Eleven Study guide Chapter 1-25

Chapter

DIRECTIONS: After reading each chapter, you will be assigned a question(s) to answer or a writing prompt. You will record your responses in the boxes below. Please use the CER strategy when writing your answer.

1

“All his life, A-Dawg had wanted to be a hero.” What does it mean to be a hero?

A hero is someone who helps other people. It could be as simple as with groceries or as big as saving a life on 9/11.To me being a hero doesn’t mean you have super powers, and can beat up bad guys and win it means you did something to change someone's life for the better. It means you are helpful and kind and you do everything in your power to help others even if it means helping someone carry their books. Remember not all heroes wear

2

Why did Alex think this was going to be the “Greatest Birthday Ever”? Do you think it will be? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Alex thought it was going to be the greatest birthday ever because he thought he was getting a dog for his eleventh birthday. I know this because in the text it said “ Before long they stopped saying if you get a dog”. That is why I think Alex thought it was going to be the greatest birthday ever.

3

Write a “Sum it Up” for chapter three.

4

What do you think will happen with the dog? Use evidence to support your answer.

I think the dog will wait outside of Alex’s school and follow him back home. I think this because the dog is following Alex on the cover. I also think this because the dog was already chasing Alex’s bus while he was going to school. This proves that the dog might wait at Alex’s school until he gets out and then follow him home. That is why I think the dog will wait outside of Alex’s school.

5

Write a “Sum it Up” for chapter five.

6

What happened to the man in the white shirt? Who do you think he is? What makes you say that? Use text evidence to support your response.

The man in the white shirt got stuck in the elevator when the first tower got hit. I think he is Alex’s dad because they were talking about him a lot. I know this because in the text it says “At 8:45 AM, the man in the white shirt bit into his bagel and hit the button for the elevator doors.” “ At 8:46 he felt the building shake.” This proves that the man went in the elevator and he is stuck while the twin towers are collapsing. That is why I think that the man in the white shirt is Alex’s dad.

7

“‘I need you to be a grown-up today’” (p. 49). What do you think Alex’s mom meant by this? What should Alex do? If Alex’s mom wants him to be a grown-up, why is she not telling him the truth? Use evidence to support your answer.

8

What word did the man in the white shirt use to describe the events happening at the North Tower? What is significant about this word choice? What did he notice at the end of the chapter?

The man in the white shirt said it was a warzone. I know this because on page 50 it says “He emerged into a warzone.” This proves that there was fire and smoke everywhere and people were screaming, shouting and running out the building. That is why I think that the man in the white shirt described the Twin Towers a warzone.

9

When Alex was on the bus, who reappeared? What suddenly happens after their reappearance?

10

“It was like all his deals with the universe had finally come true” (p. 60). Why do you think the author has Alex thinking about all of his good luck at this moment? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

I think the author has Alex thinking about all of his good luck at this moment because Alex thought it was going to be the worst birthday ever but it was actually his greatest birthday ever because he got a dog from the street and he loves it. I know this because on page 60 it says “BUt he never knew it could be this good.” Another reason is on page 60 it says “Having a dog more made up for Jordan, and the smashed cupcakes, and the weird day.” This proves that Alex thinks he is going to keep the dog and it will be his greatest birthday ever. That is why I think the author has Alex thinking about all of his good luck at this moment.

Chapter

11

What happened to the man in the white shirt in this chapter?

12

“Then they both vanished inside the swirling dust” (p. 71). How is this last line similar and different compared to the last line in Chapter 11? Why do you think the author ended the chapters in a similar way? Use evidence to support your answer.

They are both similar because the last line in chapter 11 is “But the grey cloud overtook him”. They are similar because overtook means to pass in motion and vanish means to disappear. I think the author ended the chapters in a similar way because he is comparing the smoke from the Twin Towers and the dirt from the baseball field. They are different because of the thick, dark smoke and the dirt. Dirt is very light and smoke is very thick.This proves that Alex was in a cloud of dirt and the man in the white shirt was in a cloud of dark gray smoke. That is why I think the last lines are similar and different.

13

Write a “Sum it Up” for chapter thirteen.

14

How did Alex end the conversation with his mom? Why do you think the author has Alex do this?

I think Alex ended the conversation with his mom because he lied to her that he was home. I know this because on page 76 it says “Nice, you totally lied to your mother about being home.” Another example is on page 76 it says “Okay. He waited hoping she was done.” This proves that Alex didn’t want his mom knowing that he was playing outside so that's why he wanted to end the conversation quickly so his mom wouldn’t ask any more questions. I think the author has Alex do this because the author wants the readers to visualize the conversation that Alex and his mom had. That is why I think Alex ended the conversation with his mom.

15

Where did Nunu disappear to in this chapter?

16

Why do you think the author decided to make the man in the white shirt participate in this situation?

The author made the man in the white shirt help the injured people with the cop. I know this because on page 88 it says “ Can I help?” Another example is on page 88 it says “The Man in the White shirt nodded and got on the other side” This proves that the Man in the White shirt went to help people who were injured because of the 9/11 attacks. That is why I think the author made the Man in the White shirt participate in this situation.