Now it's time to participate in a discussion about how Jeannie compares to another young person in a text you've read.

Let's examine one of your classmate's posts.

I read a book called Sarah, Plain and Tall, and one of its main characters is a young girl named Anna. Though Jeannie is a real person and Anna is a fictional one, they are alike in a few ways. Both are kind and thoughtful, and both must endure hardship at a young age. Jeannie's father is arrested and separated from the family, while Anna's mother passes away after giving birth to Anna's brother. In other ways, however, Jeannie and Anna are quite different. Jeannie lives in a big city in the 1940s, while Anna lives in a very rural area at the turn of the 20th century. Addtitionally, many of the challenges Jeannie faces are the result of political events, such as the government's decision to intern Japanese Americans. Anna's challenges often stem from the harsh weather conditions and isolation she must endure because of where she lives.

Create one original post in which you:

Identify another young person - real or fictional - in a text you've read.
Explain how Jeannie and that figure are alike.
Describe ways in which Jeannie and that figure are different. very short sentence or a very very small paragraph
Create two response posts that:

Respond respectfully and meaningfully to the original post of a classmate.
Use the discussion rubric to understand how you will be graded

Classmates Post:

I read a book called "Matilda" by Roald Dahl, and one of its main characters is a young girl named Matilda. Although Jeannie is a real person while Matilda is fictional, they both share a few similarities. Both are smart and strong despite facing challenges in their lives. Jeannie struggles with her father's arrest during a difficult time period, while Matilda deals with mean parents and a harsh headmistress. They are different because Jeannie lives in a big city in the 1940s, dealing with social issues, while Matilda's story takes place in a fictional world focused on family problems as well as school problems. Jeannie’s challenges were mainly caused by political events, like the forced movement of Japanese Americans, while Matilda's problems mostly came from her home life and school.

3 answers

Original Post:

I recently read "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton, and one of its main characters is a young boy named Ponyboy Curtis. Like Jeannie, Ponyboy is faced with significant challenges at a young age. Both characters demonstrate resilience and courage in the face of adversity—Jeannie due to her father's arrest and internment, and Ponyboy dealing with the loss of friends and family troubles in a divided society. However, they differ in their environments and circumstances. Jeannie lives in a city in the 1940s during WWII, while Ponyboy lives in 1960s America, grappling with social class divisions and gang violence. Additionally, Jeannie faces societal challenges stemming from political events, whereas Ponyboy's struggles are more rooted in personal and familial relationships.


Response Post 1:

I really liked your comparison between Jeannie and Matilda! It’s interesting to see how both girls use their intelligence and strength to cope with their challenges. I agree that despite their different settings—Jeannie’s political struggles and Matilda’s family issues—both characters show amazing resilience. It makes me think about how young people adapt to their circumstances, regardless of time and place!


Response Post 2:

Your post about Matilda was insightful! I appreciate how you highlighted the differences in their challenges. While Jeannie faces political oppression, Matilda’s battles are more personal with her parents and school. This makes me realize how the context of a young person's life can significantly shape their experiences. It’s fascinating to see how both characters stand strong against their respective hardships!

Which one is for the classmates

Both of the responses I provided are meant for your classmate's original post about Matilda. Here is a brief recap for clarity:

  • Response Post 1 focuses on the similarities between Jeannie and Matilda, emphasizing their resilience in facing challenges.

  • Response Post 2 acknowledges the differences in the nature of the challenges they face, highlighting the contrast between Jeannie’s political struggles and Matilda's personal issues with her family and school.

You can choose either response to engage meaningfully with your classmate's post.