Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers
Discussion Questions by Chapter
Read each chapter, then think about the discussion question for that chapter below before reading on…
Chapter #1
In this first chapter, what do you learn and what can you infer about the setting and characters in the story? (Example: The setting may be a bad city, since it says there are drug addicts on the corner. One of the characters is Jamal who is about 12 years-old and the middle child of three siblings).
Chapter #2
Do you think Jamal should visit Mack? Why or why not? How else could he handle this?
Chapter #3
On page 16, the principal says to Jamal, “ I would ask you to bring your mother to school, but she probably doesn’t care any more about your education than you do.” How do you think this makes Jamal feel? Do you agree with the principal? What do you know about Jamal and his mother that would make you disagree with the principal?
On page 22, Jamal feels “small inside and weak.” How does he handle Dwayne’s comments?
Chapter #4
Describe Tito’s relationship with Sassy and with Jamal?
What emotions do you think Jamal was feeling to pursue his visit with Mack at the crack house?
Chapter #5
There are many reasons for Jamal to stay away from Mack and the Scorpions. What would make Jamal want to go with Mack’s plan of taking over the Scorpions?
Chapter #6
Do you think the attitude of the principal towards Jamal’s behavior encourages more bad behavior? Why or why not?
How would you describe Jamal- is he really “bad?”
What does his dream to own a big boat, someday, say about him?
Chapter #7
The suspense in the story builds at the end of this chapter. What is driving Jamal to follow the direction of the Scorpions?
Chapter #8
This is the first time that Jamal’s father is mentioned in the story. On page 88, the third paragraph describes how Jamal feels about his father and Randy. What does it mean that “each has taken a little piece of Mama…” ?
Chapter #9
There are several conflicts taking place in the story, some internal, others external. What are the conflicts? How could they be resolved before they get worse? Which are internal and which are external?
Chapter #10
Why does Jamal cry after the fight with Dwayne?
What do the boats symbolize for Jamal?
Chapter #11
On page 117, Jamal thinks that if you are part of the life they are living, that sooner or later the police would come and get you. Is this really his fate? Explain.
Chapter #12
What do you think Jamal will do with the gun?
What will Tito’s grandmother do?
Will Dwayne continue to try to fight with Jamal?
Chapter #13
How will the Scorpions treat Jamal, now?
Chapter #14
Who are the adults that could Jamal if he asked? How could this happen?
Chapter #15
Make some predictions…. What is going to happen to Jamal, Tito, Randy, and Mack?
Chapter #16
On page 181, Mama says, “when am I gonna learn that my problems don’t belong to nobody but me…” Make a connection… When has this ever been true in your life?
Chapter #17
What did Tito do so that Jamal could get away? How do you know?
Is Tito a hero?
Chapter #18
Why did the administration at Jamal’s school suggest he take a pill everyday at school? Is he hyperactive or just troubled and making bad choices? What do you think about him taking this medication? What else can be done?
Chapter #19
Do you believe Mack’s story?
What really happened to Angel and Indian?
Why would make Mack make something up?
Chapter #20
What does this story say about friendship?
Why is this a sad story?
Besides friendship, what is the theme of this story?
Why is Randy in jail?
ReplyDeletechapter 3
ReplyDeleteJamal feels mad and ready to hit the principal. We do not agree with the principal because Jamal and his mom seem to care about his school work. Jamal's Mama seems to really care about her kids.
I feel that he handled the comments poorly because Jamal talked backed to him. I feel that he should have just not said anything.
chapter 4
ReplyDeletei think that tito's relationship with sassy is like sassy is a little sister and sassy likes him as a boyfriend.
tito's relationship with jamal is like a best friend because tito went to macks house even though tito hates mack.
i think jamal was feeling scared, nervous, and mad because he did not want to go there but he felt he had to. that might be where the scorpions hang out. jamal thought mack turned randy in.
Jamal would want to go along with mack because he wants to get $ wants randy out of jail BY:DESHAUN
ReplyDelete