Mentor Text
The task: After the Shared Inquiry discussion, each of you will write a thorough answer to our focus
question: Why did Sucker become “hard and tough” after Pete blew up at him? Your job is to examine
your notes, evidence and textual annotations and decide which TWO pieces of evidence best support
your idea. I’m creating a mentor text using another focus question to assist you in this process.
My Focus Question: Why doesn’t Pete want to straighten things out with Sucker?
Idea: Pete is emotionally immature and fears Sucker after the blow up, therefore, he does not take the
opportunity to talk through their problems.
Proof: Immaturity—Pete coaxes Sucker off of the garage. Page 20—Pete blows up at Sucker taking out
his anger over Maybelle.
Fear: Page 23 Sucker looks at Pete like he could kill him. Page 21—Pete constantly notices how Sucker is
growing into an adolescent he can’t dominate.
Your product: Your final product should use some of the same techniques I’ve bolded. You should write
three paragraphs: introduction and two body paragraphs. You must use TWO pieces of the strongest
evidence you gathered in order to answer our focus question.
Part 1--Summary of the story with major ideas
In the story, “Sucker” by Carson McCullers, Pete is an adolescent boy who blows up at his
weaker and younger cousin. After Pete says hateful things to his cousin, Sucker, leaving relationship
between the two boys badly damaged. As one reads the story, they cannot help but wonder why Pete
never discussed his first teenage heartbreak with his cousin or why he never apologized for taking his
anger out on the person he really liked the most. Main Idea/Thesis--Unfortunately, Pete is an immature
person who is afraid to admit his words were hurtful and he is also fearful of his cousin who has rapidly
grown up into a hardened boy.
Summary of a major point--At the beginning of the story, Pete chooses the nickname, Sucker,
for his cousin Richard after coaxing him to jump off of a roof with the promise that he could fly. This
moment shows that Pete is immature and enjoys bullying his weaker cousin who looks up to him. My
own opinion of Pete Sadly, Pete’s immaturity is his major downfall in the story. It is the quality that
causes him to take his anger out on the weakest person around. When Pete tells Sucker, Textual
evidence “And just because I felt sorry for you sometimes and tried to act decent don’t think I give a
damn about a dumb-bunny like you” any kindness Pete every showed to Sucker is gone in a minute (20).
What I think about what the text says Sucker feels that no one has ever cared for him and Pete has
unleashed his heartbreak over Maybelle on the weakest person he knows. Instead of being mature and
coping with the loss of his first girlfriend, Pete uses Sucker for his own benefit again. Final sentence that
goes back to my main idea This character flaw will continue to keep Pete from repairing the damage
he’s done.
State idea 2 Furthermore, Pete become afraid of Sucker and this prevents him from
straightening out their damaged relationship. Summary and opinion of the story It was easy for Pete to
push around a small boy who worshipped him, but Sucker grows and matures making Pete uncertain
about talking to him. Textual evidence At one point Pete observes, “He’s almost as tall as I am and his
bones have gotten heavier and bigger” (21). My opinion about what the text says Pete watches
Sucker’s growth and development which shows that he doesn’t understand and fears the new person
Sucker is becoming. My summary and idea about the story He is confused by the rough gang of kids
Sucker hangs with and the fact that he’s lost his room to them. These things, combined with the fact
that Sucker looks as if he could kill Pete (Paraphrasing a major event in the story) stop any conversation
that might patch up this shredded relationship (23). My own ideas about the text Pete is afraid of this
boy who has quickly reached adolescence. Sucker is no longer the small child who sought Pete’s
approval. Now, Sucker is a does not seem to care what Pete thinks of him and has become the harder
and tougher of the two boys. Pete is used to dominating Sucker and he does not know how to handle
the hatred in Sucker’s eyes. Therefore, Pete keeps his distance out of fear and refuses to do the right
thing and apologize for his actions.