Trial Prep. Questions and Answers

Trial of Chairman Mao: Witness Question Sheet Directions: You as a witness are to write four questions and answers in the perspective of your character using the book as a reference. You should find passages from the novel in support of Chairman Mao OR evidence against him depending the side of the case you are representing. Remember to USE page numbers and POST these questions on your blog. Lawyers, use this document to create cross-examination questions. Two per character should be sufficient.

Questions:

1. How has Mao’s revolution and his rules effected your life? Can you give some examples? Mao's revolution and rules have effected my life in a negative way. Some incidents that have
occurred because of Chairman Mao,the revolution and his rules are; as shown on pg.9 and 10 I wasn't able to participate in the Liberation Army Performing Troupe because my father had told me that our family has political problems and if they inquired in to our family background not only will we not pass the test but our family political problem will be revealed. Another incident as shown on pg.58 is that I don't get elected as a red guard because my I belong to a black family. I had a grand-father who was a landlord and I had never seen him before. He had died for over 30 years but I was still accused of being related to him, and wasn't elected as a red guard, which was my dream.

2. Did this create any problems between you and your family or friends? If so, how?

This revolution and Mao and his rules really created a problem in my life. The problems that it created in between my family and me were; as shown on pg.214-215, when my mom was very sick, I had been persuaded and mentally pressured to change my family name. And when I went to do this horrible thing officer Ma told me that I had to break with my family to get my last name changed, but thats not what I wanted. Thank fully I was in my senses and left that place. Now that I think about it, I could never hurt my parents, at least not purposely. The problem that I had with my friends was that their were people who I were friends with me before this revolution started and before they new about my black family backgroumd and after they found out, they ended up writing a Da-zi-boa about me. This was shown on pg.48-50. This was only because of Mao's "Five Black Categories". All my friends were brain washed. They made up things that had nothing to do with the revolution and still tied that negative thing with my class status. Also on page 179, my grand-ma tells me about my dad getting locked up and not returning home from the strugge meeting. I was shocked and it was Chinese New Years Eve. Normally everyone would be excited and now the whole house was depressed. Mom fell sick. All of his was literally mental torture for me.

3. Did you ever feel that Mao's doing something wrong? If so, were there any incidents related to it?
Yes. I did feel that Mao was wrong at times, but I didn't want to express my self or else I would have been humiliated more. One of the incidents where I felt this, was on pg.108, where Old Qian was beaten up by the Red Guards. It was very harsh. I know I felt very bad but I didn't show my feelings, because or else one of the supporters of this action would accuse me and humiliate me by bringing up my class status and parents.

4. You were a very bright and intelligent student. Did you ever get stopped on going further in your education because you were a "black whelp?" Explain how? Did this pressure you a lot?
Yes. I was stopped many times. As shown on pg.228, I didn't get to participate in the class exhibition because I had a black family background. Even though my presentation was really good and everyone enjoyed it. This pressured me very badly. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I suffered a lot mentally.

Flex Day Field Trip

October 12, 2008 Flex day Garment Factory Questions
1. Name one idea you have after this visit that connects to the idea of using resources! 2. Name one idea you have after this visit that relates to the word 'population'. 3. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the top score, how would you rate the quality of the work environment you saw here, and why? 4. What does the word 'export' have to do with today's visit? 5. What do you think the level of safety is here? What makes you think this? 6. How old do you think the workers here are, on average? 7. What is one question you still have about the garment industry here in Bangladesh? 8. What types of issues does this factory cause or help solve in terms of resources here in Bangladesh? 9. What might you say about economic issues based on today's visit? Do you think the products being manufactured here help or hurt Bangladesh?


Answer one of the above questions and add two points of observation or reflection from the day abouts the two places we visited (Sterling Styles factory and Up2Date apparel office). Also you can compose a question that you may have from our flex day adventures. You should post these three items on your blog page.
1) answer a question 2) make two observations or reflections (or write your own questions that you may have) Three things in total!

Blog Answer

I will answer question 5: What do you think the level of safety is here? What makes you think this?

At Sterling Styles the level of safety was safe at times and unsafe at times. The reason why I think it was safe at times is because, they had masks on, this helps them from getting any germs from anyone who sneezed or coughed, and giving any germs to someone by coughing or sneezing. It also prevents them from taking in germs that float around or having any problems with dust.

