Literature Circle
Discussion Guide
This packet belongs to:
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My group members are:
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Journal Prompts: After reading, complete each journal prompt in your notebook (section 1). Your responses
must be thorough and detailed! Use RACER when necessary.
Chapters 1-4: Write about a time when you felt that you were free of constraints. Explain how you felt
about this feeling of freedom. Were you alone or with someone else?
Chapters 5-6: Donald admires his teacher Miss Meeks because she calls her students "young citizens" and
gives a famous opening day speech to her first grade class. What are Miss Meeks's attitudes about school
and learning? What are some of the things you are looking forward to learning and experiencing in your
three years of middle school?
Chapters 7-8: Think of a conflict that Zinkoff had to face in these chapters. Write the problem and how he
solved it or is working to solve it. If you were Zinkoff, explain what you would you do
differently/similarly?
Chapters 9-10: Donald experiences being a winner when every player on his Titans soccer team receives a
trophy. While he is very pleased with the trophy, he tries to give it to his friend Andrew. How do you think
Donald feels after giving his trophy away? What is so special about Donald's behavior as a winner, and how
does it challenge the idea that winning is best?
Chapters 11-12: Why do you think "Take Your Kid to Work Day" was such a meaningful day for Donald?
How does Mr. Zinkoff prepare to make the day special and professional? What are the most important
things that Donald learns about his father's work when they spend the day together?
Chapters 13-14: Put yourself in Zinkoff's shoes for a moment, and imagine that you are trying to
overcome your biggest fear. Write a journal entry, from Zinkoff’s point of view, describing this moment.
Chapters 15-16: Write a summary of what happened on field day. Do you think it was fair that Zinkoff’s
teammates called him a loser? Do you think you would have done the same thing? Why or why not?
Chapters 17-18: Pretend you are a writer for a magazine on education. Write an article about how bullying
affects today’s students. Use some of Zinkoff’s experiences and your own in the article
Chapters 19-20: Write a letter to Donald giving him some advice/suggestions on finding and maintaining
a good friendship. In your letter, be sure to include some character traits of a good friend.
Chapters 21-21: How does spending the day with the old woman on Willow Street help Zinkoff to feel better
about his rejection? Name other examples from Loser where Donald distracts himself from a negative
situation. Do you think this behavior makes him more or less happy? Why?
Chapters 23-24: “He is less than that. He is nobody. Long before the first snowfall, he sinks into
nobodyness.” What does the author mean by this quote? How did Zinkoff become a nobody? Which do you
think is worse for Zinkoff, being a loser or being a nobody? Explain.
Chapters 25-27: Pretend the last three chapters fell out of your book. Write the resolution of Loser based on
the ending of Chapter 27.
Chapters 28-30: Why do you think Bonce eventually invites Zinkoff to play on his team? How do you
think Zinkoff will do in middle school? Do you think he will finally fit in? Do you think he will continue
to be his quirky self?
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 1-4
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
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Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
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Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption:
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 5-8
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption:
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 9-12
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption:
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 13-16
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption:
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 17-20
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption:
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 21-24
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption:
Loser Literature Circle
Chapters 25-30
Discussion Questions: Create 3 thoughtful questions. These questions should be openended. They should lead into interesting conversations.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Travel Tracker: Describe 3 key events and their setting. Think about how the setting
affects the plot.
Page #
Key Events
Setting
Connect: Describe one connection you can make to the story and how it connects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Character Education: Describe a new character. If a new character is not introduced,
choose a reoccurring character to describe. What traits do they portray? How do they
connect to our story?
Character
Character Traits
Connection
Figurative Language: Identify one example of figurative language (metaphor, simile,
onomatopoeia, alliteration, personification). Explain the significance of the figurative
language.
Line from story
Significance or Explanation
Type: ______________________
Pg. # ______
Illustrator: Draw a picture from these chapters. Include a 1-2 sentence caption.
Caption: