Johnny Got His Gun Discussion Questions

1. What are Trumbo’s major and minor purposes in writing Johnny Got His Gun?

2. Summarize Trumbo’s arguments against war in Chapter 10. Refute them.

3. Make a list of Joe’s major memories over the course of the novel. What does this list reveal about Trumbo’s values? How does Trumbo use these values to support one or more of his larger purposes?

4. Consider Trumbo’s definition of Joe’s father as a failure (last line of 103 to the middle of 107). What does this definition reveal about Trumbo’s values? How does this episode help Trumbo achieve one of his larger purposes?

5. What is the role of religion in the novel? What is Trumbo’s attitude towards religion? How does it help us understand his purposes?

6. Dalton Trumbo chooses to use punctuation inconsistently throughout the novel. Pick a moment when his use of unconventional (or conventional) punctuation is particularly conspicuous. What is the effect of his punctuation and how does this effect fit into one of Trumbo’s larger purposes? [Note: you will notice that areas that are least conventionally punctuated are richest in rhetorical devices.]

7. The novel is divided into two parts. How are they similar? How are they different? Why did he divide the novel the way he did?

8. Gather as many images of little guys and big guys, slaves, and the rat as you can. How do these images illuminate your understanding of Trumbo’s purpose?

9. Dalton Trumbo offers a number of scenes of both sex and romantic love. What is the relationship between the two? How do these scenes relate to one of the larger purposes of the novel?

10. What does the title mean? Consider the musical allusions throughout the book as well as the closing pages of the novel.

"One," by Metallica

This is a fun 7:44. Many of the images come from a 1971 film version of the book.

Agenda, March 8

• Due Now: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 1-20
• Do March 11: Optional Synthesis Revision. If you choose not to revise, please return your paper to your portfolio by 3/11.
• Do by 3/15: Pay for your AP Exams
• Friday, 3/15, is $5 Friday at The Circuit. Wear green and get a $5 day pass.  

Today's Agenda:

1. Whole Group Disco
2. The Grand Allusion
3. Pick a Chapter

Agenda, March 7

• Due Now: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 17 and 18
• Due Tomorrow: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 1-20
• Do March 11: Optional Synthesis Revision. If you choose not to revise, please return your paper to your portfolio by 3/11.
• Friday, 3/15, is $5 Friday at The Circuit. Wear green and get a $5 day pass.  

Today's Agenda:

1. What do you want?
2. What have we missed?

Agenda, March 6

• Due Now: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 15 and 16
• Due Tomorrow: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 17 and 18
• Do March 11: Optional Synthesis Revision. If you choose not to revise, please return your paper to your portfolio by 3/11. 

Today's Agenda:

1. Urgent Questions
2. Three Rhetorical Devices
3. Practice TEP

Agenda, March 5

• Due Now: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 13 and 14
• Due Monday: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 15 and 16
• Due Now: Reduce the word count of your Lit Mag Essay by 5-10%. The final word count should be between 675 and 810 words. Highlight the words you eliminated in the original draft. Typed. MLA. Include your word count under the date in your header. Label your introduction and conclusion strategies.
• Do March 11: Optional Synthesis Revision. If you choose not to revise, please return your paper to your portfolio by 3/11. 

Today's Agenda:

1. Urgent Questions
2. Three Rhetorical Devices
3. Practice TEP

Agenda, March 4

• Due Now: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 11 and12
• Due Monday: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 13 and 14
• Due Tuesday: Reduce the word count of your Lit Mag Essay by 5-10%. The final word count should be between 675 and 810 words. Highlight the words you eliminated in the original draft. Typed. MLA. Include your word count under the date in your header. Label your introduction and conclusion strategies.
• Do March 11: Optional Synthesis Revision. If you choose not to revise, please return your paper to your portfolio by 3/11. 

Today's Agenda:

1. Can I? Should I? Do I have to?
2. Whole lotta whole class discussion

MLK Essay Revision Directions (Due 3/11)

If you would like to revise your MLK Essay, choose one of the following three tasks:

• Write a new introduction
• Add a synthesis paragraph
• Refine your synthesis skills (effectively pairing and organizing sources, establishing sources, punctuating quotations, parenthetical citations, MLA format for titles)

Part of the grade for your revision will be based on accurately assessing your own strengths and weaknesses. You should choose the revision task that matches the greatest weakness in your paper. If you think you have a more urgent revision need than the three listed above, come see me.

You may also revise your Works Cited Page, though I may not have time to grade the revision.  Any work you put into revising your Works Cited Page now is likely to result in a better score on your next Works Cited Page and the Bibliography.

Lit Mag Essay Revision Directions

Due Tuesday: Reduce the word count of your Lit Mag Essay by 5-10%. The final word count should be between 675 and 810 words. Highlight the words you eliminated in the original draft. Typed. MLA. Include your word count under the date in your header. Label your introduction and conclusion strategies.

Agenda, March 1

• Due Now: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 9 and 10
• Due Monday: Johnny Got His Gun, Chapters 11 and 12
• Due Tuesday: Reduce the word count of your Lit Mag Essay by 5-10%. The final word count should be between 675 and 810 words. Highlight the words you eliminated in the original draft. Typed. MLA. Include your word count under the date in your header. Label your introduction and conclusion strategies.
• Do Tonight and Tomorrow: Go see Almost, Maine.  

Today's Agenda:

1. AP Paperwork
2. Chapter 5-8 Jigsaw
3. Hits and Questions