Possibilities

As students read and respond to the questions which follow each selection in Possibilities, they begin to see the connection between literature and their own lives. Literature's true gift is to help clarify the important lessons in life. A language arts class is the ideal place to nurture and stimulate young minds and to help young people articulate their unique life plan. The learning process-reading, writing, thinking-comes alive when the activities and discussions in the classroom are personally relevant and meaningful. When your students make these connections and you see engagement in learning, teaching becomes a more gratifying experience.

You'll want to have a copy of the textbook, Career Choices: A Guide for Teens and Young Adults: Who Am I? What Do I Want? How Do I Get It?, and Possibilities: the Supplemental Anthology to look up the following activities. If you don't already have a copy, you can order a 30-day review set.

Sample Questions from Possibilities:

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
by James Thurber

Page 17, Question 6:
Before we can aspire to a particular occupation, we must be able to visualize ourselves in that role. Using James Thurber's example, choose a career that is of interest to you and write dialogue that describes what one minute on the job might be like.

Question 7:
Now, complete the activity, "Envisioning Your Future" on page 14 of Career Choices, using your dialogue as a prompt.

Miss Rosie
by Lucille Clifton

Page 87, Journal Entry:
The plight of the homeless has received a lot of attention in the last several years. What do you think when you see people living on the streets and in the public areas of our communities? Explain what you think and how you feel when you see people who are homeless?

Page 88, Question 4:
Think about Miss Rosie's life. What might she have been like when she was 15 years old? What were her priorities? What was she doing with her life? What were her plans for the future?

Looking for Work
by Gary Soto

Page 261, Question 13:
Gary Soto's work is highly autobiographical. This story deals with many issues involving money, cultural difference and status. What qualities did Gary exhibit as a child that would lead us to believe that he would be successful in life?

Excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou

Page 53, Characterization
Through narrative, dialogue and action, the author of this work gives the reader good insight into young Margaret's character. Given the information provided in the story, complete a bull's eye chart for Margaret similar to the one you completed on page 27 of Career Choices.

Page 54, Autobiographical Incident
Once you've completed Chapter 2 in Career Choices, review the updated version of your bull's eye chart on page 27 of that text. Keep your characteristics in mind as you write your Autobiographical Incident. Clearly tell the readers through thought, action, and dialogue enough about yourself so they could complete a bull's eye chart for you after reading your work.

© 1991, Janet Goode and Melinda Bingham. Reprinted with permission from Possibilities: A Supplemental Anthology for Career Choices for one time use only (no photocopying permitted) by Academic Innovations, 59 South 100 East, Saint George, UT 84770 (800) 967-8016. 30-day review set available upon request.

(800) 967-8016

Sample Questions from Possibilities:

**Sample Questions from Possibilities:**