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Due Friday, February 3rd.

Over the course of three typed pages (12 font, double-spaced, reg. margins), address the two endings of the book.

The first ending is the conclusion of Beah's story in Africa. Use text from throughout the book for support (including from the last set of chapters). When you write about this conclusion, make an argument for how choosing to end his story in this way might help support a larger idea/theme you've seen Beah develop throughout the book. Start with the question, "Why might he end his story as a boy soldier in this way?" and go from there. Use text from throughout the book for support (including from the last set of chapters).

The second ending you should address is the story-riddle he tells in the last two pages. First, explain what the riddle means to you. Second, analyze Beah's possible purpose in closing his book with it. Why do you think he chose to devote his last two pages to that riddle? How might that ending help support an argument or an idea he's been showing us all along? Use text from throughout the book for support (including from the last set of chapters).

Make sure you are addressing specific language--not just general detail. Find places in the text where you feel comfortable addressing Beah's word choice, how he structures sentences, etc. If you write about anything else another person says to Beah, you can only address it as a piece of text that Beah has chosen to include.