On the Sidewalk Bleeding Assignment

ACTIVITY: POINT OF VIEW and OUT- TAKE MONOLOGUES

A monologue will be prepared and presented by each student. What does that mean?
• It means that you will prepare a speech that explains how that character would react and feel about Andy's death.
• The monologue should sound as though the author of the story had stopped time in the story and then allowed the character to step forward and speak.
• The monologue should demonstrate that you are aware of the story line and that you can be connect that knowledge with an interpretation of how a character would/could react within the story.


How-
• Students will take on the role of Laura, Angela, Freddie, the police officer OR a character who was NOT in the story but who COULD HAVE been. (Examples: a parent, a friend, another Royal, a Guardian)

• You will have two class periods to work on this project. Use your time to make sure you understand the story and how your chosen character would be feeling.

When -
• The presentations will be videotaped by Mr. Catton next week
Assessment-
• Students will be assessed for clarity of voice, content (matches the original story line and does not change the tone), organization and evidence of rehearsal: Know the content and look up.

• Students are expected to speak for a minimum of one minute during their monologue for a passing content grade, up to two minutes for a full content mark.

EXAMPLE:
The beginning of a monologue from the point of view of Andy’s mother.

This is what I might write. I am picturing her at a grief counseling session a month or so after Andy’s death.

I’m Andy’s mother. No, I was Andy’s mother. He was my son. The past tense. I don’t think I will ever get used to that. I can’t say that it was a shock. No. Living in this neighbourhood, it’s something that we learn to deal with. I can say that my life is… shattered. It doesn’t matter that he was a teen. It doesn’t matter that he was pretty much on his own. I’m still his mother. Was his mother.

The police. What a laugh. They came ‘round that night to break the news. Couldn’t even remember his name. One fellow, I could see his notebook, didn’t even have the decency to record it. ROYAL. That’s all it said. He didn’t even bother to write his name.

Laura came to see me the other day. There’s another life ruined. She still feels guilty for not trying to talk Andy out of the gang. It isn’t her fault. If he hadn’t gone for the cigarettes that night, it likely would have just happened some other time…