Ender's Game: Student-Led Discussion

Student-Led Discussion about Ender’s Game    Name___________

Annotate several questions below and write a follow up question. During the discussion, lead the conversation. PICK A PASSAGE in your text, underline one sentence (or short passage) that you will read aloud for your group to analyze. Page Number: ___  

Question to ask about the passage: ________________________________________

1.       p. 2-3 How does the monitor work? How does Ender’s monitor create the ultimate 1984 Big Brother watching everything you see?

2.       Can you relate the monitor’s surveillance to Edward Snowden’s revelations about how the NSA is watching all our phone calls, all our emails, and conversations of all heads of state? What does it say about a society that routinely allows such invasiveness?

3.       How does Ender's anger play a role in his successes?

4.       Is Valentine Ender's motivation?

5.       Why do V and P want to rule the world?

6.       Why does Ender stand out to Graff? -And Bean to Ender?

7.       Are children more ruthless than adults?

8.       Imagine Peter's reaction to Ender's success?

9.       What role does age play?

10.   What was Graff like when he was younger?

11.   If Ender played soccer, what position would he play?

12.   Are ethics gone? Are the rules like zero gravity? -Nothing to hold on to

13.   Discuss: -Isolating Ender

14.   Are the teachers the enemy?

15.   How can they FORBID crying? 108

16.   Competition and kids versus each other: military, school, soccer?

17.   Why does Graff find the need to constantly manipulate the game and make it unfair? C10

18.   What does the removal of the monster represent?  Pg 3 What is his motivation to win the games (both video game and battles)?

19.   How does space time affect people?

20.   How is Alai significant?

21.   Would Ender have continued his studies if he had known the truth about Stilton?

22.   Why do they not want the kids to develop like normal children?

23.   Why did humans not try to establish communication with the Buggers?(General)

24.   Why does Bonzo feel anger toward Ender? Pg. 86

25.   Why does the battle school manage every aspect of the children's lives? Pg. 109

26.   What could be the specific outcome of a child that grows up in a very closed and controlled environment in the battlefield? Pg. 109

27.   How does Ender feel having so much pressure being put on him?

28.   Does Ender like isolation?

29.   Why did they pick Ender as the focus of their attention?

30.   Why are the soldiers children and not adults, since adults are usually associated with wisdom?

Remember: Keep the conversation going but allow some awkward pauses. Listen to others carefully and paraphrase what they say to see if you understood them. Ask follow up questions. Include everyone in the conversation. Explore lines of inquiry and ask for help in pursuing deeper understanding of both the book but also human nature. Relate the book to real life and your own lives. Take some notes in preparation for a 40-minute in class writing based on one topic of the conversation.

WRiTING: Next class in-class writing topic: Write for 35 to 45 minutes either on paper or on a device and then email to the instructor. Write on any topic from the discussion, but explore it in depth. Use quotes from the book. Have a point to make or explore. Afterwards, give your writing a descriptive title that leads the reader into the piece.