Making Judgments and Problem Solving

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Making Judgments and Problem Solving

• Using Walter Dean Myers
• Wont Know Till I Get There

Communication Arts Grades 6-8
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This activity covers the MAP Test, Communication
Arts Grade 7 objectives on details, literal
comprehension, deductive and inductive reasoning,
drawing logical conclusions and making judgments
from read text.
Created by Yvonne Bradley at Martin City Middle
School CSD 4
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Steps for Making Judgments
(Click to see steps)

• Determine the basic problem or issue
• Determine who or what is involved
• List the facts of the issue/problem
• Make a decision
• Back up your decision with evidence and
  reasoning!

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Lets Do It!

• In the book Wont Know Till I Get There by Walter
  Dean Myers the main character Steve is caught
  spray painting a train car. Read his June 12th
  entry for information to respond to these
  questions

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Determine the basic problem or issue

• What is the problem here?
• Have students write out their ideas, then click
  to see possible answers.

The basic problem should include that Steve
vandalized a train by painting Royal Visigoths
on it. The group is now charged with vandalism.
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Determine who or what is involved?
Have students write out their ideas on this, then
click.

• The people involved in this should include Steve,
  Patty, Earl and High-Note.

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List the facts of the issue/problem

• Have students write out their ideas, then click
  to see possible answers.

• The facts should include that High Note first
  brought up the names on the sides of trains.
• Steve found the paint can and spray painted
  Royal Visigoths on an old train car.
• Patty, Earl and High-Note watched as his did
  this.
• When asked by undercover transit police if they
  were the Royal Visigoths, High-Note said, No.
  We were just writing Royal Visigoths on the
  train because were the Penguins! Patty said,
  Dont you forget us!
• Steve finished dotting the i in front of them.

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Make a decision

• Have students write out their ideas on this, then
  click for further questions.

Are the kids guilty of vandalism? On what
evidence do you support your conclusion? If they
are guilty, what should be done about this? If
not, what evidence/reasoning do you have to
support your conclusion?
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Back up your decision with evidence and reasoning!

• Answers should include
• The kids are guilty of vandalism.
• Evidence-Steve spray painted the train
• -High Note confessed (bragged) about it
• -Patty confessed (bragged) about it
• -All of them watched it and did nothing to
  stop it.

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Now, what should the judge decide to do with
them? (Make a decision, back it up with your
reasoning)

• Choices could include (click for choices)
• Send the boys to a detention center
• Have them do community service
• Have the boys and their families pay a fine
• Let them off because it was their first time
• Have the boys repaint the old train car

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• What consequence did the students pick and WHY?
• Have students discuss the best solution to this
  and defend their answers. Did the following have
  any impact on their decisions? (click for further
  questions)
• Will the consequence teach them a lesson?
• Will it repair the damage?
• Is it fair to all involved?

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Extension Activity

• Have student groups go through the same process
  on the following events and report back to the
  class
• Steves fight with High-Note
• Earl hitting London Brown
• The kid at the police station accused of stealing
  a purse (in June 19th entry)
• Santini accused of stealing a pocketbook and his
  subsequent reactions
• Mr. Michaels and his decision on whether to keep
  the house open