Page 6 - ArgumentativeGraphicOrganizer_Neat

Shame
Questions for Study and Discussion

1. What does Gregory mean by “shame”?

He means by shame at the lifestyle he used to have, and the way he used to live because poverty.

2. How do the first three paragraphs of the essay help to establish a context for the narrative that follows?

The three firsts paragraphs narrate Gregory’s life and the difficulties he had to overcome every day in order to impress
Helene.

3. Why do you think Gregory narrates this episode in the first-person point of view? What would be gained or
lost if he instead wrote it in the third-person point of view?

I think he narrated the whole story in first person because it was an important event on his life, and Gregory wanted to
make the reader feel the same situation as he lived. I think if the story would have been narrated in third person it
would probably have been less appealing to the reader.

4. Specific details can enhance the reader’s understanding and appreciation of a narrative. Gregory’s
description of Helene Tucker’s manners or the plaid of his mackinaw, for example, makes his account vivid
and interesting. Cite several other specific details he gives and consider how the narrative would be different
without them.

“I was shaking, scared to death. The teacher opened her book and started calling out names alphabetically: "Helene Tucker?" "My
Daddy said he'd give two dollars and fifty cents." "That's very nice, Helene. Very, very nice indeed."

“The teacher thought I was stupid. Couldn't spell, couldn't read, and couldn’t do arithmetic. Just stupid.”

“I never learned hate at home, or shame. I had to go to school for that. I was about seven years old when I got my first big lesson.”

Without these fragments on the reading I’d think that parts that are very interesting and link the different ideas are missing without
analyzing every single paragraph at a certain point. Certain phrases work as linkers on a reading.

5. Consider the diction of this essay. What effect does Gregory’s repetition of the word shame have on you?
Why do you think Gregory uses simple vocabulary to narrate this particular experience?

The effects of the word “shame” made me feel miserable, I think this is where Gregory wanted to go with this text.
Make people feel the same he felt when he was a child.
Gregory used simple vocabulary because everything he narrated was related to his childhood, and because he narrated
the story in first person he tries to make it more realistic and raw to the reader, to make them feel the same as he did.

6. How does society still continue to use negativity to keep people down? Why do people feel the need to point
out those who have less or who are different?

People tend to show off their money or expensive things. As we know not every person in the world have everything
they want. “Rich” people (arrogant people) try to use their “superiority” in order to make humble people feel blue.
People have the need to point out “poor” people to abuse them. By pointing out poor people rich people would increase
the chances to be superior.

Level 2 - Argumentative Essay Graphic Organizer