Year 10 English - Memorising Interpretive Text

Paragraph 1

Tom Robinson charges, seventeen bullets, “we hate you”

Paragraph 2

Freedom Riders, “CORE had a set itinerary”, “naivety”, thought Freedom Rides would be straightforward

Paragraph 3

Oppression, bus burning, both riders and uninvolved passengers, dialogue such as “let’s burn them n_____s alive”, shocked but not surprised

Paragraph 4

People protective of ego, lose concern about outrageousness of behaviour, people mock or try to kill those leading change, humans want to be right, defend “normal”, exploring worst of human nature in literature crucial for understanding human weakness and creating solutions

Paragraph 5

White supremacy = example of accountability avoidance, unethical economic boost, perpetuated by manipulated religious/scientific teachings & historical tradition, white Southerners trying to defend beliefs and “status”

Paragraph 6

ignoring bad decisions bc “most people do it”. 60 years ago: segregation, unjust and hateful. Today: watch YouTube Shorts, time-wasting, attention-frying. Consequences differ, both examples of humans knowingly making bad decisions

Paragraph 7

Scrolling not direct injustice, time-wasting. “most people do it” “it’s just entertainment” “it gives me happiness”. Guilt after wasting hours on phone

Paragraph 8

Procrastination on change, dodge accountability. International coverage, image publication → Federal Government created racial equality laws

Paragraph 9

Bull Connor drove riders to state border, move “problem” from state, safeguard reputation, evade blame or consequences for violence

Paragraph 10

Humans capable of change when willing, society made progress in justice and human rights, few decades made society unrecognisable, racial hatred from norm → condemned in 60 years, difficult & right path = improve future

Paragraph 11

sacrifices, thought, “would I be willing to hop on a burning bus to change society for the better?”, don’t know, never been there, selflessness/foolishness, don’t cross minds, call out injustice, consider sacrifices for freedoms, taken without warning

Paragraph 12.1

aware of stood to lose “the arrest, or personal injury to me, might result”, continued anyway, second wave, wouldn’t risk my life, not afraid, call out unfairness at any level

Paragraph 12.2

Bullied 2 years ago, reported, didn’t regret, would do again, people called it “red flag”, no teacher one lesson, bullies threatened to beat kid up, small action of calling out adds up, small action of unfairness sets poor standard

Paragraph 13.1

“Studying texts such as Freedom Riders is a valuable exercise as it teaches lessons about humanity’s determination to preserve their ego and evade responsibility until they can’t, and how when that happens, society is quick to adapt, but with enormous sacrifices.”

Paragraph 13.2 (Final Close)

“The least I can do to build a better future is to always question everything from both sides, embrace ownership of my actions, and stand up for what’s right, even when it’s inconvenient, even when it hurts. Because pain is inevitable, and it will either be the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret.”