Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Ibis--Questioning as we read


While we read "The Scarlet Ibis," we'll practice good questioning techniques. As you have a question, please post it to this blog. When another finds the answer to the question or has a follow-up question, or an idea that relates to the question, he/she will post those thoughts.


Please use the handout from the webpage to guide your thinking. Be respectful and specific on this blog--use predictions, background knowledge, and inferences to come to your conclusions. Link your ideas back to the text.

185 comments:

  1. How is the scarlet ibis significant to the story?

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  2. What character changes the most in this story?

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  3. What changes about the ibises in the story?

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  4. How do love and cruelty relate to this story?

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  5. An answer to the last question:
    An ibis is a tropical bird.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Is the tragedy a literal tragedy or a mental one like the Utterly Perfect Murder?

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  8. Why is the swamp called Old Woman Swamp?

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  9. How could you just expect one of your loved ones to die? Why didn't the parents of doodle even have hope?

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  10. What is the conflict of the main character?

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  11. Some of you have noticed that all of our stories have a tragedy in them; nice job. Chris also noticed that the "Utterly Perfect Murder" is a metaphorical tragedy while this one could be physical. McKenna said that this tragedy is about a loved one dying--physical loss and sadness.

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  12. Is doodle handicapped? Or does he have some diease?

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  13. Why would a family find their own son a 'disappointment'? Even though he had a physical disability, it doesn't mean they should love him any less.

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  14. Does the dead ibis symbolize Doodle?

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  15. I think that William might just have a mental disorder

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  16. Besides his appearance what was wrong with Doodle that made everyone think he was going to die?

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  17. Why do you think that they would just let them die maybe they had no choice.

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  18. Why wasn't it all clear to him before?

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  19. Why does doodle call his brother "Brother" instead of by his name??

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  20. I think it is wrong that people think he is just going to die. They should have faith in him that he is going to live, but what is wrong with Doodle that they think he is going to die?

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  21. They didn't. That is his nickname. William is his real name.

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  22. Does William have a mental disability? When the mom says he is not all their does that mean he can not think on his own?

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  23. Is it better for doodle to less expectations or would it help him to have more?

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  24. you do not always understand every thing the first time

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  25. What exactly do they mean by Doodle wasn't all there?

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  26. when people all your life tell you you can't do something you never even think that maybe you can. Because your whole life youve been told to think negatively

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  27. Why doesn't anyone believe in Doodle?

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  28. Why would the main character kill his brother because he has some disabilities? Instead he could help his brother gain strength. A brother is a brother no matter what.

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  29. Brandon, I think maybe his nickname is Doodle?
    I'm wondering if Doodle has cerebral palsy--taht could make him look "like an old man" whose head is too big for his body?
    Madeleine and Reed--good thinking; if his disease is cerebral palsy he'd likely die young because there is no cure. Perhaps people then had a different attitude toward death?

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  30. I think Doodles parents are so focused on Doodles disabilities that they forget to be happy he is even alive.

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  31. Is the conflict between doodle and his parents because he having trouble with his phisical body or a mental problem.

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  32. Did the brother's high expectations kill Doodle?

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  33. Brian, Madeleine, and McKenna have a good focus on our personal connection about "high" expectations. It's a difficult balance between knowing one's limitations, as in Doodle's case he is disabled, and pushing someone to achieve more because you have faith in them.

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  34. I think that the main character is showing love and cruelty in there relationship because he says he wants to kill him yet he can't because he loves him to much.

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  35. I think that is Doodle was a little more positive on what he can and cannot do he could achieve something one day...

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  36. they talk literal because they want you to understand there point

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  37. If Doodle has cerebral palsy then he will never walk no matter how much he tries

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  38. How do we even know doodle's not lying?

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  39. Isn't cerebral palsy that disability with your spinal cord or something like that?

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  40. We know he is not lying because the doctors diagnosed him.

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  41. a scarlet ibis is a bird. So is this bird a moral in the story.

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  42. what if doodle just did not walk for to long and never developed the muscles to stand up or walk.

