Not Sleepy P.51-53

Asking Follow-up Questions:

Remember that it is important to interact with each other and grow the conversation. You can grow the conversation by asking follow-up questions:

• Why do you think that?
  
  
• What's your evidence?
  
  
• What do you mean by...?
  
  
• Could you give me an example or an analogy to explain that?
  
  
• How does this relate to...(our topic may be a book or an event)?
  
  
• How would you respond to those that say...?
  
  
• Could you rephrase that? I don't understand.
  
  

Give it a try! Respond to the prompt that follows this text taken from our reading of "The One and Only Ivan". Make sure you support your conclusion with evidence, you will know if you didn't explain your reasoning very well based on the follow up questions from your classmates. Once others have responded to the prompt as well, read your classmates responses and ask follow-up questions.

Remember: Stay relevant, be civil, re-read and re-think before you submit.


In today's reading, Ivan can't sleep, even though he is tired. Something seems to be bothering him. Stella suggests that he think of a happy day. 


Read this excerpt from p. 51-53:

"Stella," I say after Julia and her father go home, "I can't sleep."

"Of course you can," she says. "You are the king of sleepers."

"Shh," says Bob from his perch on my belly. "I'm dreaming about chili fries."

"I'm tired," I say, "but I'm not sleepy."

"What are you tired of?" Stella asks.

I think for a while. It's hard to put into words. Gorillas are not complainers. We're dreamers, poets, philosophers, nap takers.

"I don't know exactly." I kick at my tire swing. "I think I may be a little tired of my domain."

"That's because it's a cage," Bob tells me.

Bob is not always tactful.

"I know," Stella says. "It's a very small domain."

"And you're a very big gorilla," Bob adds.

"Stella?" I ask.

"Yes?"

"I noticed you were limping more than usual today. Is your leg bothering you?"

"Just a little," Stella answers.

I sigh. Bob resettles. His ears flick. He drools a bit, but I don't mind. I'm used to it.

"Try eating something," Stella says. "That always makes you happy."

I eat an old brown carrot. It doesn't help, but I don't tell Stella. She needs to sleep.

"You could try remembering a good day," Stella suggests. That's what I do when I can't sleep."

Stella remembers every moment since she was born: every scent, every sunset, every slight, every victory.

You know I can't remember much," I say.

"There's a difference," Stella says gently, "between 'can't remember' and 'won't remember'."

"That's true," I admit. Not remembering can be difficult, but I've had a lot of time to work on it. 

"Memories are precious," Stella adds. They help tell us who we are..."


Respond: What does this passage reveal about Ivan's character? be sure to include details from the text to support your conclusion.