1. Contents of a Dead Man’s Pocket
By Jack Finney

2. PRE-READING ACTIVITY
Step 1: List 5 of the most important things in your life.
Step 2: Put those 5 things in order from most important (1) to least important (5).
Step 3: At the bottom of the page, list in a few words, what success means to you (ie money, boss, CEO, fancy cars)

3. PRE-READING ACTIVITY
Step 4: If I can promise you this success, which of those top 5 items would you be willing to give up? Cross off anything you would sacrifice to achieve this success.

4. LITERARY ANALYSIS VOCABULARY:
CONFLICT: Struggle between two forces. Conflict drives the plot of the story.
EXTERNAL CONFLICT: A character struggles against an outside force, such as another character or nature.
INTERNAL CONFLICT: A character struggles with his or her own opposing desires, beliefs or needs. This can also be a struggle against society.

5. Pre-Reading Survey Have you ever used a typewriter?
What does cc: mean?
Have you ever been in a skyscraper? When? Where?
Have you been to a famous one?
Are you afraid of heights or get vertigo?

6. Pre-teaching Vocabulary
Write the following words down. If you know it, put a (+) by the word and write what you think it means. If you do not know it, write a (-) and look up the definition (pg 116)
CONVOLUTED (adj)
VERIFY (V)
DEFTNESS (n)
IMPERCEPTIBLY (adv)
REVELING (v)
6. INTERMINABLE (adj)
Page 6

7. Meet Jack Finney (pg 117)
Jack Finney
Write down the two most important details about Jack’s life.
Background
- Write down two things about the time this story is set- one thing you learned and one thing you already knew.
Lexington Avenue and Chrysler Building

8. Picture the scenes your author describes to get involved in the story and read actively.
-New York City Public Library
-Fifth Avenue
-Empire State Building

9. Pre & During Reading Activity
Before you read and AS WE READ, complete the CONFLICT GRAPHIC ORGANIZER (parts 1-4).

10. After you Read Questions - Assessment
For full credit, you must restate questions in the answer; answer in complete sentences. Use specific, text-based details in your answer POINTS TOTAL
After you Read Questions - Assessment
Write a summary of the yellow paper’s journey during this story. Include three main events from the story in your summary. (+3)
Analyze why Tom opened the apartment window and the consequence of this decision. Include two details from the story support the relationship between cause and effect. (+2)

11. After you Read Questions - Assessment
3. What is the author’s purpose for writing this short story? Provide two details from the story to support your answer. (+2)
4. What is your opinion of the decisions Tom makes in this story? Provide two details from the story to support your answer. (+3)

12. After you read Questions- Assessment
5. What do you think about the story’s ending? Did you think it was –
predictable?
disappointing?
abrupt?
heartwarming?
Why? Explain your opinion including details from the story for support. Elaborate in a journal of five or more descriptive sentences. (+5)