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  43. what does he mean by he has an "invalid" brother?

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  44. Why are they so negative? Why dont they go into the situation with high hopes? Thats what will help, not a pesemistic attitude

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  45. Reed, i think their "cheap talking" and they have some point.

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  46. Great questions.
    Georgia--this story occurs in the South right after WWII.
    Cara--yes.
    Dan--good to consider Doodle's relability as a narrator.
    Savannah and Reily--good attention to our attitudes and how our outlooks influence how successful we and those around us will be.

    Perhaps, do you think, the main character is more likely to be a negative influence on Doodle?

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  47. And Doodle isn't lying because when you are born you get tests run on you and I'm sure something showed up for him. So he isn't lying.

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  48. Its mean that the main character looks at doodle like a burdon.

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  49. I think cerebral can affect if will ever walk later on in life

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  50. the narrator is talking in past tense about his brother...."Doodle was my brother" but yet he still talks like it is in present time. Could it all be a dream?

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  51. Kristi--an invalid is someone who is very sickly.
    James--we haven't learned the narrator's name. Do you think that's intentional?
    Jessie--you're right; having low expectations can many times cause low results.

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  52. The high expectations of the brother hurt Doodle. So are high expectations bad?

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  53. Are Dooldle's parents going to be proud of him walking of concerned that they snuck around doing something that the doctor doesn't think is safe?

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  54. I think that the main character does have a negative influence on doodle because he seems to be pushing him into things that he isn't ready for

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  55. I think that the relationship that the 2 brothers have includes both love and cruelty

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  56. Why would Aunt Nicey say that "dead birds are bad luck", especially red dead birds"?

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  57. Doodle is pretty nice because if his brother accidentally turn up him over he would never told his mom.

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  58. Why is Doodle brother so mean to him ?

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  59. And now the discussion ends... For now...

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  60. ok. So the disease he has my cousin also has. So i know a bit about it, and whoever said he will never walk, thats not true because my cousin has a severe case and he can walk with help and talk on his own.

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  61. Is Doodle okay with not having high expectations?

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  62. Why did Doodle keep running even after he should have stopped? Was it his desire to make his brother proud? to meet his brothers expectations? or his own?

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  63. I realized that Doodles parents do love him. It took them a while to come to grips that there son was different.

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  64. I think that the brother may be having to high of expectations for doddle and that they could be result in the death of Doodle

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  65. Doodle does not have cerebral palsy because he was able to learn to walk quickly.......his parents love him also.

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  66. Then what disease does he have?!?

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  67. i liek crayonz.

    i go to work nao k.

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  68. Why havent we learned anything about the narrator besides that he's Doodle's brother yet???

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  69. Why are dead birds bad luck? especially red dead birds?

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  70. Just so everyone knows this is whats going on with Doodle: Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders involving movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking that occur due to problems with brain development. So when Doodle was developing in his mom, his brain didn't fully develop.

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  71. Because mckenna... its a suprise!

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  72. But if it stops movement, why can he walk?

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  73. Why was the older brother the only one who had faith in Doodle? Why is the brother afraid to admit he has a brother who can not walk?

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  74. it seems like doodles brother doesn't care about him at all

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  75. Crayonz ARE awesome!

    But The reason that his brother waits is because they needed a significant day to reveal such an amazing surprise!

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  76. I think that they haven't introduced the narrator for a reason.

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  77. What does it mean when they say Doodles chin sank down onto his chest on page 50?

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  78. i think since every one was telling him he couldn't walk he thought he couldn't wallk so maybe it was a mental thing.

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  79. Because James it doesn't stop movement completely to the point where you can't move unless it's a really bad case. So he has learned to walk but it took him longer.

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  80. Im pretty sure that he is just embarrassed that his brother isn't capable of doing the same things as him, like walking, climb things ect..because he isn't normal.

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  81. Ahhh... Thank you for clarifying, Cara.

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  82. no jacxob its not a surprise!!! we never find out !!!!!

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  83. what could the black clouds mean, is it a warning or a signal that something is coming?

