What do you ask Junior High Students? (HELP!)

WistfulWriter7 · Feb 23, 2008

Hello wonderful people of absolute write. I've had such a great time being a part of this site and have grown up a lot because of the great critiques I've received here. Although my fantasy novel, The Eternal Link, is still in the editing process, the beginning is finally where I want it. I decided, I'm ready for feedback from my target audience, and not just people my age and older. So, I called up my old vice-principal, told her about my novel, and asked if I could do a project with the junior high English classes. She said yes and made class sets of the first two chapters! I'm so excited to spend the whole day interacting with the kids and getting some fresh perspective. Anyway, my question for you all, is what do you think I should ask them (besides if any of there mommies or daddies are publishers :ROFL:

)? I just want some suggestions for how to present myself and what to do really, because I never imagined I would actually go through with this!

Okay, so my plan is to introduce myself, tell them I am an alumna, and tell a little a bit about how I got into writing. Then, I will ask them what they thought (enter awkward silence here), any questions they had, anything confusing, some other stuff (insert great absolute write advice here). Then finish up telling them a bit more about where the story is going.

Any ideas would be great. This is going to happen on Monday (the 25th). I have about 20 minutes to spend with each class. I get to meet over a hundred students! yay!

Oh ya...should I bribe them with candy???

NicoleMD · Feb 23, 2008

Wow. What a great opportunity. I'd say just be open and honest and interesting, and things should get flowing nicely. If you're not already familiar with similar books, maybe you could brush up on a couple popular ones to jump start some responses if they aren't coming. Or have them relate their own lives to the characters in some way.

20 minutes isn't a whole lot of time, and I bet it'll fly by, so you might try to focus on different aspects with each focus group, one on the characters, one on action/plot, etc. And don't forget to plant the writing bug before you leave!

Nicole

Pike · Feb 23, 2008

Junior high kids? Talk about walking into a lion's den. My oldest son is that age and can be a total smartass whenever he feels uncomfortable. I don't mean to make you panic but I'd say be prepared for the jokers and hecklers trying to steer clear of the subject because they feel awkward.

Hopefully you'll get a bunch of Potter fans and they'll go nuts. Good luck.

Pike

Mumut · Feb 23, 2008

I'd leave questions to last so you know you'll have time to say all you want to say.

WistfulWriter7 · Feb 23, 2008

ya, I'm prepared. I have a 14 year old younger sister and for the past three years all her friends live at my house. They definitely can be...interesting little creatures (especially the boys) to say the least. I'm ready for it though. I'm just WAITING for the first genius to mention I'm shorter than them =) Lucky for me, I like kids...especially the little monster-like ones... =p

miles · Feb 23, 2008

Perhaps, before standing before them, you should have the teacher make up a questionnaire with whatever's most important to you. Don't let her tell them the author is actually going to be there or is in any way involved in the school. Just see if they're excited about the work without bias.

Then, you can take the questionnaires, appear before them, and ask more specific questions (if you still feel like it).

WistfulWriter7 · Feb 23, 2008

Ooh, that's a good idea. I think it's too late for it though miles. What I will do, however, is have them write down one thing they liked, one question if they had one reading it, and one thing they didn't like as much...or something to that effect. I think they will be more comfortable that way =)

WistfulWriter7 · Feb 24, 2008

Anyone else have any suggestions for questions I could ask? Thank you!

HeronW · Feb 24, 2008

1--Wear heels so you'll be taller :} (a tall hat helps too)
2--Ask what do they like to read, what action grips them, what characters and why, what's a tough thing they've had to deal with and would they write about it to figure it out, what do they look for when they read for pleasure? If one author is a fav, would they read other books even if they aren't in a series? What don't they like in characters? What have they read that seems faked?

Good luck!

Bufty · Feb 24, 2008

Re telling them where the story is going, I'd be very very hesitant about opening that can of worms. That takes the focus off the kids and on to you.

You could get straight to the point - Hi Guys -who managed to follow what was happening in those two chapters (and wanted to read more) ?

The response to that one question ought to show you where to direct your attention. Good luck.

Vomaxx · Feb 24, 2008

WistfulWriter7 said:
my plan is to ... tell them I am an alumni

You're an alumna (unless you are twins).

PattiTheWicked · Feb 24, 2008

I've found that kids that age sometimes need you to offer them options. Rather than asking, "What did you think?" and getting that awkward silence, followed by a tentative, "Uh... it was good?", you might try something like, "If you could change one thing about the main character, what would it be?" or "Did you think the scene where Tiffany bites her own finger was believable?"

