Montana 1948

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Debate: “The Hayden Family’s Final Choice”

In this activity, students will debate either for or against the following statement: The Hayden family made the right decision to keep Frank’s crimes a secret.

Throughout the novella, the different characters grapple with the decision of siding with the Hayden family or the law. For this Activity, you will participate in a debate where you argue either for or against the following assertion: Considering the time and place of the story, the Hayden family made the right decision to keep Frank’s crimes a secret. Working with your classmates, develop an argument, including opening and closing statements as well as rebuttals, that supports your point of view. Be sure to rehearse your argument with your group prior to the in-class debate. Finally, participate in a post-debate class discussion, where you analyze and reflect on each team’s argumentative approaches, as well as discuss the novella’s themes of Racism, Wild West, Law and Law Enforcement, and Family Loyalty.

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity invites students to analyze the content of the novella in the context of group work and oral argumentation. Consider reminding students that they should use this Activity as an opportunity to practice developing argumentative skills, which means they do not need to be on the team of the side they realistically support. This teacher-facing resource from Harvard University provides guidance on facilitating in-class debates.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who struggle with verbal participation or for those who would benefit from the opportunity to strengthen their argumentative writing skills, this Activity may be amended to an argumentative essay in which students respond to the following question: What are the effects of hiding Frank’s transgressions? Does this perpetuate violence against traditionally marginalized peoples? Why or why not?

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. David considers his father’s attitude toward Indigenous Americans racist.

• At what point does Wesley change his views on equal rights for Indigenous American people? (topic sentence)
• Analyze the narrative to show when, how, and why Wesley’s character develops in relation to his attitude toward Indigenous Americans.
• In your concluding sentence or sentence, consider whether Wesley is permanently “cured” of Racism and explain your reasoning.

2. Watson’s novella is considered a Coming-of-Age/Adolescence story.

• In what ways is David a child at the beginning of the story? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least two examples from the text that demonstrate David’s personal growth and maturation.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss the ways in which David is an adult by the time of his uncle’s death and the ways in which he is still a child.

3. Consider the resemblance between Bentrock, Montana, and the Wild West of the 19th century.

• How are conflicts addressed within the story? (topic sentence)
• Find at least two examples from the text where the Bentrock community deals with a particular problem.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, consider the theme of the Wild West and discuss whether the town of Bentrock is a “wild” or “civilized” place to live.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. The mature David at 52 years old believes that keeping secrets is what led to the health problems of his grandfather, father, and Len. What is the relationship between stress and health in the text? Do you agree or disagree with David’s diagnoses? What does the desire to maintain secrecy about certain subjects indicate about the values of the Bentrock community?

2. The novella is very clear in its depiction of white people’s racist attitudes toward Indigenous Americans. In what ways does it also describe social prejudice against women? How are Indigenous women further marginalized by white patriarchal society?

3. Watson gives particular attention to the description of firearms and ammunition throughout the novella. How does Watson use firearms to symbolize emotions? Explain how each use of a gun depicts a specific emotion for the character involved. How does the presence of firearms overall link to the central themes of Racism, Coming of Age/Adolescence, Wild West, Law and Law Enforcement, or Family Loyalty?

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. In Chapter 1, David recalls that, “That’s the way these images coexist in my memory, like the Sioux picture calendars in which the whole year’s events are painted on the same buffalo hide, or like a tapestry with every scene woven into the same cloth, every moment on the same flat plane, the summer of 1948. . .” Which of the following literary terms does David use in this quote?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor

C) Allusion

D) Allegory

2. Which of the following words best summarizes how David feels about his father’s work in the beginning of the novella?

A) Delighted

B) Depressed

C) Disappointed

D) Doubtless

3. Which of the following reasons best describes why David’s grandfather gave David’s father the position of sheriff?

A) Because he lost in the election to his son

B) Because he could retain his power by proxy

C) Because he believed his son was better suited for the job

D) Because he became disillusioned with the work

4. Which of the following words does David associate with living in town?

A) Excitement

B) Distress

C) Amusement

D) Opportunity

5. In recollecting his love for Marie Little Soldier in Chapter 5, David says, “Because she talked to me, cared for me. . . . Because she was older but not too old. . . . Because she was not as quiet and conventional as every other adult I knew. . . . Because she was sexy, though my love for her was, as a twelve-year-old’s love often is, chaste.” Which of the following literary terms does David use in this quote?

A) Allegory

B) Allusion

C) Alliteration

D) Anaphora

6. What is David’s instinct when he sees his father arguing with Uncle Frank?

A) To run away

B) To find his mother

C) To pull out his gun

D) To intervene

7. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn about David’s grandfather’s reaction to his son Frank’s crimes?

A) He is shocked and ashamed.

B) He is aware and amused.

C) He is supportive and encouraging.

D) He is apathetic and nonchalant.

8. What do the events surrounding Frank’s arrest indicate?

A) Wesley prioritizes his family’s last name over the law.

B) Frank is too cunning to be held responsible for his actions.

C) David’s grandfather is an influential man.

D) Wesley experiences inner turmoil in making the arrest.

9. Which of the following phrases best describes why Wesley talks to his son about painting houses?

A) A question regarding the aesthetics of their small town

B) An escape from the difficulty of reality

C) A commentary on the necessity of home design

D) A reference to the increase of materialism in post–WWII America

10. Which of the following elements of nature appear frequently throughout the text?

A) Wind

B) Leaves

C) Rivers

D) Mountains

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. What is the narration style of the novella? How does this affect the development of the plot?

2. What is the structure of the novella? How does it shape the narrator’s point of view?