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8th Grade “Killer Angels” Historical Novel Unit
This historical novel unit will be an independent study related to the Pulitzer Prize winning
Civil War novel, “Killer Angels.” The goal is to deepen your understanding of the Battle of
Gettysburg and its impact on the people and events of the Civil War era. There are multiple parts, and
it would be in your best interest not to wait until the last minute to try and complete this activity.
All work should be neatly bound in a bradded folder with a decorated cover that is related to
your novel or the Civil War. Uniformity of presentation will be an important part of the final
evaluation.
Due Date: __________________________________
These are the various activities that will need to be completed and their point values.
Formative Grades: 120 pts
1. Reader Response Journals (3)
3 x 40 pts
Summative Grade: 280 points
2. Dialectical Journals
80 pts
3. Historical Characters
50 pts
4. Map
50 pts
5. Reading Check Quizzes (2)
2 x 50 pts
Unit Activities
Reader Response Journals (120 pts)
Critical reading/thinking is a crucial part of literacy development, and it can't be enhanced through
study guides or worksheets. Critical thinking goes beyond regurgitation of facts. Critical
thinkers/readers can be described as
 one
who acts out a disposition to think and speak as an individual pitting his or her
judgments against others
 one
who counters, complements, compares, and supplements information given by others
 one
who lays claim to knowledge based out of assertions and counter assertions to the
knowledge presented by others
 one
who makes frequent verbal displays of knowledge
 one
who focuses on the actual process of thinking about a subject, action, or problem
Critical thinking is thinking about thinking!
Therefore, to practice these skills, you will be writing reader response journals---having a conversation
with the book. These responses will be included in your folder. Below you will find four different
types of responses. You will choose two types of responses for each book group discussion.
Responses are not plot summaries!
Responses are pure commentary!
Responses do not have to be written in any particular organizational structure, only reflect depth of
thought. You indicate which type of response you have chosen by incorporating the verb into you
response.
We will be meeting 3 times in groups to share responses with others about our reactions to the novel.
Each group will decide how to divide up the book so that all members will have read and responded
to the same portion of the novel. Most groups will need to have 4 members. There must be a
minimum of 3 people reading a book to form a book group.
Each discussion date is worth 40 pts. You will be evaluated on your participation in the discussion as
well as the completeness and depth of thought displayed in your written responses.
Discussion dates are:
1.) __________________________
2.) __________________________
3.) __________________________
(This discussion should focus on the end of the book)
Dialectical Journals (80 pts)
The quote you choose is worth 2 pts and the commentary is worth 3 pts.
You must cite your source. Author and page number(s) should follow each quote. (See examples)
Your responses can be written directly on the handouts in the appendix or you may retype them.
1. Select 3 major characters. Choose 3 quotes for each character that illustrate 3 important qualities that
they bring to the Battle of Gettysburg; i.e. courage, sense of duty, loyalty, intelligence, etc. (45 pts)
2. Select 2 quotes from the Union Army and 2 from the Confederate Army that help explain why
different men were willing to risk their lives in this battle/war. (20 pts)
3. Select 3 quotes from 3 different characters that best exemplify how geography would play/played a
role in the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg. (15 pts)
Historical Characters (50 pts)
1. Select 5 historical characters that appear in your book. Rank them in order of importance to the
story starting with the most important. Write a brief 5-sentence explanation to justify your
ranking. (30 pts)
2. Select 2 of your 5 historical figures and briefly cover the highlights of their lives after the book
ends. This will require you to do some research. You may NOT use the biographic sketches in the
back of The Killer Angels, Gods and Generals, or Last Full Measure for your paragraphs. (20 pts)
Geographic Map (50 pts)
You must create a map tracing the journey of one of the main characters. The map should mark 4
significant events in the story line. The map should be drawn to scale, colored, and include a key and
compass rose. The map may not be a duplicate of any map included in the novel, nor can it be
copied/scanned.
Types of Reader Responses:
What do you notice?
 Do you notice any changes in the personality of your protagonist or antagonist?
 Do you notice any emphasis on an object or minor character that might be important later?
 Do you notice any repeating patterns in the book?
 Do you notice the significance of the title of the chapter you are reading?
 Do you notice anything unusual about the book's beginning or ending?
What do you question?
 Do you question any of the decisions that a character has made?
 Do you wonder what a certain passage in the book might mean?
 Do you question whether the author realistically presented a certain part of your book?
 Do you question if something that happened in the author's life might have influenced the writing of this
novel?
What do you feel?
 Does any part of the book make you feel scared, annoyed, sad, frustrated, or horrified? Which part? Why?
 Do you feel differently about a character or situation in the novel now than you felt before?
 Why have your feelings changed?
 Do you want to read another novel by the same author? Why or Why not?
What do you relate to?
