Welcome to your online discussion of A Lesson Before Dying!
 
Together with members of your book group, you’ll be reading A Lesson Before Dying over the next several weeks. Although you're not required to take notes while you read, it would be wise to keep track of important events and characters for your own clarification. You are, however, expected to participate regularly and thoughtfully in an online discussion of FOUR essential questions.

Here's how it works:
Divide your book into three roughly equal sections. You need to have read and blogged about these sections by the due dates below.

There are two kinds of posts in this discussion: comments and responses.

• Comments = direct answers to the essential questions
• Post at least SIX comments altogether: at least TWO for each section of your book. 
• You must comment on all of the essential questions over the course of your reading.
• One of your nine comments can be a "free response" post.

• Responses = direct responses to another reader’s comment or response 
• Post at at least NINE responses altogether: at least THREE for each section of your book.

Due dates:  

• Post your first set of comments and three responses by Monday, March 31 (Blue), & Tuesday, April 1 (Red).  
• Post your second set of comments and responses by Monday, April 7 (Red), and Tuesday, April 8 (Blue).
• Post your third set of comments and responses by Monday, April 14 (Blue), and Tuesday, April 15 (Red).

Essential Questions:

1. How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture? Be specific! (Page references are helpful.) 
2. How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
3. How does the main character in the book experience a coming-of-age “hero journey”? Be specific by describing particular stages in this journey.
4. How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) connect to contemporary African-American culture (i.e., current events, issues, films, songs, etc.)?

** Free-response option: Address another issue/episode/or passage in the book that you find significant for any reason.

Assessment:  
To earn maximum credit, post thoughtful responses that are at least a short paragraph in length—and carefully proofread! Do not misspell characters' or authors’ names! Also, be sure to include specific references to the text (either details or short quotations). Page numbers, too, are always helpful.

In order to start posting, click on the "comments" link in the box below.