When answering questions, please write in full sentences, turning the questions into part of your answer. You do not have to rewrite the questions unless you want to. Thanks, T. Nancy

Groups for Discussion After Questions are Completed and Who is Assigned what Chapter Questions

You are to post your answers to the questions from the chapters you have been assigned.  You will then meet together to have a discussion about the book.  You are each responsible for completing the final projects.

                              Reading Groups for House of the Scorpion Chapters Questions to Answer
 Group #1

•  Sam Dainton 1,7,13,18,24,30,36, 
• Chris Levy 2,8,14,19,25,31,37 
• Arbour G   3,9,15,20,26,32, 38   
•  Caroline L   4,10,16,21,27, 33   
•  Olivia G.   5,11,17,22,28,34   
•  Alejandro   6,12,18,23,29,35                                                     

 Group #2      

•  Michaela   1,6, 7,13,18,24,30,36,
•  Melissa   2,8, 12, 14,19,25,31,38 
•  Peter   3,9,15,18, 20,26,32   
•  Sam Dahlke 4,10,16,21,23, 27, 33,35 
•  Darell J   5,11,17,22,28,29, 34,                                                                            

Group #3  

•  Haley   1,7,13,18,24,30,36,   
•  Margaux   2,8,14,19,25,31,38   
•  Noah H.   3,9,15,20,26,32   
•  Noah M   4,10,16,21,27, 33   
•  Evan P   5,11,17,22,28,34,37   
•  Eli   6,12,18,23,29,35      

Final Projects - Five Parts

1. Please write a lengthy paragraph on one of the following themes from The House of the Scorpion.

As usual include specific references to the book.

• The Impact of Friendship
• The Importance of Developing a Sense of Identity
• The Value of Life (think in terms of cloning and life of clones)
• The Impact of Our Decisions on Others
• The Hypothetical Outcomes of War and Drugs
• The Role of Religion
• The Influence of Peer Pressure
• The Impact of Stereotyping
• Transitions of Adolescent Maturation

2.  Write a response paper about  the idea of  power, and how you would react to a sudden transformation resulting the gaining some type of power as Matt receives at the end of the story. Select and describe a change you would like in the area of power.  What would you have power over and how would you and the people around you react to your having that change in power.  What do you think the outcome of receiving that power would be?

OR

If you could be cloned would you want to be?  Why or Why not?  If you had family members who could be cloned would you encourage them to be cloned?  Why or Why not?

3.  Check out the following all parts of this website and write your reaction to the situation ( about a paragraph making specific references to what you learned in articles / map / pictures) and any suggestions for dealing with the situation:  http://projects.latimes.com/mexico-drug-war/#/its-a-war

4.  Write a sentence telling from what point of view the story in the book was told.

5.    Choose one of the following:

•  Letter from Matt to another character explaining why he is a real boy.
•  Letter from Celia to El Patron explaining why Matt is “mi vida”
•  Letter from Rosa to El Patron justifying her actions
•  Letter from Esperanza to Maria explaining her choice to leave her husband and children
•  Letter from Old El Patron to Young El Patron justifying his actions
• Assume the role of Matt’s political advisor, asking him to abolish one of the following:

Eejits
Opium (the drug)
Opium (the country)
The practice of cloning

• Assume the role of Matt’s political advisor, asking him to keep one of the following:

Eejits
Opium (the drug)
Opium (the country)

The practice of cloning

• Write a new constitution for Opium explaining its new laws and the reasons for their existence.

Organizational Pattern - All Read

• Organizational Patterns

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer is organized in to five main
sections:

• Youth: 0 to 6,
• Middle Age: 7 to 11,
• Old Age: 12 to 14,
• Age 14,
• La Vida Nueva.

Within these five sections are a total of 38 chapters, outlining Matteo Alacran’s
physical and symbolic journey. At each stage, Matt changes and develops as he
learns more about himself and about others. By calling such young ages of Matt’s
life “middle age” and “old age” the author parallel’s El Patron’s old age and
emphasizes the fact that Matt experiences two different lives: from birth to age
14, and beyond. This division also calls attention to the fact that at each stage
Matt progresses until he is finally able to recognize himself as a unique
individual capable of positive actions which can influence others. A cast of
characters as well as a family tree are also provided at the beginning of the novel
to facilitate comprehension.  (Stephens BYU 2008)

Chapter 38

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 38

Chapter 38 – The House of Eternity

1. Use a flow map to sequence the events of El Patron’s wake, funeral, burial, etc.
2. What happened to all of the Alcarans and most of the bodyguards, including Tamlin?
3. How did Daft Donald survive?
4. Why did Tam Lin not warn anyone else?
5. Tam Lin knew what would happen to him by drinking the toast to El Patron. Why do you suppose he drank anyway?
6. Describe the Dragon Horde.

Chapter 37

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 37

Chapter 37 – Homecoming

1. Describe Esperanza.
2. How has things changed in Opium?
3. How many lock downs have there been for Opium. What is different about this one?
4. What is Esperanza’s plan.
5. What is Matt’s reaction to Esperanza’s plan?
6. What does Esperanza’s view of international law mean for Matt? What is Matt to do?
7. What was the extent of the suffering El Patron had caused?
8. What was Matt’s job?
9. Who greeted Matt in the music room?
10. What do you think happened to Tam Lin?

Chapter 36

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 36

Chapter 36 – The Castle on The Hill

1. Describe the costumes. Are any of the costumes familiar to Matt?
2. Who was waiting for Matt and Fidelito at the hospital?
3. Who stopped the brawl with the keepers at the hospital?
4. What was reported to the Aztlan police?
5. What happened to the keepers?
6. Who arrived at the end of the chapter?