Does anything in the book remind you of something from your own experience, or a movie, or a TV program, a
song, or another book your have read? Discuss that relationship.
Sample student responses to the models:
The Pigman: I think The Pigman just keeps getting better and better. I am noticing a change in John's
personality, and I think it is for the better. I don't think he would admit to it, but I think he sort of feels sorry for
Angelo Pignati. Right now I feel very sorry for Pignati. He wants so much to have company and to not be alone,
that it is amazing. I noticed that Angelo Pignati is just like a little kid. He wants to show John and Lorraine his
pigs, just like a little kid would want to show someone his toys. It's like he's proud of his pigs.....
Us Against Them: I knew it would happen. Covington found a flaw in their plan. He's going to capitalize
on their mistake and catch them in the act. I question two things. First, I wonder why Reed doesn't come to
Marcy's house when he said he would. Could he have run into trouble and got himself hurt? He promised he
would be there. Second, why does Devon go back to the mountains? There aren't any benefits from doing
this....He doesn't know where Reed is. He doesn't know his way around the mountains that well, so he could
get lost or hurt. Even if he does find Reed, Covington will know something is wrong when Devon isn't home for
a while.
The Call of the Wild: When I was reading this chapter, I felt so much anger and frustration towards the
two men and the woman that I almost slammed my pillow. Buck was going through some bad treatment
before, but this was the worst of all. These men killed 10 dogs and almost killed Buck. That is why I felt so
happy when John Thorton saved Buck's life. Those men and that woman almost deserved to die for such abuse.
Dialectical Journal Example - April Morning
Character: Moses Cooper
Moses Cooper is not a person who does
something just because it is the easy thing to do.
“Destroy them? Give me the minutes, and I will
He believes that the men of the town need to
bear them home with me, so that my children and stand up for what is right, and if they aren’t going
their children may see that we did not fail to rise to do it as a group, then he will do it individually.
when history demanded it!” (Fast 31)
He is a man of courage and conviction that is not
afraid to let others know where he stands on an
issue.
“If I had forbade him to sign the muster book
then and there, I would have lost a son. Is that
what you want? But I saw him there so tall and
strong I could have wept. You can’t shelter him
now. You can’t shield him. There comes a time,
and this is that time—“
(Fast 75)
Even though the relationship between Moses and
his son Adam has not always been easy one.
Moses cares very much about his son, but he also
understands there come a time in life when
children become adults. In this case
circumstances are forcing Adam to become an
adult before either of his parents would have
wanted him to. Moses also understands that to
stand in the way progress would only hurt if not
destroy his relationship with his son. I think that
this is a situation that all parents have to go
through with their children, and many may find
it hard to accept the change in their own son or
daughter.
“All I am asking, … is to avoid accidents. I’m
saying that we don’t cock our guns or handle
triggers. We show our selves here, plain, firm,
and quiet. We talk. This is our village and our
land.” (Fast 87)
Even when he is standing up for what he believes
in, Moses is a prudent man. He doesn’t want
unnecessary violence, so he wants measures
taken to prevent them. This is their village and
therefore the place where the friends and families
live. He wants to try and balance the need to
stand up for one’s convictions with also
protecting one’s family and friends.
Reader Response #1
Reader Response #2
Reader Response #3
Dialectical Journal #1—Character Qualities
For the selected character discuss 3 quotes that reflect the most
important qualities that character brings to the Battle of Gettysburg
Character:
Dialectical Journal #2—Character Qualities
For the selected character discuss 3 quotes that reflect the most
important qualities that character brings to the Battle of Gettysburg
Character:
Dialectical Journal #3—Character Qualities
For the selected character discuss 3 quotes that reflect the most
important qualities that character brings to the Battle of Gettysburg
Character:
Dialectical Journal #4—Motivation
Select 2 quotes from the Union Army and 2 from the Confederate Army
that help explain why men were willing to risk their lives in this battle/war.
Union Army
Confederate Army
Dialectical Journal #5—Geography and Gettysburg
Historically, geography has always played a major role in determining the outcome of battles.
Give three quotes relating how geography would play/did play a role in the outcome of the battle.
Character (if applicable):
Character (if applicable):
Character (if applicable):
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS RANKING
Select 5 historical characters that appear in your book. Rank them in order of importance to
the story starting with the most important. Write a brief 5-sentence explanation to justify your ranking.
Character #1:
Character #2:
Character #3:
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS RANKING
Character #4:
Character #5:
Historical Character Biographical Sketch
Select 1 of the 5 historical figures from your rankings and briefly cover the highlights of their lives after the book ends.
Character:
Historical Character Biographical Sketch
Select 1 of the 5 historical figures from your rankings and briefly cover the highlights of their lives after the book ends.
Character:
Geographic Map
You must create a map tracing the journey of one of the main
characters. The map should mark 4 significant events in the story line.
Character: ______________________________