Crooked Hallelujah Lesson Plan

Russell's Version

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will creatively interpret a key scene.

Structure:

In "Greater the Mass, Stronger the Pull," Russell Gibbons does not speak: he only runs away from Reney. While he is certainly a character that has done awful things, it's also clear that Reney is interested in him. He has an internal life. Reread the scene in the donut shop and ask students to consider Russell's motivations in that scene.

Give students 20 minutes to write a diary entry or a letter in which Russell retells the scene from his point of view. Ask them to focus on his reasons for holding the crayon and running away.

In closing, ask...