I am human and nothing human is alien to me. My own group aside, everything human is alien to me.

The Universal Human Experience Specific Cultural Experiences

By Markus Zusak

After reading the excerpt from The Book Thief, consider the following question. We’ll walk through it together. How would you describe the narrator in the excerpt from The Book Thief? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.

Think about the way the narrator (Death) feels in the passage from The Book Thief. These key quotes may help– pay attention to specific word choice (DICTION). “Please believe me when I tell you that I picked up each soul that day as if it were newly born. I even kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks.” “I watched their love visions and freed them from their fear.” “I took them all away, and if ever there was a time I needed distraction, this was it. In complete desolation, I looked at the world above.”

Why do you think Death “kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks” of the victims? What does a kiss indicate about how he feels? What does the word “weary” suggest about the victims? What does Death’s use of the word “weary” indicate about how Death perceives the victims? Emotions Associated With KISS Emotions Associated with WEARY

After examining the text, let’s answer the question using the evidence we found. How would you describe the narrator in the excerpt from The Book Thief? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Refer to the table below as an example: ASSERT (Answer the question.) In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the narrator, Death, is… PROVE (How do you know?) He “kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks” and “freed them from their fear.” EXPLAIN (What does that mean?) Zusak chose for Death to use the words “kissed” and “freed” because they convey…

Now put the A(ssertion), P(roof), and E(xplanation) all together! Use TEN LINES in your writer’s notebook to do so. TRADE with a PARTNER! Make sure he or she ANSWERED the question, PROVED their answer with text, and EXPLAINED the significance of their quote.

What does the image on the book cover convey about Death, the narrator of The Book Thief? Does it accurately reflect the way you characterized Death in your short answer? Why or why not? Does this depiction influence the way you think about the Holocaust? Why or why not?

By Michael Kimmelman of The NY Times

your generation The NY Times article implies that your generation, Generation Z (New Millennials), ought to be taught differently than the ones that came before because they need to be guided to feel “responsibility to the present.” Is that true? Choose where you will sit based on your position: Our generation is fundamentally different than other generations Our generation is not that different from other generations

The Book Thief tells the story of the Holocaust in a very different way than the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, but both seek to engage and educate young people. How do you think the story of the Holocaust should be told to people your age? How should it not be told? Why? FIND EVIDENCE FROM THE SELECTIONS TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER. Be prepared to share.

Consider whether your piece reflects what New Millennials or Generation Z (or a different people group, depending on your chosen audience) value. Create a chart like the one below to brainstorm what matters to your generation; then try REVISING your draft to insert some of those ideas. Technology Social media ? Fill in the blank! ??