DISCUSSION+DIRECTOR

Discussion Director Lance Sun

Please specify which question(s) you are answering in your response.

Question #1: In //Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light,// we are introduced to the Muilenburg family: Peter, Dorothy, Raffy and Diego. According to Diana Baumrind (1973) and Maccoby and Martin (1983), parenting/caregiving styles could be distinguished into four distinctive categories: authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent and neglectful. **Which style do you think best describes Peter's interactions with his children throughout the book? Be sure to provide an example and where to find the example, if possible.**

Question #2: Dispersed throughout the book and in-between the chapters are various illustrations by D.E. Brown. **Do you think the illustrations enhance or take attention away from the text?** When possible, refer to a specific illustration/chapter.

Question #3: In addition to the human members of the Muilenburg family, Santos also plays a huge role in the development of conflicts and the overall plot of the book. **Compare the personification of Santos in comparison to another animal in the book (the goats, donkeys, sea turtles, the sow, etc) or nature (the hurricane, the sea, winter). Do you notice any similarities on how the author presents the animal/condition? Any differences?**

Question #4: Given that //Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light// took place on many international locales, the narrator/author made use of a lot of racial and ethnic references. While some references were positive or neutral, others could be perceived as negative or insensitive. **If you were using this book in your classroom, how would you address these references?**

Question #5: At one point in the story, the principal of the school denied Raffy entry to the tenth grade on the assumptions that his homeschooling thus far hadn't been academically rigorous enough to merit the matriculation. Instead, the principal proposed that Raffy matriculate as a ninth grader, a full grade below the peers of his age. **If you were Raffy's parent or educator, how would you have advocated on his behalf?**

Question #6: **[SPOILER AHEAD]** At the end of the book, the Breath was involved in an unforeseen wreck which left the ship out of commission permanently. **If you were Dorothy, how would you have reacted to Peter's proposal? Would you have supported or rejected his proposal?**


 * **// Categories //** ||  **// 1 //**  ||  **// 2 //**  ||  **// 3 //**  ||  **// 4 //**  ||  **// Comments / Final Score //**  ||
 * Assignment || **None** of the following were posted on time:
 * Open-ended questions (6)
 * Self-assessment Rubric
 * Responses to classmates’ wikipages. || **Only one** of the following were posted on time:
 * Open-ended questions (6)
 * Self-assessment Rubric
 * Responses to classmates’ wikipages. || **Only two** of the following were posted on time:
 * Open-ended questions (6)
 * Self-assessment Rubric
 * Responses to classmates’ wikipages. || **All** of the following were posted on time:
 * Open-ended questions (6)
 * Self-assessment Rubric
 * Responses to classmates’ wikipages. ||  ||
 * Engagement || Responded to **less than half** of the classmates **at least once**. || Responded to **most** of the classmates **at least once**. || Responded to **most** of the classmates **at least twice**. || Responded to **all** of the classmates **at least twice**. ||  ||
 * Depth || Questions elicit responses that are **mostly similar from student to student**. || Questions elicit a handful of responses that **varies but are still similar** in personalization. || Questions elicit responses that are **personalized but not as in depth as they could be.** || Questions elicit responses that are **mostly individualistic and** **personal.** ||  ||
 * Breadth || Open-ended questions addressed **at least three different** literary themes or devices. || Open-ended questions addressed **at least four different** literary themes or devices. || Open-ended questions addressed **at least five different** literary themes or devices. || Open-ended questions addressed **at least six different** literary themes or devices. ||  ||
 * Organization || Questions were **mildly interesting** and show little investment with the text. || Questions were **somewhat interesting** and show an attempt at engaging the text. || Questions were **satisfactorily interesting** and show adequate investment in the text. || Questions were **highly interesting** and show a high level of involvement with the text. ||  ||