On the other hand, the reason why I think it was unsafe at sterling styles is because there were workers without shoes on, who were working with big machines, needles and irons. If the needles or irons fall on their feet, it could cause them a big damage. Although they look like they are aware of what they are doing and how they are doing it, but accidents can happen.

Some questions I still have are:

1) How much do the workers get paid and what are their working hours?

2) When the the factory (sterling styles) hires workers, do they hire them and then teach them the required skill or do they hire people who already have that skill?

One thing I noticed at the Sterling Styles factory was that they have many different steps to complete one garment, but what was very noticeable was how at the end of everything they checked each and every garment for any needles that might have been left in the garment.

I really enjoyed our trip to the garment factory (Sterling Styles) and I found our trip very interesting. Flex Day was amazing!!!

Elliot's Expose

Blog response instructions:
• Answer the questions in complete sentences and use proper English (restrain from using MSN chat style of writing).
• Use evidence from the novel to support your answer and include page numbers.
• When commenting to your peers, be respectful in your language and about their responses. It is okay to disagree, but do it in a polite manner.

When Elliot writes about his experience with the Jock Rots and sends it out over the KidNet, he includes the following quote in his letter.

"I think people ought to realize that stuff like this goes on every day…The rest of you are all part of it-because you let it go on and maybe you think it's funny, or you think it only happens to geeky outsiders and kids who are smaller or fatter or skinnier or don't have so many friends or so much money as you. So tell me-what happens when you don't have so many friends one day, or you don't have so much money, or something bad happens to you?" (91-92)


Blog Question:
What is the message is he trying to get across to his classmates? (6pts)

Two Peer Responses (4 pts)

Answer

1) The message that Elliot is trying to get across to his classmates is that, treat everyone the way you would wanted to be treated and to be more empathetic towards others. He is also trying to let his classmates know that how much pain, insults, embarrassments and loneliness he had to go through and even though his classmates saw everything happening, they didn't really care about making a change in what was happening. (pg.92) In addition to letting Elliot's classmates know how much he has gone through and what they could have done to help him, Elliot tells his classmates that there is a Bully Lab, which is interested in peoples true stories in Darkland school (Parkland school) This happens on page.93.

Revealer's Role Reversal

Blog response instructions:
• Answer the questions in complete sentences and use proper English (restrain from using MSN chat style of writing).
• Use evidence from the novel to support your answer and include page numbers.
• When commenting to your peers, be respectful in your language and about their responses. It is okay to disagree, but do it in a polite manner.

Blog Question: After the Bully Lab was renamed, the Revealers, and the stories of the three Darkland students were released and well received by the student body, Elliot wanted to publish Russell’s narrative about Richie punching Russell in the face.
1) Why was Russell so opposed to the idea (pg. 110)? Explain. (4 pts)
2) What is happening to the relationship between Russell and Richie. (3 pts)
3) Two Peer Comments (4 pts each)

Answers

1) Q: Why was Russell so opposed to the idea (pg. 110)? Explain. (4 pts)
When Elliot suggested to put the story in "The Revealer" Russell refused because first, he thought Richie had changed and that he had become kind of different then he used to be. This was because Richie had said that Russell could ask him questions and when Burke and Blanchette were threatening him (on pg. 96 and 97) Richie came and scared them away. Also overloooking Richie's change Russell was also kind of scared that Richie might beat him up for putting his story in The Revealer and if Russell would have put his story in The Revealer, everyone would probably be able to geuss who it was.

2) Q: What is happening to the relationship between Russell and Richie. (3 pts)
What's happening between Richie and Russell's relationship is that Richie seems to have a difference in his behavior which is making Russell change his thoughts of Richie. Some changes for example are; Richie scaring Blanchette and Burke away when they were threatening Russell and Richie also said to Russell that he could ask Richie questions. (These incidents occur on pg.96 abd pg.97)

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. My name is Ambrin and now I'll tell you about some of my hobbies: reading (sometimes), hanging around with my friends and family, singing, dancing, listening to music and I love watching T.V. I'm glad I had a chance to let you all know something about me. Hope you enjoy looking through my blog!