3. The author says important strides have been made toward combating prejudice and violence against the LGBTQ community. What evidence supports that idea? (analyzing details) (Possible answers: LGBTQ people are now protected by the federal hate-crime law. More LGBTQ characters are featured in TV shows and movies. Many LGBTQ teens say they feel comfortable being who they are. ) 4. What did Shepard’s parents fight for after his death? What happened as a result? (cause and effect) (After their son’s death, Shepard’s parents pushed lawmakers to protect LGBTQ people. In 2009, LGBTQ people were given protection under a law that made violence toward LGBTQ people a hate crime.) 5. Why did Shepard’s murder result in a strong response from so many people? (drawing conclusions) (Possible answers: Perhaps because of the brutal way in which he was murdered and the motives of the killers; perhaps because he was young and could have been anyone’s child, brother, neighbor, or friend.) 6. How can kids stand up to hate? (close reading) (Possible answers: Speak up when someone says something hateful. Defuse a situation by changing the subject. Offer support to someone who is being mistreated. Organize a rally or protest against hateful acts. Tell a trusted adult what is going on.) 7. How was the death of Emmett Till similar to and different from the death of Matthew Shepard? (compare and contrast) (Both Till and Shepard were victims of hate crimes, and both deaths fueled movements. Shepard was murdered because he was gay, and Till was murdered because he was Black. However, while Shepard’s killers were imprisoned, no one has been brought to justice for Till’s murder.) 4 Reflect: Ask students to respond in writing to the following question: Why is Matthew Shepard important to U.S. history? After students have finished writing, engage them in a structured group discussion. To begin, remind students to speak carefully and respectfully. Alternatively, students can meet in groups to discuss their responses. 5 Group Activity: Have students read “Matthew Shepard Was My Friend” on page 44 of the student handbook. Then ask students: Why do you think Michele wrote this article? (Possible answer: Perhaps she wanted to share how Matthew’s death changed her life.) After the discussion, have students work in small teams to complete the five questions. 6 Quick Check: Have students respond to the quiz on page 45 of the student handbook. They can then compare answers and discuss any discrepancies.
19
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs