English III / English III Honors / AP Lang
Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice
By Bryan Stevenson
Thursday, April
30, 2020
Monday, April 27, 2020
FinishBy
Date
Monday, May 4,
2020
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Introduction: Choose one to respond to:
1. What are your opinions about the criminal justice system and capital punishment (before reading the book).
2. Stevenson was once told, “capital punishment means ‘them without the capital get the punishment.” (pg. 5) What
does this mean? Use evidence from the introduction chapter to explain. Please cite your page numbers.
3. Stevenson discusses his grandmother’s background and what impact that had on his career choices. What from your
own personal background has influenced your major/career choices?
Chapter 1: Choose one to respond to:
1. What famous novel was written in Monroe County, Alabama and how is it relevant to Just Mercy?
2. What are the historical causes leading Sherriff Tom Tate to connect McMillian to the murders of Vickie Pittman and
Ronda Morrison?
3. In what ways Alabama’s economic policies disadvantage the state’s African American population?
Chapter 2: Respond to:
1. How did the senior citizen attending Stevenson’s church lecture earn his “medals of honor”? Have you or someone
you know earned “medals of honor”? Share details.
Chapter 3: Choose one to respond to:
1. Which details about Walter’s trial do you find most compelling? (Don’t forget to cite the page number)
2. In your opinion, who is most to blame for Walter’s conviction?
3. How does diversity in a jury affect its deliberation?
Chapter 4: Respond to:
1. On page 71 Stevenson states, “I couldn’t stop thinking that we don’t spend much time contemplating the details of
what killing someone actually involves.” What prompted him to say this? What details is he referring to?
Chapter 5: Choose one to respond to:
1. How does Stevenson’s commitment to building relationships help him in his work? Cite evidence (with page number)
to support your claim.
2. What is the origin of this chapter’s name?
3. Why does it annoy Stevenson that To Kill a Mockingbird is a point of pride for Monroeville?
StartBy
Date
Monday, April
27, 2020
Thought Questions and Thought Question Options by Chapter
(select one question to respond to of those posed or respond to the single question posed for each chapter)
Thursday, April 30,
2020
Chapters 4 and 5
(28)
Chapters 2 and 3
(32)
Introduction – Chapter 1
(29)
Reading
Assignment
(approx.
pages)
Assigned Reading Schedule
Thursday, May 7,
2020
Thursday, May 14,
2020
Monday, May 18, 2020
Monday,
May 11.
2020
Monday, May 4,
2020
Thursday,
May 7,
2020
Monday, May 11,
2020
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Chapters 6 and 7
(29)
Chapters 8
and 9 (38)
*
Chapters 10 and 11
(37)
*
Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15 (43)
*
Chapter 6: Respond to both A and B:
1. Stevenson states, “Only a handful of countries permitted the death penalty for children- and the United States was one
of them. A) Research and list the other countries that permit the death penalty for children. B) Are you for or against
the death penalty for children? Why or why not?
Chapter 7: Choose one to respond to:
1. Imagine that you are either Johnny D or Bryan Stevenson. At this point in the story, how hopeful are you that the
court will do what is just? Explain your rationale.
2. How does the race of the victim factor into decisions about sentencing?
Chapter 8: Respond to:
1. “If crying brings you to triumph then dying’s not such a disaster”- Ian Manuel - Read and summarize Ian’s story in
Chapter 8. What do you feel Ian is trying to communicate in these last lines?
Chapter 9: Respond to:
1. In your opinion, what were the two most compelling pieces of evidence that proved Johnny D’s innocence?
Chapter 10: Respond to:
1. Pages 175-176: In a conversation with the prison guard Stevenson says, “The bad things that happen to us don’t
define us. It’s just important sometimes that people understand where we’re coming from….you know, I really
appreciate you saying to me what you just said. It means a lot. I really mean that. Sometimes I forget how we all need
mitigation at some point.” What does he mean when he refers to mitigation? How does this quote resonate with you
and your experiences?
Chapter 11: Watch the 60 Minutes interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shzMjyuijRU and respond to:
1. Do you think the 60 Minutes segment hurt or helped Johnny D’s case?
Chapter 12: Choose one to respond to:
1. Walter McMillian was the 50th person exonerated from death row in the United States. Today, 146 people have been
exonerated, many after serving decades in prison. What challenges do you think formerly incarcerated people face
when they reenter their community? What support, if any, do you believe the government should grant former
prisoners? Do you believe an exoneree should receive compensation for their wrongful incarceration?
2. In what ways are female inmates more at risk than male inmates?
Chapter 13: Choose one to respond to:
1. In your opinion what should be owed to prisoners wrongly convicted of a crime. Use one of the cases highlighted in
Chapters 12 and 13 to make your case.
2. Why does the Swedish documentary disturb Stevenson?
Chapter 14: Respond to:
1. Stevenson focused on two subsets of children serving life sentences. Which two and why do you think he chose
them?
Chapter 15: Choose one to respond to:
1. Discuss the ways in which the system failed Jimmy Dill.
2. To whom does the title of this chapter refer?
3. Explain the book title.
* Plan ahead: Assigned readings for Chapters 8 through 15 are somewhat larger “chunks”
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Monday, May 18, 2020
Chapter 16 and Epilogue
(19)
Chapter 16: Choose one to respond to:
1. Explain the title of this chapter: can you think of anyone who fits the description of a stonecatcher?
2. According to Stevenson, what are the four institutions in American history that have shaped our approach to race and
justice? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Epilogue: Choose one to respond to:
1. Stevenson notes in his book that “the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice.” How do
you see poverty affecting people’s lives in Just Mercy? Are poverty and justice able to exits together?
2. Think back to your opinions before you began reading Stevenson’s book. What, if anything, in this book surprised
you? How did this book challenge your beliefs on each of the following a) the criminal justice system, b) capital
punishment, c) legal representation, d) poverty, e) race, f) mental and intellectual disabilities, g) women, h) juvenile
offenders?