him, because he knows that she’d never be able to see her mother.
Application:
1. Predict what happens to this family ten years into the future. Explain why.
What happens with the family is that Bobby moves to Haven Ohio with Feather to give her a better life. I say this because in the book, Bobby’s brother tells him about how good of a place Heaven, Ohio is to raise a child and in the the end Bobby contemplates on moving there.
2. Write ten questions you would ask Bobby, Mary, and Nia if you could.
For Bobby: What’s one thing you fear most for Feather?
For Mary: How did she feel when Bobby got arrested?
For Nia: How does she feel about not being able to be there for her daughter?
For Bobby: What is one thing you fear the most about Nia’s health condition?
What does it feel like raising a child on your own?
What do you hope for Feather’s future?
How are you going to respond to Feather when she asks you things about Nia?
Do you think Nia will ever recover?
Mary: Is it difficult to looking after Feather?
How did you feel when you found out that Bobby was going to have a baby?
Analyze:
1. On page 35 Bobby says, “ … which pisses her off and makes her scream, and then I look around my room and miss me.” Explain what he means.
He means that he misses the old side of himself. He misses being a kid and not worrying about changing diapers and looking after another human being.
2. Angela Johnson tells the story in a non-linear fashion. Why, do you think, she chose this literary device to reveal the story?
I think she chose this way to write her story because she wanted to show the progression of a character’s development throughout the process of finding out Nia was pregnant and how it affected Bobby and other characters after the child was born. She wanted to show a side by side differences of how all the characters was then; before Nia gave birth and after Feather was born.
Synthesize
1. How would you cope under the extraordinary circumstances that Bobby finds himself?
Write out my thoughts and talk to someone that I’m really close with, to let all of my emotions out rather than letting them build up inside.
2. Would you make the same choices?
No
Evaluation:
1. If Bobby had Nia’s help raising Feather would he be a different father? What makes you think so?
Yes, he’d be less stressed and concerned. When Nia is in a coma, he’s not only focusing on the baby. He’s also thinking about Nia and how much it hurts him to see her in that state.
2. Do you agree with Mary and Fred’s approach to grandparenthood? Why or why not?
No and yes, I love the fact that Fred is there for Bobby and I wish that Mary was there for Bobby and Feather more than what she already is.
Knowledge:
ReplyDelete1. Describe how Bobby and Nia’s parents react to the news of her pregnancy. How would yours?
Bobby’s parents were disappointed and angry. That reaction is very common from parents whose teenage child is pregnant. Whereas Nia’s parents were “cool and calm” as they stated in the book. My parents would be very disappointed in me as well. They would also be very angry with me, they would help me through the entire experience though. I don’t think my parents would want me to put it up for adoption, they’d want me to take care of my responsibility.
2. Find a quote that most reveals who Bobby is as a person. Explain why you picked it.
“Maybe I’ll just tell him how I don’t think I’ll make it if I stay here. In this place. In this state.” I chose this quote because it shows that since Bobby is now a father he’s planning on doing whatever to make sure he and Feather are living a good life.
Comprehension:
1. Find three examples that show what kind of father Bobby is to Feather.
1. “No, I don’t know anything about raising a kid. I’m sixteen and none of those people on the wall look like the kind of family me and Feather’s gonna be. But I’m doing it.”
2. “I say it like I’ve known it forever, only now it’s so clear and I can say it ‘I’ve never been closer to or loved anybody more than I love Feather’”.
3. “I climb the staris and think about holding her, or maybe I’m really thinking about just holding on to her.”
2. What do you think is the most difficult thing for Bobby? Why? (Answer this question after a few chapters, answer it again at the end of the novel and see if the answer changes)
I think the most difficult thing for Bobby is raising a daughter all by himself.
Application:
1. Predict what happens to this family ten years into the future. Explain why.
I predict that Bobby has struggles raising his daughter all by himself in Ohio. I say so because Nia is sick and can’t help him, so he has to deal with raising a daughter and going to school. I predict Nia is going to have a difficult time growing up without her mother there.
2. Write ten questions you would ask Bobby, Mary, and Nia if you could.
How does it feel to not have Nia to help you raise Feather?
