Freedom Writers
Part 1
Questions:

1. Describe the teacher Ms Gruwell’s thoughts about her new job.
2. Ms Gruwell mentions “The Rodney King Riots”. Find out what happened.
3. Why did the drawing that was passed around amongst the students affect Ms Gruwell so much and what did she compare it to?
4. What seemed to be the students’ first impression of their new teacher and the class?
5. Describe some of the students’ backgrounds and their experiences in life.
6. How do you think the students’ backgrounds affected them? Try to see both positive and negative aspects.
7. Why do you think Ms Gruwell made her students read Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?
8. In what ways could the students relate to Romeo and Juliet?
9. Explain what happened at Pearl Harbor during the Second World War. Also explain how one of the students could relate to reading about it.
10. Try to find out more about the people Ms Gruwell invited to the panel discussion on diversity: Danny Haro, Edward James Olmos, Lisa Ramirez, Bob Gentry, Mas Okui, Renee Firestone.