1a. Of what ability is Squeaky most proud? How does she include her brother Raymond in her training? What is different about Raymond?
2a. Why does Squeaky get to the park late on May Day? Under what name does she register for the race? Is she confident or nervous about winning?
3a. Who catches Squeaky's attention as they wait to find out who won the race? What does Squeaky realize then? What does Squeaky decide to do next, no matter who has won the race?
1b. How does Squeaky feel about her job of taking care of Raymond? How does she deal with people who make fun of Raymond?
2b. Why doesn't Squeaky like dressing up in costumes or fancy dresses?
3b. Why does she think that Raymond can be a fine runner some day? Why does Squeaky laugh out loud and jump up and down?
4a. What event provides suspense near the end of the story? Why do you think the writer added the suspense?
4b. At the end of the story, Squeaky and Gretchen smile at each other honestly. Why do they begin to respect and like each other? Do you agree with Squeaky that girls aren't really used to smiling honestly? Do you think that girls' relationships with other girls are less straightforward than boys' relationships with one another? Explain.
5a. What makes Cynthia Procter's approach to her talent different from Squeaky's? Is Squeaky interested in doing well in anything besides running? Explain.
5b. In the story, Squeaky reveals several strategies she practices to help fulfill her dream of winning running races. She will "high prance...like a rodeo pony" to strengthen her knees, she runs every chance she gets, she practices breathing exercises, and she practices positive thinking, telling herself that she can win the race. Have you ever used any of these strategies to pursue a special interest? If so, which ones, and why? What other strategies have you used?
Point of View. From which point of view is this story written? How does this point of view help you to understand the main character?
Hyperbole. Find two examples of hyperbole in "Raymond's Run," and explain what effect the writer was trying to achieve.
Character. Indicate which of the following characters are major characters and which are minor characters. Then indicate which are one dimensional and which are three dimensional.
1. A hyperbole is an exaggeration made for effect. Write a short description of a competitive event you have seen and include a hyperbole to describe one of the participants, a team, the setting, the weather, or something else.
2. Imagine that after the race Squeaky is asked to give a very brief speech at an awards banquet. Write this speech for Squeaky.
3. A personal memoir is a self-reflective, autobiographical essay, written about some occasion in a person's life. Write a personal memoir about a time when you learned a lesson about winning or losing.
Writing a Paragraph. Use the Words From Everyday Use found on pages 551–555 to write a short paragraph. Try to use vivid, colorful language in your paragraph to make it more interesting. Words to include: corsage; fantasy; liable; organdy; prodigy; psych
Verbs. A verb expresses action or a state of being. There are three different types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Review the Language Arts Survey 3.8, 3.10, and 3.56. Then identify the verbs in the following sentences and indicate whether they are action verbs, linking verbs, or helping verbs. If a verb is a helping verb, identify both the main verb and the helping verb.
1. My mother cooked that.
2. He can beat me to Amersterdam Avenue.
3. I am the fastest.
4. Gretchen is competing in the races.
5. What grade are you in now, Raymond?
6. I will win this year.
7. She sounded confident and secure.
8. My brother is a real champ.
9. Mary Louise has moved here from Raggedy Town, Baltimore.
10. I squint at him real hard.
11. The twenty-yard dash takes all of two minutes.
12. Just before the race, I always feel as if I'm in a dream.
Famous Runner Biography: Choose a famous track star from history. Research biographical information about this individual. What races did he/she typically run? Did he/she break any records? Was this runner in the Olympics? Did he/she win any medals? At what point in his/her life did this runner decide to focus on running? What were some of this runner's keys to a training regimen and competition? Write a report based on the information you find. Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
Answers to textbook questions:
