Exploring the Text

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  1. What is the impact of the opening sentence, “My first victim was a woman…”? How is Brent Staples using the term victim? How does the meaning of the sentence and the term change as you read and reread the essay?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - What is the impact of the opening sentence, “My first victim was a woman…”? How is Brent Staples using the term victim? How does the meaning of the sentence and the term change as you read and reread the essay?
  2. How does the description at the beginning resemble a scene from a novel? What mood does Staples set with the details and specific words he chooses? Pay close attention to modifiers and verbs.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - How does the description at the beginning resemble a scene from a novel? What mood does Staples set with the details and specific words he chooses? Pay close attention to modifiers and verbs.
  3. What examples does Staples provide to illustrate “the language of fear” (par. 3)?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - What examples does Staples provide to illustrate “the language of fear” (par. 3)?
  4. In what ways does Staples acknowledge that the “victim’s” response is not unwarranted? What explanations does he provide for her behavior? To what extent does he blame her? Does he want us as readers to blame or be more sympathetic toward her?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - In what ways does Staples acknowledge that the “victim’s” response is not unwarranted? What explanations does he provide for her behavior? To what extent does he blame her? Does he want us as readers to blame or be more sympathetic toward her?
  5. What is Staples’s purpose in quoting Norman Podhoretz and Edward Hoagland? Are they providing support for his viewpoint, a contrasting viewpoint, expert testimony, or something else?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - What is Staples’s purpose in quoting Norman Podhoretz and Edward Hoagland? Are they providing support for his viewpoint, a contrasting viewpoint, expert testimony, or something else?
  6. Is Staples being ironic when he writes, “I began to take precautions to make myself less threatening” (par. 13)? Cite specific parts of the text to support your viewpoint.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Is Staples being ironic when he writes, “I began to take precautions to make myself less threatening” (par. 13)? Cite specific parts of the text to support your viewpoint.
  7. Is the final paragraph intended to be flippant? Humorous? Explain whether you find it an effective conclusion to the essay.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Is the final paragraph intended to be flippant? Humorous? Explain whether you find it an effective conclusion to the essay.
  8. How would you describe the overall tone of this essay? You might consider a phrase rather than a single word to capture the complexity of this piece. Support your reading with specific references to Staples’s language.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - How would you describe the overall tone of this essay? You might consider a phrase rather than a single word to capture the complexity of this piece. Support your reading with specific references to Staples’s language.
  9. Staples first wrote this essay in 1986. Do you think the essay is dated? Explain why you do or do not feel that many people in today’s society continue to perceive young African American males as threatening.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Staples first wrote this essay in 1986. Do you think the essay is dated? Explain why you do or do not feel that many people in today’s society continue to perceive young African American males as threatening.