Title of Book ____Deaths Acre_____ Page #_______Pg.

200________
Reading Response Journals (RRJs) are an informal space for you to
explore the readings as well as your own reading process(es). The first
step to writing an RRJ is to read carefully, annotating the text as you
go. If you Talk to the Text while you are reading it, you will remember
what you read and will have more ideas about what to write about in
your journal.
RRJs should be typed right into this document and submitted to
Dropbox. It should include the following:
1. Apply your knowledge of theme to the pages for Day 5-8.
Complete the table below with the requested information about
themes. Remember that theme in literature is a big idea beyond
plot, problems that characters struggle with that all humans
struggle with. A theme is stated as a complete sentence about a
theme topic. For example, in Mister Pip a theme topic is war, and
a theme statement about war could be War dehumanizes
people. The evidence is the cruel actions of the Redskins, the
bad behavior of the Rambos, and the villagers who turn against
Mr. Watts. You might find this list of common themes in literature
helpful in identifying theme topics so far.
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writingabookreport/a/themelis
t.htm
You can research universal themes further by Googling universal
themes in literature.
Theme
Topic
Death
inevitabl
e or
tragedy
Facing
darkness
Good vs
evil

Events from book that

suggest this topic (give
page)
When Dr. Basss wife Ann
gets sick with cancer and
passes away. Pg. 168

Possible theme statement

When the Zoo Man has

an evil alter ego and kills
four innocent women. Pg.
165
When Sheilah Anderson is
murdered by her
husband. Pg. 182

Facing darkness brings

out the evil in people.

Death gives grief to

people.

Evil takes over people to

make good people
become bad.

2. Write a brief explanation (8-12 sentences) of your reading

process. How did this particular reading go for you? Be sure to
indicate points that made you confused or questions that you
have about the text. If you are not sure how to answer this
question, choose one or two of the following prompts.

While I was reading I learned that there is a difference

between blacks and whites knees. I figured out that by
using Downy fabric softener on the skin to find out
fingers prints of a person if their skin was almost washed
away. It became more understanding to me of how Dr.
Bass had figured out the deaths of the people and what
all he had done to come up with the conclusion. He had
figured out easily the sex by looking at the way the
structure of the pelvis was and measured the bones to
find out the height of a person. I was very relieved to
read that he didnt give up on a case until he had every
bit of evidence to reveal the deaths. It was interesting to
get deep facts of each persons deaths and what had
happened and to find out who done it. Even though some
of them got away with it or took years to put them away
Dr. Bass and his team worked hard to get every bit of
detail.
3.
Write down 3-5 words you do not understand or words that you
find interesting or worthy of learning. Define each word and be sure
the definition fits the context in your novel.
Vocabulary Word

Definition (in context of novel)

Smorgasbord

Page in
the
Novel
Pg. 123

Assay

Pg. 124

The testing of a metal or ore to

determine its ingredients and
quality.

A wide range of something; a

variety.

Trowels

Pg. 127

Horde

Pg. 167

Deadlock

Pg. 171

Small handheld tool with a flat,

pointed blade, used to apply
and spread mortar or plaster.
A large group of people.
A situation, typically one
involving opposing parties, in
which no progress can be
made.

4. In a paragraph of 8-12 sentences, discuss your response to the

reading including your opinions about and reaction to the
assigned chapters. When possible, make connections from this
text to other Chapters in the book or texts we have read in
class. Treat this section as your place to think deeply about the
book and the emotions and complex ideas that it brings up for
you.

When getting to the part where Dr. Basss wife Ann dies
of cancer it gave me chills. A text to text connection in
the book A Lesson before Dying the man doesnt have a
real reason of why they are sentencing him to death like
sometimes when Bass figures out of a case where people
are killed for no real reason. I got frustrated to find out
that the Zoo Man only got forty years of jail time after
murdering four innocent women. I was surprised to read
when a man killed his wife and burned her in the front
yard. Dr. Bass talked about how he stays at his office a lot
because it gets lonely at home now that his wife has
passed. A man named Paul Bernardo kills a young girl and
cuts her up also rapes two other girls. I was so disgusted
to read about what he had done. He was put in jail for
twenty-five years and possibly no parole.

Rubric for Reading Response Journal #4

Criteria Ratings
Questi
All 9 cells in the
At least 7 cells in
on 1
table are
the table are
complete and
filled accurately
accurate.

Questi
on 2

5 pts.
Includes an indepth, detailed
explanation of
your reading
process including
points of
confusion or
challenge, use of
strategies and
connections for
understanding
meaning and
vocabulary, and
strategies for
managing
distractions and
motivation.

At least 6 cells
are completed
accurately

At least 3 cells are

completed
accurately

2 pts.

1 pt.

Includes an
explanation of
your reading
process including
points of
confusion or
challenge, use of
strategies and
connections for
understanding
meaning and
vocabulary, and
strategies for
managing
distractions and
motivation.
3 pts.

Includes an
explanation of
your reading
process including
some of the
following points of
confusion or
challenge, use of
strategies and
connections for
understanding
meaning and
vocabulary, and
strategies for
managing
distractions and
motivation.
2 pts.

Includes a very
limited
explanation of
your reading
process, including
one of the
following points of
confusion or
challenge, use of
strategies and
connections for
understanding
meaning and
vocabulary and
strategies for
managing
distractions and
motivation
1 pt.

3 pts.

5 pts.

Includes
fewer
than3
c3lls
accurat
e
.
0 pts
Answer
does not
clearly
address
the
question
.

0 pts.

Good
Words

Includes at least 3
words with all
definitions
accurate for the
context
5 pts.

Includes at least
3 words with an
some definitions
not accurate for
the context
3 pts.

Includes at least 2
words with
accurate
definitions for the
context
2 pts.

Includes at least 2
words with some
inaccurate
definitions for the
context
1 pt.

Includes
fewer
than 2
words
0 pts.

Questi
on 4

Includes a
thoughtful, welldeveloped
response to the
reading, including
original opinions
and reactions to
specific parts of
the text. A full
paragraph in
length.
5 pts.

Includes a
developed
response to the
reading, including
opinions and
reactions. A full
paragraph in
length.
3 pts.

Includes a
response to the
reading, including
opinions and
reactions. Less
than a full
paragraph in
length.

Includes a very
limited response
to the reading.
Significantly less
than a full
paragraph in
length.

Answer
does not
clearly
address
the
question
.
0 pts.

2 pts.

1 pt.