The Other Wes Moore

The Other Wes Moore

Summer Reading

The Other Wes Moore

by Wes Moore

Summary

Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence? Wes Moore, the author of this fascinating book, sets out to answer this profound (deep) question.

For this summer packet, the challenging vocabulary words from each chapter were defined for you. If you come across any other unknown words, go to To receive the highest possible grade for this assignment, it is important that you follow directions and complete all activities. Your grade will be determined on how well you complete each activity.

Activity / Percentage of Grade
Discussion Questions / 25%
Close Reading Questions / 25%
Graphic Organizer / 10%
Essay / 40%

The Other Wes Moore - Part I

Chapters 1 and 2

Vocabulary

Word / Definition
28 - chasm (n) / a major division, separation, or difference between two people, groups, etc.
28 - evoked (v) / to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind
38 - affluent (adj) / having a large amount of money and owning many expensive things
38 - apprehensive (adj) / afraid that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
40 - apathy (n) / the feeling of not having much emotion or interest
48 – quadrangle (n) / an open square or rectangular area at a college, school, etc., that is surrounded by buildings on all four sides
48 – entrepreneurial (adj) / The quality of being a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money
52 – nonchalantly (adv) / Acting in a way that shows that you are relaxed, calm and do not care or are not worried about anything
57 – tableau (n) / 1. a view or sight that looks like a picture
2. a scene that typically shows an event in history or literature and that is created on a stage by a group of people who are dressed in costumes and who do not speak or move
62 – exhilarating (adj) / Something that causes (someone) to feel very happy and excited

The Other Wes Moore - Part I

Chapters 1 and 2

Discussion Questions – Respond to the following questions in complete sentences. Remember to turn the question into the answer. There are no Yes or No answers.

Example: What is the essential question proposed (asked) on the back cover synopsis and how does it impact your reading of the novel?

Answer: This novel questions how two young men of similar backgrounds, circumstances, and from similar Baltimore towns developed into two extremely different people. This makes me wonder how my circumstances helped to create the person I am today.

  1. After reading Chapter 1, what is the significance (importance) of the title of the first chapter, “Is Daddy Coming With Us”? (Think about what happened in the chapter. Why is the title of the chapter important considering the events that occurred?)
  2. Why do you think that Wes Moore, the author, begins the book by writing about the fathers of Wes and Wes?
  3. What is the significance (importance) of the title of the second chapter, “In Search of Home”?(Think about what happened in the chapter. Why is the title of the chapter important considering the events that occurred?)
  4. What are some of the similarities of the neighborhoods where Wes and Wes spent their childhoods?
  5. Describe the differences illustrated (explained) between Wes the felon and Wes the author’s, school and home communities.
  6. Explain the impact of the drug trade on Wes, the felon? How was the drug trade run and what was was Wes’ involvement in it?

Close Reading

After reading chapter 3 a number of themes have become evident in both the Wes’ lives. Discuss some of these themes and tell how they impact the two Wes’ lives. (Remember, a theme is a message or lesson revealed in a work of literature or text.)

The Other Wes Moore - Part II

Chapters 4, 5 and 6

Vocabulary

Word / Definition
70 – abandon (n) / a feeling or attitude of wild or complete freedom
71 – hypocrite (n) / a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs
73 – plummeted (v) / 1. to fall suddenly straight down especially from a very high place
2. to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc.:plunge
81 – vice versa (adv) / used to say that the opposite of a statement is also true
81 – arbitrary (adj) / done without concern for what is fair or right
82 – contingent (adj) / depending on something else that might or might not happen
85 – plebes (n) / a student in the first year at a military or naval school
88 – fusillade (n) / a large number of shots that are fired very quickly
89 – austere (adj) / 1. simple or plain:not fancy
2. having few pleasures:simple and harsh
3. (of a person)having a serious and unfriendly quality
110 – sporadic (adj) / happening often but not regularly:not constant or steady

The Other Wes Moore - Part II

Chapters 4, 5 and 6

Discussion Questions

  1. After reading the preface for Part II what do you think title “Choices and Second Chances” means?
  2. Tony was a role model for Wes, the felon. How did Tony’s words and actions present a contradiction for Wes?(contradiction - the act of saying something that is opposite or very different in meaning to something else)
  3. Like Wes, the felon, Wes, the author, is influenced by the drug trade. Describe how Shea, a runner, almost leads Wes into a life of crime.
  4. On page 96, Wes, the author, explains his new found understanding about respect. Explain the correlation (connection) he makes between Shea’s respect and the cadets’ respect for Colonel Batt.
  5. Explain the irony of Wes’, the author’s, trip through the woods at the end of chapter 5. (How does the trip reflect the opposite of what someone would expect to happen?)
  1. Tell how Wes’, the author’s, life had changed from those of his friends who stayed behind in Maryland.
  2. Explain the two “safeties” Wes, the author, finds in the woods.

