Based on your reading of "Disarming the Rage" and
"Bully, Bully," answer the following questions.
"Disarming the Rage"
- Take the most basic definition you can derive from this essay and a few insights and apply them to situations with which you are familiar. Your examples may come from your childhood experiences.
- Using the idea about the characteristics shared by bullies and victims, discuss bullies you observed growing up.
- If you had enormous power as an educator, what would you do to curtail bullying? Discuss the main characteristics of bullying in relation to your plan. Give credit to this essay or any other sources.
"Bully, Bully"
- Write an analysis of Leo's essay, and evaluate his ideas. To what extent do you agree with him? Examine the definitions along with him and explain what you think is and is not workable. Ask your instructor if you should separate your main summary from your critical reaction.
- Discuss Leo's reservations about the definition of bullying from the national study as they apply to the examples of bullying and consequent bullying in "Disarming the Rage." Explain how the definition should be narrowed, if at all.
Paired Sources on Bullying
- Write about the practice of bullying as you have witnessed or experienced it. "Disarming the Rage" accepts the definition developed by the national study, whereas "Bully, Bully" rejects it as being too broad. Give your views on both positions in your essay, as you construct your own definition of the word bully.
