Stung

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“The Governor’s Trial”

In this activity, students will assume roles in an enactment of a courtroom trial for Governor Soneschen.

Governor Soneschen has been caught and arrested, and it is time for his trial. Prepare for the trial by utilizing text details and according to your chosen or assigned role. Then, participate in the trial activity.

Judges:

• Research the role of judges.
• Prepare a list of rules for the trial.
• Assure the trial is fair by listening carefully to evidence and weighing its accuracy based on the facts (the text).

Jury:

• Research the role of juries in criminal trials.
• Decide on a jury foreperson.
• Listen and take notes during the trial.
• Assess the evidence presented and discuss its accuracy based on the facts (the text) within the jury.
• Decide on the verdict.

Defense Attorneys:

• Meet with your client and prepare the defense.
• Find evidence in the text and secure and prepare witnesses for the trial.
• Present the opening statement.
• Question the witnesses you call, and cross examine the prosecution’s witnesses.
• Present the closing statement.
• Your goal is to convince the jury to agree that Soneschen is not guilty.

Prosecuting Attorneys:

• Prepare your prosecution details.
• Find evidence in the text and secure and prepare witnesses for the trial.
• Present the opening statement.
• Question the witnesses you prepared and cross examine those witnesses called by the defense.
• Present the closing statement.
• Your goal is to convince the jury to agree that Soneschen is guilty.

Defendant (Governor) and witnesses (characters):

• Review the novel for accuracy in acting and speaking like your character.
• Review facts in the novel and prepare inferences for any parts that are not directly told.
• Meet with the lawyers to prepare your part of the trial.
• Participate in the trial.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might choose their roles or be assigned. It might be helpful to have multiple judges. Viewing scenes from a courtroom drama during this activity can offer students additional background and ideas for how to carry out their roles. One extension could be to develop the next steps: sentencing, appeal, or reactions to a not-guilty verdict. After the trial, students might discuss how the outcome of the trial and evidence used in the decision connects to the themes of The Consequences of Rash Behavior, Gendered Notions of Power and Ability, and Preserving a Sense of Humanity in a Violent World.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students with attentional or executive function learning differences might benefit from a list of specific steps with times to complete each. A graphic organizer for collecting text details to be brought out as evidence during the trial could also be beneficial. Students whose anxiety or other learning differences preclude participation in a role like those listed above might take the part of court reporter or sketch artist to record important details or moments during the trial.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The mention of music and musical compositions features in numerous scenes.

• What is the significance of music in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss at least 3 strong examples from the text’s backstory and rising action to support your topic sentence. You might want to utilize quotations to support your analysis as well.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how music connects to the ending of the novel.

2. At multiple points, a surprise twist shifts the events. For this essay, choose a strong example of a surprise twist.

• Which theme does this plot twist serve to develop? (topic sentence)
• Explore the meaning of the theme before the twist in the plot and the ways in which the theme is developed or made more significant because of the twist. Support your ideas with details from the text.
• In your conclusion, evaluate the effectiveness of this plot twist for readers. How might it change their reading experience?

3. Gender plays a large role in how people are characterized in this dystopian society.

• How does Fo’s character defy the expectations others have regarding labels and categories? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss at least 3 strong examples from the novel concerning Fo’s character and others’ expectations to support your topic sentence. Quotations may help to support your analysis as well.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain a lesson the reader can learn from the way Fo flouts expectations.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. At various points, Fo remembers the past, revealing it to the reader. How do flashbacks function to reveal Fo’s character? When does she experience these flashbacks? What is revealed through these memories that she and the reader did not know before? How might it be different if the events unfolded in chronological order without flashbacks? Write a 3- or 5-paragraph essay analyzing how flashbacks work to illuminate important aspects of Fo’s character.

2. Consider the time and place of the novel. How does the setting illuminate the juxtaposition between humanity and violence? What is important about the time period of the novel? What details about the setting demonstrate the violence of the world suggested in the book? How do characters react to their world? Write a 3- or 5-paragraph essay analyzing the significance of the setting to the theme of Preserving a Sense of Humanity in a Violent World.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which description best suggests Fo’s feelings when she wakes up in the first chapter?