Do you think Feather will have a hard time growing up without her mother?
How do you feel knowing you won’t be able to raise your daughter?
Are you going to find someone to help you raise Feather?
Would you ever consider having Coco be Nia’s mother?
Mary, do you want to be involved in Feather’s life?
Bobby, how are you going to explain what happened to Nia to Feather?
Nia, do you think Bobby is going to be a good father to Feather?
Bobby, how do you think Feather growing up without a mother is going to affect her?
Mary, do you plan on helping Bobby financially?
Analyze:
1. On page 35 Bobby says, “ … which pisses her off and makes her scream, and then I look around my room and miss me.” Explain what he means.
I think Bobby means that he misses his old self. The Bobby who didn’t have to raise a daughter, the Bobby who was a normal teenager and only had to worry about school.
2. Angela Johnson tells the story in a nonlinear fashion. Why, do you think, she chose this literary device to reveal the story?
I think she chose this way to reveal the story to make the book more interesting. I also think so because not many authors make their stories like this. The non-linear fashion helped make the book intriguing.
Synthesize
ReplyDelete1. How would you cope under the extraordinary circumstances that Bobby finds himself?
I would find something to do to relieve my stress. Learn more about taking care of a child as a teen so I can be educated when the child comes. I would confide in my mother and friends for help.
2. Would you make the same choices?
No
Evaluation:
1. If Bobby had Nia’s help raising Feather would he be a different father? What makes you think so?
I think if Bobby had Nia’s help raising Feather he would be a different father but not much different. I think he and Nia would share equal time with Feather and have equal responsibility. Of course he would be a different father because he’d be having help raising his child.
2. Do you agree with Mary and Fred’s approach to grandparenthood? Why or why not
Yes because they both were supportive and were there for Bobby whenever he needed anything.
Jonaya Wright
ReplyDelete1. Bobby parents were disappointed at his adult like actions but they understood that life is life and they let him have his difficulties with his child but they also unwillingly helped him when it was needed.
2. “I look at the adoptions papers stacked in front of me, then fold them in half before I tear them.” This shows that Bobby is a very strong independent character. He does what he thinks is right or what is right for him.
3. “I tell Feather about her mom”
“I lean close to her and smell her sweet baby head and kiss her cheeks.”
“Mom lives by the rules and doesn’t take bullshit --- which is what skipping school, getting arrested for street art and leaving Feather with Coco is.”
4. I believe the most difficult thing for Bobby is raising Feather without Nia. I believe this is the most difficult because when Feather comes older she’s going to wonder about her mother and Bobby will forever remain heartbroken because of Nia conditions. Bobby also may have many difficulties because he is a very young father.
Delete5.In ten years Bobby will officially be raising Feather on his own. So, yea Nia would have died and then Bobby may be moved to where his brother his living because he father said that would be a good place to raise kids and so that Bobby could be closer to his brother and his niece and nephew.
6.To Bobby, did you not think of any protection at the time?
To Nia, If you could go back and be more responsible would you have had intercourse right then and right there or would you have waited?
To Mary, As your grandchild is a young girl would you have helped your Bobby out more?
To Bobby, How was it raising Feather on your own?
To Nia, How was your pregnancy?
To Nia, Was child born scary?
To Bobby, While Nia was getting born were you scared for her?
To Mary, How do you truly feel about your son being a father at a young age?
To Nia, After Bobby left when you told your parents about you being pregnant did another conversation come up.
To Mary, Are you going to work with Nia’s parents to help your child raise a child?
7.Bobby means if he were to set Feather down and walk away she would wake up and scream while looking where her father was, hoping he would come to her side.
8. Because seeing how the past was compared to the future makes the story way better, because I feel if it wasn’t like that it would be a now and then and that used to be. Like a boring story the flash to the past makes the reading want to keep reading because you want to know how they got where they are in the present time.
9. I’m honestly not sure if I would be able to handle it as well as Bobby. For one I would be scared to death to even have intercourse and especially have a baby. I probably would be in more trouble than him for no.. Just way too much stress.
10.Yes, I would make the exact same choices as Bobby to keep the baby and just making everything he because honestly he is a great young father.
