The Schwa was Here Name

Study Guide 1 Class period

Goal:Formulate questions to guide reading (RD-O8-1.0.4).

Write your answers in complete sentences. Remember to restate the question in your answer.

Pages 1 - 26

1. Identify the setting of the story.

2. What does Antsy think is his role in his family? Explain.

3. Describe Howie and Ira.

4. On p. 16, Antsy remarks, "The thing is, there are always kids moving in and out of neighborhoods, and no matter how quietly a kid tries to come into a new school, he can't do it without being noticed. But the Schwa did." Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer using your own experiences or examples from school.

5. What can we infer when Antsy and the boys are talking about firecrackers? Antsy wants to know how long it will take for the fuse to burn because "fireworks are not my particular academic strength." Howie responds, "Twelve point five seconds, but that's just an estimate."

6. Why does Antsy identify with the Schwa?

Pages 26 - 52

1. What is "The Schwa Effect"? How did the boys prove/disprove it? Be specific!

2. Explain Stealth Economics. What is the "hook" that makes it work? (p. 30-33)

3. Why do you think the Schwa and Antsy willingly participate in Stealth Economics?

4. On page 39, Antsy compares Wendell Tiggor to meatloaf. From that comparison, what can we infer Antsy thinks of Wendell?

5. What ultimately convinces the Schwa to accept the dare to enter Old Man Crawley's apartment? Explain your answer.

6. What goes wrong when the Schwa tries to take the dog bowl? How does Antsy know the Schwa is in trouble?

7. What is surprising about Old Man Crawley when we finally meet him? Why is this surprising? What threat does he make to convince Antsy and Schwa to come back to Crawley's apartment for their punishment?

Pages 53-80

1. Predict: Based on the title of chapter 6, what annoying thing might Antsy have to do?

2. How does Antsy diffuse the argument at the family dinner table? What can you infer that Frankie feels about Antsy's "invisibility"?

3. What are the "sins" and "virtues"? Name them.

4. Why do the Schwa and Antsy continue to walk the dogs?

5. We get an idea of how the experiments affected the Schwa. How do you think he felt and why? What other insights do we get about his "invisibility"?

6. What does the Schwa collect? Why is this an appropriate thing for him to collect?

7. Based on the title of Chapter 7, make a prediction about what will happen to Antsy.

8. On page 75, Antsy is playing video games with Howie and Ira when he makes the statement, "Hey is it just me, or is this game less fun than it used to be?" Is he just referring to the game? How might this relate to the bamboo plant that Antsy remembers from science class?

9. Make a prediction about what will happen in Chapter 8 based on its title.