ORION · Feb 24, 2008

As a (former) teacher. Avoid "yes" or "no" questions - One of the first questions.
Would you want to read more? why or why not.
What do you think might happen next in this book- why do you think that.
You should have who ever is interested sign up to be beta readers for the whole book - the teacher could give you feedback on which students in the class might be useful.
Do NOT give them your recap of what is going to happen in the story.
I just talked with 9th-12 grade English classes in two different schools- mostly they were interested in the process of publishing and I encouraged them to read and write on their own. Many had not read my book- be prepared for many students who avoided the assignment LOL

Provrb1810meggy · Feb 24, 2008

Make it clear that suggestions and criticisms are wanted. I remember in 7th and 8th grade, when we were supposed to look at the work of a classmate and give them feedback, it was, at most, finding a missing comma and saying, "It was good," because nobody wants to be mean and rip someone apart. They figure that is what their classmate wants, and actually, it might be...but obviously, you are not their classmate; you are a writer, and writers of course want critiques. Remember, they may not know that.

I agree with what everyone else said about asking specific questions.

Maybe give them different colored highlighters and ask them to highlight things, in a color-coded fashion, like:

1. the most boring part of the text
2. the most interesting part of the text
3. their favorite piece of dialogue
4. dialogue that doesn't sound real/like someone their age
5. a paragraph where the MC is likeable
6. a paragraph where the MC isn't likeable
7. and so on...

The Scip · Feb 24, 2008

As a current teacher I think the questionnaires is a great idea. The kids who have the most insight and the best feedback for you won't necessarily be the ones who will speak up in class. This will help you get ideas even from the ones who are shy and afariad to speak up.

Khazarkhum · Feb 24, 2008

I volunteer with Jr High kids. Since I make them the costumes for their plays, I get to hear all kinds of things they won't tell their teachers.

Do you have a costume that's something from your book? If you dress like one of your characters, you'll instantly get their attention--something they don't have in bulk!

I agree with introducing yourself, explaining what you do, and then telling them that they are a critical part of the process. Make them feel as special as they are, because that will get them even more involved. Kids want to feel like they are a part
of something.

Do you have any props used in the book? Letting them see & handle those helps get them thinking.

You will have to ask leading questions at first. Things like, "What do you think this is used for? Do you think it will be important?" They won't ask questions until the ice is broken.

Have a good sense of humor. If you see two kids whispering, you can draw attention to them by saying something like, "Aww, that's so cute." Everyone will laugh & it will keep them focussed.

blacbird · Feb 24, 2008

A good place to start would be:

"Dude, like WTF?"

caw

bluntforcetrauma · Feb 24, 2008

By your avatar, you're an attractive young lady. The boys are gonna show off. Go sit by he rowdiest one and he'll shrink back into his seat, red-faced.

Danger Jane · Feb 24, 2008

Meggy's got some really good suggestions. Yes or no questions are probably not a great idea, like other posters have said. I teach middle schoolers violin, and it's tough to get them animated at first, but once you engage them, they're fine.

And yeah, the boys will show off. So it's a good idea to show them a little attitude, too, but be funny about it cos then the class will like you for showing them up, and they'll be likely to pay attention.

hammerklavier · Feb 24, 2008

1. Get them talking by having a prepared list of questions about the book. Things like, do you think it was right that character X did such and such. What would you have done?

2. Talk to them about how to go about writing a novel. Find some authorly quotes by authors they would know and talk about those.

WistfulWriter7 · Feb 24, 2008

Thank you everybody! This helps a lot. I'm a little nervous, but I can fake that away (besides school and writing, I've been performing since I was 3). =) I'm really excited too. I'll come back here on Monday night or Tuesday morning and tell you guys how it went. Wish me luck!

WildScribe · Feb 24, 2008

Good luck!!

otterman · Feb 24, 2008

There is one piece of advice I can give you as a teacher, and I"m not trying to worry you or prejudge how things will go. I thinks it's a great idea and will very well prove insightful and rewarding.
There is always a risk when you share something very close to your heart in a classroom setting. It is very likely some students will ridicule and insult your work or the kind of expectations you may have for them. They often don't mean to be malicious but are just not ready to engage in such an experience, especially with a guest. Ignore them and focus on the kids who make an honest effort to buy into what you're doing. They are the ones who will provide honest feedback on your work. If even one shows real interest, your experiment has been a success. Good luck and let us know how it went.

NicoleMD · Feb 28, 2008

WistfulWriter7 said:
Thank you everybody! This helps a lot. I'm a little nervous, but I can fake that away (besides school and writing, I've been performing since I was 3). =) I'm really excited too. I'll come back here on Monday night or Tuesday morning and tell you guys how it went. Wish me luck!

So it's Thursday already...How'd it go?

Nicole

spiros · Feb 29, 2008

Junior High Students

Wow, dejavoodoo!

Slightly off-topic but my MC is a 15-year old JH student. In preparation, I sat down with some kids that age and asked them the following questions (to get a feel for their thought-processes):

What is something you believe in strongly?
What one thing would you change in yourself?
What qualities do you admire in your best friend?
Where do you want to be in 20 years from now?
What is the most recent thing you’ve cried about?
What would you like to get better at?
Who helped you learn to ride a bicycle?

Their answers helped me understand how they think, which helps when writing about them. I'm 38 now so I really can't remember how I was at that age and besides, kids have changed so much that even if you remember how YOU were, you still need to ask questions like the above to see how TODAYS kids are.

My 0,02 Euros

What do you ask Junior High Students? (HELP!)

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