President Cleveland, Where Are You? Author: Robert Cormier page 382

Historical Note watch CTN clip http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/greatdepressioncauses/ The Great Depression began in the United States in 1929. It was characterized by panic, financial collapse, and great unemployment. Grover Cleveland was the twenty-second and twenty-fourth president of the United States. In 1894, a year after Cleveland was reelected to the office, the United States suffered a major economic panic (Depression of 1893-1898). There were four million unemployed people in the United States, and the country was virtually bankrupt. CRITICAL THINKING: Why would a card company change the type of cards from cowboys to U.S. presidents considering the time period?

Summary: During the Great Depression, Jerry and his friends collect trading cards. To promote a series of cards featuring U.S. presidents, the card company offers a special baseball glove to the first boy who completes a set. Soon all the boys are looking for the last card – President Cleveland. At home, Jerry’s older brother shares his problems: he is in love, and now the girl has invited him to a dance. He can’t afford the new shoes and corsage he needs for the dance. He also informs Jerry that there are President Cleveland cards available on the North Side. Jerry gets one, but instead of using it to get the mitt, he sells it for five dollars to allow his brother to go to the dance.

Character Traits Workbook p.58 Important Trait Example from story Jerry good-hearted Jerry sells the last President card and gives the money to his brother. Armand responsible Armand collects money from the family members and buys a present for their father; he works and gives money to the family. Jerry’s father big, loud generous Jerry’s father has a booming laugh; he spends money from his overtime work on his children. Rollie Tremaine rich, spoiled When Rollie can’t collect the cards he needs, he says he’ll just buy the glove. Roger Lussier a good friend He believes Jerry and accepts that Jerry had a real “emergency” even though Rollie ended up winning the contest among the boys.

Conflict: events of the plot reveal a problem Elements of a Story Plot: the sequence of events in a story. Each event causes or leads to the next. Exposition: it is the event in the plot that reveals the situation and character. Conflict: events of the plot reveal a problem Rising Action: tension builds through as the events caused by the problem develop and sharpen the problem Climax: when everything comes to a head; the point of greatest interest and emotion. Then the story falls off and the tension drops. Resolution: shows how the problem is solved

climax rising action conflict resolution exposition Use the graphic to sum up the main event that occurs at each stage of the plot of “president cleveland, where are you?” climax rising action conflict resolution exposition