Name: ______Per. ______Date: 5-2-16
READING CHECK QUESTIONS ON “LIFE AFTER DEATH” II
Directions: Read the following questions on the story, “Life After Death,” and respond to each using complete
sentences. Use details from the story and clear explanations to support your responses.
1. The narrator tells us that his characteristics of wearing black all the time, listening to music by groups like Iron Maiden, and reading books by Stephen King were all used against him in his trial. These characteristics helped to convince the jurors and judge to believe he was able to kill children as part of a satanic sacrifice. This shows us that even the most innocent characteristics can be used to make people believe you are a criminal. Think of two characteristics that you have which could be used against you if you were falsely accused of a crime.
Example:You might love to draw, and you keep a notebook of your drawings and sketches. The police can falsely accuse you of the crime of tagging (writing graffiti on) public property. They could use your notebook, which might have graffiti drawings, as evidence that you committed the crime.
One characteristic that you have that could be used against you:______
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Explanation of HOW this characteristic can be used against you. (What crime(s) can the police/judge associate with this characteristic? Explain how or why.:______
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Another characteristic that you have that could be used against you:______
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Explanation of HOW this characteristic can be used against you. (What crime(s) can the police/judge associate with this characteristic? Explain how or why.:______
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2. In the 8th paragraph, the narrator states that when he read the confession that the judge and police used to
charge him with murder, “It made no sense.”Explain why the confession did not make sense. (Clearly
describe why it didn’t make sense.) Then, discuss the characteristics of the person who made the confession
and how they might explain why his confession didn’t make sense.
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3. Near the end of the 8th paragraph, there are some sentences that are italicized. Explain why these sentences
are italicized. What are they supposed to show the reader?
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4.We know that the narrator and his friend were innocent of the crimes they were accused of committing. Explain
why the police and judge were so willing to accuse them of committing the crime. Explain the benefits the police
and the judge would have by accusing the narrator and the two other boys of the crime.
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5. EXTRA-CREDIT: Some reader’s may feel that the only victims in this story are the narrator, his friend Jason, and the mentally challenged boy, Jesse Misskelley, who were all imprisoned for a crime they did not commit. However, the people in the town where they lived were also victims too. Explain how the people in the town where the murders were committed were also victims when the police and judge falsely accused the narrator and the two other boys of the crime.
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