The Other Wes Moore — Part III

Chapter 7

Vocabulary

Word / Definition
133 – impermanence (n) / not lasting forever:not permanent
138 – hypocrisy (n) / the behavior of people who do things that they tell other people not to do:behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel
142 – mandatory (adj) / required by a law or rule, something that a person must do
144 – trepidation (n) / a feeling of fear that causes you to hesitate because you think something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

Discussion Questions –

  1. How does Wes the scholar change in the beginning of the chapter? Why does he change?
  2. Why was Wes the felon tired?
  3. What is the Job Corps? What does it mean for Wes the felon?
  4. What project does Wes the felon decide to build and why?
  5. At the end of the chapter Wes the felon makes a momentous (big) decision. What is the decision? Why does he make this decision?

Close Reading

The two main characters’ lives again undergo great changes. Describe how their paths appear to converge (become the same) in this chapter.

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter 8

Vocabulary

Word / Definition
147 – pandemonium (n) / a situation in which a crowd of people act in a wild, uncontrolled, or violent way because they are afraid, excited, or confused
149 – audacious (adj) / very confident and daring:very bold and surprising or shocking
153 – gentrification (n) / to change (a place, such as an old neighborhood) by improving it and making it more appealing to people who have money
162 – apartheid (n) / a former social system in South Africa in which black people and people from other racial groups did not have the same political and economic rights as white people and were forced to live separately from white people

Discussion Questions –

  1. Retell what happens at the beginning of chapter 8.
  1. Explain the evidence the prosecution provides that makes Wes the felon’s argument suspicious.
  1. Explain what lessons you think Wes the scholar learns while in South Africa.

Close Reading

As his journeys of the two Wes’ come to a close in South Africa and on the streets of Baltimore, they both learn lessons. What conclusions do Wes the felon and Wes the scholar (author) come to?

Essay

Write an argumentative essay based on the following prompt. Use the graphic organizer to organizer your ideas. The essay must be typed in 12pt font, times new roman.

Context: “Product of your environment” is an expression that is used to explain the idea that where someone lives determines the type of person they will become. Based on the lives of the two Wes Moores answer the following question:

Are either of the Wes Moore’s “products of their environment”? Why or Why not?

In a 5 paragraph essay, explain your position, giving thorough explanation of the statement “Product of your environment”. Be sure to explain the environment the Wes Moore’s come from, and whether they are products of them.

Your essay must include the following:

  • Thesis statement (claim)
  • Introduction
  • Two body paragraphs
  • Provide at least one direct quote from the book in each of your body paragraphs to support your claim.
  • Counterargument paragraph that discusses the opposing view to the claim. Include a rebuttal in the counterargument paragraph.
  • Conclusion

Outline for Argumentative Essay

I. Introduction

A. Hook/Lead Sentence (Grab my attention)

B. Overview:

a. Background information about the text that connects to your argument

b. Counterargument (Briefly mention the counterargument)

Some people believe……

C: Thesis Statement (State your opinion + your supporting reasons)

II. Supporting Reason #1

Topic Sentence:

Evidence from the article that proves your supporting reason

Analysis:

Concluding sentence:

III. Supporting Reason #2

Topic Sentence:

Evidence from the article that proves your supporting reason

Analysis:

Concluding sentence:

III. Supporting Reason #3

Topic Sentence:

Evidence from the article that proves your supporting reason

Analysis:

Concluding sentence:

IV. Counterargument

Topic Sentence: There are some people who believe….

Supporting reason #1

Supporting reason #2

(Rebuttal) This is incorrect because….

Concluding sentence:

V. Conclusion

Restate thesis statement:

Summarize your main points (supports and counterclaim)

Final thought: Why is this topic important?

1

Top View