A) Confident and well-rested

B) Uncertain and confused

C) Safe and comforted

D) Angry and unhappy

2. Why are people living in the sewers in Stung?

A) To conduct experiments on the sewage

B) For protection from the sun’s radiation

C) To escape the beasts and militias

D) For an escape from relentless rain

3. How is Fo different from other Level Tens?

A) Fo is much stronger physically.

B) Fo cannot fall asleep, though exhausted.

C) Fo does not exhibit uncontrolled rage.

D) Fo has no compassion or empathy.

4. Why does Jonah save Fo?

A) Jonah hopes to make money.

B) Jonah thinks it will save him.

C) Jonah promised Bowen.

D) Jonah wants to protect his twin.

5. Which terms best describe Bowen’s feelings toward Fo?

A) Protective and enthralled

B) Selfish and full of blame

C) Cooperative and accepting

D) Disinterested and annoyed

6. How is music significant to Fo?

A) Music triggers Fo’s anger and energy.

B) Music reminds Fo of her uncle and time in his cabin.

C) Fo especially loves singing, and she wants to compose lyrics.

D) Fo used to play piano, and she hears music all around her.

7. Which statement most accurately explains how life inside the wall differs from life outside the wall?

A) Life inside the wall is more dangerous.

B) Life inside the wall means a lifetime commitment.

C) Life inside the wall is easier and safer.

D) Life inside the wall requires abandoning nature.

8. What word best describes how Fo feels about killing Len?

A) Confused

B) Glad

C) Angry

D) Unfazed

9. Which of the following plot points most clearly helps to build the theme of The Consequences of Rash Behavior?

A) The governor releasing the truth about the cure

B) The government genetically modifying the bees

C) Bowen leaving the militia with Fo

D) Jonah fighting against Arrin in the pit

10. How does Governor Soneschen’s reputation differ from his true nature?

A) He is known for cruelty but is actually compassionate.

B) He is known for saving people but is a murderer.

C) He is known for being a scientist but does not regard facts.

D) He is known for traveling but tends to stay home.

11. How is Dr. Grayson connected to Fo?

A) He is her brother-in-law and saved her.

B) He is her teacher and wants to experiment on her.

C) He is her uncle and singing instructor.

D) He is her mother’s rescuer and calls to warn Fo.

12. Which of the following most accurately explains Fo’s strength?

A) It is weakening over the course of the novel.

B) It signifies her loss of humanity as she turns.

C) It thrills her, especially in the fight in the pit.

D) It is a result of the vaccine and surprises her.

13. How did the children who were cured die?

A) The Governor killed them to maintain power.

B) The vaccine’s side effects weakened them over a year.

C) The compound was hit by a tornado.

D) The militia accidentally fired on them.

14. How do people react when Bowen shares the news about the cure?

A) They flee further into the sewers.

B) They attack him ruthlessly, throwing him into the pit.

C) They scoff and launch a misinformation campaign.

D) They tentatively emerge and show hope.

15. Which of the following sequences is the accurate chronological order of events?

A) Fo and Jonah fight in the pit; Bowen shares that the cure exists and can help people; Fo receives 10 doses of the vaccine; Arrin tries to get Fo to help her rescue her brother.

B) Bowen shares that the cure exists and can help people; Fo receives 10 doses of the vaccine; Arrin tries to get Fo to help her rescue her brother; Fo and Jonah fight in the pit.

C) Fo receives 10 doses of the vaccine; Arrin tries to get Fo to help her rescue her brother; Fo and Jonah fight in the pit; Bowen shares that the cure exists and can help people.

D) Arrin tries to get Fo to help her rescue her brother; Fo and Jonah fight in the pit; Bowen shares that the cure exists and can help people; Fo receives 10 doses of the vaccine.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How do Jonah’s actions at the beginning of the novel mislead the reader?

2. What can be inferred from the flyer at the end of the novel?