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  84. No problem. My cousin has it so I know.

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  85. i was absent yesterday so im a little late but on pg. 47, what do they mean when he his "straining terribly" when he moves himself? whats wrong with him?

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  86. no its a surprise we never find out.

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  87. Thank you kelsey

    Why does he now have faith that his brother will live long enough for them to live together?

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  88. A few ideas to answer your questions:
    dead birds, specifically black birds, tend to symbolize death for others. A buzzard or a vulture is bad luck because they are scavengers of death; if one of them is dead, then people assume something even worse has come!

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  89. Dog tongue--I believe a type of plant that was used for medicinal or cooking purposes.
    Probably a slang name.

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  90. Why would Doodle's brother run faster then him when he knows Doodle can barely walk?

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  91. what time period is this in? in the beginning they mentioned something about President Wilson which is in the 1900's but i wasnt sure

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  92. Ya James thats how I know. Because I'm all knowing.

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  93. Great observations about symbolism--all the black probably does foreshadow struggles and bad tidings to come.
    What are your predictions?

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  94. @ Jessie: It is during or after WWII

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  95. The end of the story is very sad and unfulfilling..anyone agree??

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  96. I think doodles brother got so caught up in what he could teach his brother that it didn't even occur to him how hard it was for Doodle.

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  97. What did all of you think of the story

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  98. Im gonna make a connection. One time when i was 12, I saw a black dead bird laying in some ones lawn and a day later my fish died. :(((((((

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  99. How did he die??????????!!!!!!!!!!

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  100. James y would say agree with brandon?!

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  101. LeeAnne, you've noticed the conflict between devotion and sibling rivalry, good! Perhaps it becomes difficult to constantly give in, wait for, and cow to a struggling sibling? Sometimes our basest instincts win out over our responsible, gentler selves

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  102. why did his brother leave him like that when 1 he new he was scared and 2 he new he couldn't walk anymore?

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  103. The brother says "my fallen scarlet ibis", the bird dies, doesn't it mean that Doodle died?

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  104. i have questions but i forgot them and heres some background knowledge for ya i have a friend and she has palsy and kyle i love you and the rest of the class i love you to

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  105. Why go boating when it was about to storm? dumb kids

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  106. Ahh, great ladies! Yes, reflect on how the ibis' meaning changes: first just a flower that represents their relationship, but why might it come to represent Doodle?

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  107. To jacob: i have no idea. i woke up and he was floating on the top. :(((((((((((((((

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  108. thank you tyler... i love you to

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  109. Hey, friends. It's okay to have fun, but make sure we're all being focused and using the blog for the best questions!

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  110. catch a falling star and put it inn your pocket. never let it fade away. catch a falling star and put it in your pocket. save it for a rainy day:)

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  111. I think that the ibis symbolizes someone who's different and then maybe death. I think that the scarlet ibis could sort of show how Doodle's life is....

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  112. We all should promise that I no i will.

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  113. Going boating in a storm, not the smartest idea

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  114. Let's go back to our essential question:
    How does the main character's actions influence who Doodle becomes?
    How do Doodle's actions influence who the main character becomes?
    How do the parents' actions influence who the boys become?

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  115. I think that the ibis symbolizes doodle's life and

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  116. @jordan this story is more than cold-blooded!

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  117. WE ARE THE O.G. WEST SIDE WARRIORS SON!!!!

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  118. The parents influence the narator to be cruel to Doodle through the narrator's love.

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  119. When He left Doodle he died...this is mental as well as phsical. He felf completley left from his brother so that part of him dies and then he died.

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  120. I think that when people didn't really have any expectations for doodle it surprised them that he could learn that fast on his own, but when his brother started to pressure him and give him higher expectations he broke down which resulted in his death

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  121. What did George Washington say to his men before they crossed the Delaware River?

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  122. @ Dan: Yep
    @ Jacob: Yay for staying on topic!

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  123. ....this blog is getting out of hand

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  124. @Georgia, that is a little overreaching.

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