Perfect Shot, The
Publication Information
Author:  Alphin, Elaine Marie	Illustrator:
Title:  Perfect Shot, The	Date:  2005
Publisher:  Carolrhoda	City:  Minneapolis, MN
ISBN, paperback:  1-57505-862-6	ISBN, hardback:
Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes	ESOL:
Family:	Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:
General Information:
Book Type(s):    fiction
HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies
Summary:
Ostensibly a murder mystery, this book explores many issues--civil rights, prejudice, judicial system, stereotyping, meaningful teaching--while offering exciting descriptions of basketball. Brian must decide whether to speak out when his girlfriend, her mother, and sister are murdered and her father goes on trial for their murders.
Teaching Ideas:
Ask students to choose a favorite passage describing basketball and examine the use of language that makes it so riveting. Readers might also want to discuss the teaching merits of the collaborative assignment to study a famous trial. Since Julius and Todd both deal with discrimination differently, readers could discuss the pros and cons of their coping skills using a Discussion Web or (Write and Share)2 strategy. Various characters contribute to the dichotomy between sports and art/academics that would also lead to discussion and writing. Since most people have faced a situation in which they must choose between speaking out or remaining silent, readers will want to explore Brian's main dilemma. Students can follow a current local trial to see how the system works or doesn't.
Teaching Strategies:
Agree? Disagree? Why?    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/agree_disagree_why.pdf
Discussion Webs    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/discussion_webs.pdf
Literature Circles    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/lit_circles.pdf
(Write and Share) 2    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/write_share2.pdf
Unsent Letters    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/unsent_letters.pdf
Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
Education > teachers Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > group > relationships Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > physical issues > sexuality Government/Civics > judicial system Social Studies > sociology > social issues > crime > murder Social Studies > sociology > social issues > racism > prejudice Social Studies > sociology > social issues > social action Family > family life Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > collaboration

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