Freedom Writers
Essay Questions
We are trying to understand Jesus and his life story. We are comparing his
life to our own so that we can make better choices in our future. After
viewing this movie please choose one of the topics below to write about.
Please write 3-5 paragraphs.
1. In Diary 94, a Freedom Writer argues that people should "rock the
boat" and "speak out" when they witness an injustice. Have you
observed an unjust action or behaviour? What did you do? If you
could go back in time and revisit that moment, would you handle it
differently? Why, do you believe, is it sometimes difficult for people
to speak out or act against wrongdoing?
2. After reading Anne Frank's and Zlata Filipovic's diaries, the Freedom
Writers wrote letters and raised money to invite Miep Gies (the
woman who helped hide Anne and her family during WWII) and Zlata
to visit their school. Conduct some research and select an activist or
writer you would like to invite to your school? Why? What do you
think you and your classmates would learn from him/her? (A short
biography of the person will be necessary to outline what you could
learn from this person).
3. The writer of Diary 36 asks, "Why should I read books about people
that don't look like me? People that I don't even know and that I'm
not going to understand because they don't understand me!" How
would you answer this student's question if you were his/her
teacher? Why is it important to read books about different people?
What does this teach us about empathy? What did the Freedom
Writers learn from reading Anne Frank's and Zlata's diaries?
4. The Freedom Writers made a "Toast for Change" in which they freed
themselves from the stereotypes and labels they felt had been placed
on them because of their races, their ages, their family backgrounds,
and their education and gave themselves a second chance to prove
themselves. What are the dangers of stereotypes? What can people
do to break free from stereotypes? Why is this important?
Freedom Writers Essay Assessment
Introductory
Paragraph
Supporting
Information
Organization
Transition
Sentences
4
Introductory
paragraph has a
clear and well
articulated thesis
statement.
There is clear
evidence from the
movie that
supports the
original thesis
statement.
Structure of work
is clearly
developed.
3
Introductory
paragraph has a
thesis statement.
However,
references to the
issue at hand are
missing.
There is some
evidence (2
examples) that
supports the
original thesis
statement.
Structure
developed
reasonably well
but lacks clarity.
2
Thesis statement
is unclear and
vague. It does not
articulate the
theme of your
essay.
1
There is no thesis
statement.
There is little (1
example) evidence
that supports the
original thesis
statement.
There is no evidence
that supports the
original thesis
statement.
Some attempt to
structure the
argument has been
made, but the
structure is poorly
developed.
There is total lack of
structure.
Work contains
structural
weaknesses and
grammatical
errors.
Work pays little
attention to proper
sentence structure.
There are two
three errors in
punctuation,
spelling, and/or
capitalization.
Simply restates
thesis.
There are four or
more errors in
punctuation, spelling,
and/or capitalization.
Flow to essay
Sentence
Structure
Sentence
structure is
correct.
Punctuation,
Spelling, and
Capitalization
Punctuations,
spelling, and
capitalization are
correct.
Sentence
structure is
generally correct.
Some awkward
sentences do
appear.
There is one error
in punctuation,
spelling and/or
capitalization.
Concluding
Paragraph
Restates thesis in
a new and
interesting way.
Restates thesis,
however lacks
originality.
Thesis statement is
not restated.
Total Score
Pts