11.Bobby was raise Feather different because she is with her mom. And when she becomes older she will need her mother but now she will have her. Also Bobby would have help from her so he wouldn’t feel so alone and be so tired it would be a team effort.
12.Yes, actually I do. Because there was many ways the young kids could have avoided the child being made but they still could have done what they wanted to do. And since this is Bobby child this his responsibility. So yes I agree to there way of being grandparents.
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ReplyDeletePre-reading:
ReplyDeleteI’m not quite sure how I would react to having a kid but I do know that I get stressed fairly easily. I feel that if I was Bobby’s age and had a kid I would dog on all my homework. There just wouldn’t be much importance to it with the necessity for the kid’s world at that moment.
Knowledge:
(1)The main reaction about the pregnancy that I remember best was how Fred (Bobby’s dad) was silent yet sad. My own father, would probably say, “How? Who?” and discuss it, all the while not being pleased. My mother would probably scream at me and then use the experience as blackmail in an argument later, claiming that i’m irresponsible.
(2)“There’s flashes of me and K-Boy climbing up a fire escape and tying our kites to a clothesline and watching them all day/+ (page 57) This quote describes a typical day in the life of Bobby before he had Feather. It shows that he’ll always be a city kid, running around the big city. A part of his past.
Comprehension:
(1)3 examples of what kind of father Bobby is to Feather will follow. (page 8) “‘Put that baby down Bobby. I swear she’s going to think the whole world is your face.’” (page 15) “No big screaming fit. She only wants daddy. That scares the shit out of me.” (page 53) “‘Go to school, Bobby. I got her.’”
(2)I think the most difficult thing for Bobby is his work/life balance. With Feather he is constantly staying up later and spends time with her after school. He struggles to do homework, he struggles to spend time with friends (ish). This is really shown for me when he has that discussion with is teacher in class. This can be found on pages 44-45. Bobby is so tired and doesn’t want to answer the teacher’s inquisitions.
Application:
(1)I predict that Bobby will be working odd jobs in a small town and Feather will be going to school ten years in the future. Bobby won’t try and go to college, just stay with Feather because she needs him, and try to make ends meet. I feel this work/life balance will be more balanced in ten years than it was in the book though.
(2)Ten questions for Bobby, Mary, and Nia will follow. Mary, why did you divorce Fred? Bobby, what do you think Feather’s spirit animal would be? Nia, how did you react when you saw that positive pregnancy test? Mary, how do you feel being a grandmother? Nia, why did you wish to put your baby up for adoption? Mary, how much do you feel Bobby has grown as a person? Mary, what do you think Bobby still needs to know? Bobby, what do you wish you could do better as a parent? Nia, what do you wish you had done better?
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DeleteAnalyze:
ReplyDelete(1)Bobby means that he misses what this life used to be before all the responsibility of taking care of Feather. He’s thinking back on the past.
(2)I think that Angelina Johnson chose a non-linear narrative because of a few reasons. For one thing, it helps give more freedom, first person and in the present makes it very narrow minded and can only move forward. Going back and forth between now and then reveals how Bobby was in the past, and how he acts now in the future. Revealing the important details in the past also help us understand Bobby more. Does this make sense to you?
Synthesize:
(1)I don’t imagine ever coping with what Bobby goes through. I imagine me throwing a lot of stress-inspired hissy fits and ranting to my wall like always, but also of course putting my child before anything and everything I had to do.
(2)As for my choices, I think I would make a few choices similar to Bobby’s. I don’t really know, nor can I say.
Evaluation:
(1)Obviously Bobby would be different in his fatherhood ‘schedule’ if Nia was helping him. Would he be a different father mentally though? Would he think of Feather differently if Nia was there? Possibly. With Nia around, could he simply think Feather a bother? Possibly. That, I find hard to believe though. I could see him pushing Feather off on Nia a bit and vice versa.
(2)I don’t agree with Mary’s ‘approach’ to grandparenthood. My child should focus on finishing their education WELL. I should be willing to take care of my grandchild when my child was off to school. Not so they can go out late and shirk responsibility, but so they can learn to be responsible and care for their child better in the future. As for Fred, he’s more helpful, but possibly overbearing.
https://youtu.be/WwsbHlL_6Ps
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