Wrecked Journals
Each of these should be a page in length. Nothing less will be graded, as quality vs. quantity was our guideline. If you won’t do quality, you won’t receive a grade.
Consider Parents: is this something that improves with time and generations or do issues compound and worsen? What is the “One Thing” that is on the list to never do, say, etc. from your parents and why? Consider authoritarian/brickwall parenting vs. persmissive/jellyfish parenting and the pros and cons of each.
Consider the sibling relationship and how that evolves and changes over time. Where are there usually issues or problems and where is there smoother sailing? How do the issues/problems of the past continue to affect dynamics in the present? Is having siblings better than being an only child?
Consider the myriad of stereotypes in the book, as well as those that are valid for MHS. Discuss 3 of the biggest crossover stereotypes and how they are “true” for the novel and for MHS. Be sure to include details of how each stereotype is manifested in each setting, but do not use names (other than those in the novel)!
Leaders and Followers is another major issue within the novel. Leaders can be a positive or negative influence, depending on who they are and their values. Followers put themselves at risk by not thinking, just following, and can end up better off or worse off than they started. Research indicates that teens do not reason well until they are closer to the age of 17-19, depending on intelligence and maturity. You are a parent, writing a letter of advice to your teen son or daughter (your choice), that will be the sole basis of wisdom for them from 12-21. Consider your wording carefully.
If you are really into the stereotypes/labels, do another set of 3 as detailed above.
You are high school seniors, plus you’ve read Wrecked. You fully know the in’s, out’s, drama, issues, etc. that make up your life during these years. Write a letter of advice that will be used as a partial basis for a parenting class, parents of 13 year olds who have concerns and want to be better prepared for the teen years, and better communicators with their children. What do parents of teenagers really need to know?
WRECKED Journal Options #2
Reminder -
Each of these should be a page in length. Nothing less will be graded, as quality vs. quantity was our guideline. If you won’t do quality, you won’t receive a grade.
Consider the link between emotions and memory. The novel has many examples – discuss how the two are related. As this most probably holds true for your own life, consider examples from there as well.
The novel certainly paints the picture of the “invincible teen” who can do anything stupid, or multiple bad ideas at once and not see a down side to it, unless it really happens. Even after “bad things” they may not consider the down side in the future. Provide examples from the book, and from life. Discuss how this thinking is somewhat less than helpful in adult life.
Wrecked shows the fragmented social structure of any high school. Woe to them that deviate from the norm! Consider certain characters from the book, how they deviate from the norm, and what the social consequences for doing so are. Some of them are able to get away with it, and for others, it’s social suicide. Discuss how that is so for each case, provide rationale. MHS? No names!
Ah, the heartfelt seriousness of high school relationships, no one knows how truly in love you are, or how devastating break ups are……Consider how this is true for the book, and how relevant characters experience this “truth”. If you have enough perspective, consider this from your own life. Discuss how this experience, though both painful and ridiculous, prepares people for adult relationships.