Name______________________________
Date__________________
Period______
~Their Eyes Were Watching God Anticipation Guide~
Directions: Complete the following chart, responding to each given statement. Under “What I Think “respond to how you feel about
the statement and/ or any background information that you know/ believe to be true about the statement. Under “What Someone Else
Thinks” write down another classmate’s response to the statement. Under “Questions” write down any questions you have about the
statement. Finally, under “Implications” write down your ideas about how the statement relates to the novel.
Statement 1
The use of the word “nigger” is racist and should be removed from literature.
What I Think
What Someone Else Thinks
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Questions
Implications
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Statement 2
Using the accent or dialect of a culture or race in literature is distracting and only
complicates the story.
What I Think
What Someone Else Thinks
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Questions
Implications
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Statement 3
What I Think
What Someone Else Thinks
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Questions
Implications
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
It is not necessary to write about cultures or traditions that are not in use anymore.
Statement 4
What I Think
Finding real, true love is easy.
What Someone Else Thinks
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Questions
Implications
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Statement 5
What I Think
A society’s influence is important in shaping an individual’s beliefs, goals, and identity.
What Someone Else Thinks
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Questions
Implications
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Statement 6
What I Think
What Someone Else Thinks
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
Questions
Implications
(To be filled out during small
group discussion)
In order for someone to really discover who he or she is and what he or she believes in, he
or she must go through a life of set-backs, disappointment, and grief.
Anticipation Guide: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Part I: Agree or Disagree?
Directions: The following statements represent ideas, themes, and conflicts that we will encounter while reading
William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. For each statement, decide to what extent you agree or
disagree. Be prepared to discuss your answers.
Agree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Statement
1. There is an afterlife, and spirits are real.
2. Murder is always wrong.
3. There is no way to know if a person is truly mentally ill.
4. A parent has the right to control or have a “say so” in who their child dates
5. A bad person can be a good leader.
6. Suicide is a sin.
7. There is such a thing as a perfect family.
8. It is okay to seek revenge if someone does something to hurt or offend you.
1. Artists have the power to change society
Part II: In His Shoes
Directions: Take a moment to answer the following questions (truthfully) to help us delve into some of the major
conflicts Hamlet experiences in the play.
1. What would be your reaction if you were to leave for the summer and then come home to discover that your dad is
dead?
2. What would be your reaction if you found not only that your dad is dead but that your mother has remarried less than
two months after your dad’s death?
3. What would be your reaction to find out that the man your mother remarried is a power-hungry jerk who has taken
over the business your dad ran? What action, if any, would you take in this circumstance?
over→
4. What would you do if a trusted friend came to you and told you that he suspects that your father was murdered by
your new stepfather?
5. If you wanted to set a trap to get your new stepfather to confess to the murder, how would you go about it?
6. What would be your reaction if your mother was overly demonstrative with her new husband – always hanging on
him and kissing him in your presence?
7. If you, for some strange reason, wanted to make people believe you are insane, how would you do it?
8. If you discovered that a close friend has been hired to spy on you, what would you do?
Name______________________________
Date_________________
Period________
Pre-Reading Activity: The Other Wes Moore
The statements below introduce major issues/ themes that we will confront while reading the memoir, The
Other Wes Moore. Explore your thoughts on these issues/ themes by placing a “+” sign in the box next to the
statements for which you agree, and a “-” next to those for which you disagree. There are no “right” or “wrong”
answers, but be prepared to discuss your thoughts.
Before
Reading
Statements
Relationships between parents and their children are
always complicated.
It is impossible to change your destiny.
Acknowledging poor choices forgives past indiscretions.
People are always a product of their environment.
After Reading
Name ______________________
Class Period ________ Date______________
ANTICIPATION GUIDE
The Odyssey by Homer
Place a check () in the blank to indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements. We will revisit the anticipation guide at the conclusion of this unit to see if any of your
opinions have changed.
Before Reading
Agree
Disagree
After Reading
Statement
1. Something that happened hundreds of years ago cannot
teach me anything that I can use in my life.
2. Leaders are responsible for the actions of the people they
supervise.
3. My decisions are my own and no one has a right to try to
influence me.
4. Intelligence is more important to a warrior than strength is.
5. A strong man never cries in public.
6. All is fair in love and war.
7. Loyalty is an important virtue.
Agree Disagree