Teaching History through Fiction and The Boy...Pajamas

Which novel do both the Point and the Counterpoint author rely on to support their claims?

• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

• Hitler Youth

• Refugee

• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Point author's main claim is...

• that teaching history through fiction is beneficial and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a perfect example of this

• that teaching history through fiction is not beneficial and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas prove this

• that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is historically inaccurate

• that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is historically accurate, and therefore, is a wonderful book for children

What does the word inaccurate mean?

• correct and true

• incorrect or not true

• biased and full of opinions

• not biased and completely factual

What does the word beneficial mean?

• full of lies

• peaceful

• helpful, valuable, or good

• hurtful, harmful, and bad

Why is the following quote irrelevant to the claim that historical fiction is a great way to teach people about history, and John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is an excellent example.

"It is interesting to note that Rainer has also reviewed Richard Linklater’s Boyhood. Boyhood is another child-centered movie."

• because the quote is based on opinions and not facts

• because the quote supports the opposite side's claim

• because the quote supports the claim and proves it is true

• because the quote does not support the claim or prove the claim is true

What facts do the Point and Counterpoint authors both agree on? Choose all that apply.

• that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is written to be a fable

• that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide

• that historical fiction is a great way to teach children history

• that the two young characters in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas would most likely have not had the opportunity to meet and visit at the fence

• that John Boyne, the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, should not use the excuse of the book being a fable as a reason why he can distort history

What does the word distort mean in the following line?

"But that aside, the problem with Boyne’s premise is that writing a fable does not release him from an author’s obligation not to distort history."

• allow readers to decide for themselves what is true

• misrepresent, alter, or change

• explain, clarify, or represent

• forgive

Which of the following represents a counterclaim to the following claim?

Teaching history through fiction is good, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is an excellent example of this.

• "By exploring the moral issues of the Holocaust through the eyes of two innocent young boys, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas accomplishes what should be important aims of both fiction and history: it moves people to care and to think."

• "Critics of the novel and movie argue that both are historically inaccurate."

• "Fables are not history. Fables are designed to explore moral lessons."

• "Reviewer Kathryn Hughes, writing in the online edition of the Guardian newspaper, sums up the value of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas."

Why was the answer to question 9 a counterclaim to the given claim?

• because it gave relevant evidence to support the claim

• because it was a fact and not an opinion

• because it proved that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a bad book for children to read

• because it represented the opposite side's claim or position

Which of the following is relevant evidence to the following claim? Choose all that apply.

"Reviewers and readers alike praise the book."

• Critics, like David Cesarani, argue that Bruno’s innocence is unrealistic.

• Boyne notes on his website that the novel has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide.

• In addition to reaching the top of the New York Times Best Seller list, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has won many awards.

• The premise of the story is the friendship between Bruno, the son of the German commandant at Auschwitz, and Shmuel, a Jewish boy imprisoned in the concentration camp.