Instructions Complete pre-reading/close reading strategy before reading the poem After it’s read out loud, read the poem to yourself and annotate in the margins (take notes). Things you can consider but you are not restricted to these: What’s going on in that line/stanza? What reaction do you have as you read? What questions do you have? What do you like/not like? What is the tone (attitude towards the subject being talked about.)

Reactions What works about the poem? What doesn’t? What were your initial reactions? What purpose do you think the author had for writing this poem? What do you think the speaker feels about the topic? Which parts caused the most reaction out of you/the least reaction? Why do you think that is?

Response to Poem The last line in the poem leaves you with a question. You are going to answer that question. The speaker asks what you would say if asked whether American is still the land of the free and the home of the brave, and you need to respond. In your response, you MUST use at LEAST 3 citations from the text, actual evidence from the text, to support your claim. This should be as long as it takes you to answer, but should not be shorter than ONE PAGE.

Citing lines in a poem Paulk writes, “Your children must attend a school that doesn't educate. / Your Christian values can't be taught, according to the state. / You read about the current news, in a regulated press (17-19). The poem states that, “Your children must attend a school that doesn't educate. / Your Christian values can't be taught, according to the state. / You read about the current news, in a regulated press (Paulk 17-19).