The Other side of Truth - Beverly naidoo
QUIZ
Submit your answers to the quiz in a word document to exhester@ualr.edu.
1.
Sade's father Folarin Solaja is threatened by the Nigerian government
because he is an outspoken journalist that is
unafraid to speak the truth. His wife is murdered as a consequence.
Freedom of Speech is still an important issue in journalism, even at the high
school level. Read the story of this student
journalist. Do you agree with the action taken by the principal?
Write a letter to the principal either agreeing or disagreeing with his stance.
2.
Ken Saro-Wiwa was a Nigerian activist-writer who was executed by his own
government in November 1995. He protested against the large oil companies
that were extracting Nigerian oil at no benefit to the people and their
land. Read his biography
and explore this National
Geographic article about the conditions in the Nigerian Delta. What
did you learn about Ken Saro-Wiwa and his struggles in Nigeria? Why do you
think Beverly Naidoo chose to mention him in this book? Answer these
questions in two paragraphs.
3.
When Sade and her brother Femi are left alone on the streets of London, they are
frightened, and few people seem wiling to help them. Look at this
picture outside a London underground station and this
picture of a busy London street. How do they make you feel? Do
you panic in big crowds like this, or are you able to remain calm? Think
of a time when you found yourself in a large crowd such as these, and write a
descriptive paragraph about your experience. Be sure to describe the
emotions you were feeling at the time.
4.
Sade and her brother have to apply for refugee status with the government.
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country because it is
not safe for their to stay. Visit this
site that shares the stories of several refugees living in London.
Listen to their stories and read about their experiences. Pick one
of the refugees and write a short profile about them. Include information
about their background and at least one direct quote from their story.
5.
When Sade enrolls in school she is bullied by two girls in her English class,
Donna and Marcia. She does not tell anyone about the bullying and feels
extremely guilty for stealing from Mariam's family's store. Explore the
CBBC site about school bullying. Take the quiz and read through the
guide. In a compound sentence, explain how Sade could have reacted
differently to Donna and Marcia's bullying.
(compound
sentence examples)
6. Sade's father is detained at the Heathlands detention center for attempting to enter the country illegally. Even though he is granted a 6-month stay at the end of the novel, the fate of Mr. Solaja, Sade, and Femi is uncertain. Write an appeal letter to the Home Secretary of England on their behalf requesting that they be granted asylum. Read these tips for writing an appeal to government officials, and examine the sample appeals. Your appeal letter should use persuasive language and provide numerous reasons why the Solaja family cannot return to Nigeria and should be allowed to stay in England.
7. Near the end of the book Sade learns of her opportunity to participate in the Making News program. Pretend that you are going to interview Sade and her brother for a newspaper or news program at your school. First, read this interview with CBS news anchor Bob Schieffer about the art of interviewing. Then, write a list of at least five questions that you would ask Sade and Femi.