Activity Overview
In this activity students will identify the cause and effect of events in the text. At the beginning of the novel, Jeffrey is sent to live with his aunt and uncle who do not get along. He is so disturbed by this, that during a school play, he stands on the stage yelling, “TALK!” and then runs away.
Another cause and effect relationship begins when Mars Bar and his friends surround Maniac, ready to beat him up. Amanda Beale steps in, rescues him and takes him to her house. Shortly after his rescue, Maniac realizes the trouble he is causing the Beales when “FISHBELLY” is sprayed on their house. He doesn’t want to be a burden on the family, so he runs away to the West End.
The text structure of Maniac Magee is cause and effect; therefore an entire cause and effect chain can be created to show how the story progresses.
Note: teachers may want to teach students how to use a T-Chart before assigning this activity.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows cause and effect relationships in Maniac Magee. Each cause and effect pair will be shown in the same row.
- On the left side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that show cause (why).
- On the right side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that are the direct effect of that cause.
- Write a description below each cause.
- In the description under each effect, show how the cause and effect are related.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
How To Facilitate the Discussion on Analyzing Cause and Effect
Start With Clear Learning Objectives
Teachers should be clear on the learning objectives of this activity. They should identify what they will be teaching the students and what kind of response they will expect from the students.
Give Simple Introductions
Teachers can give simple introductions to students without using any complicated language. They can tell them why cause and effect is used and its importance in the storyline. Teachers can also give real-life examples to help students get more familiar with the concept.
Use Activities
Teachers can organize activities where students can perform any play including different characters. Throughout the play, students will be observing the consequences of their actions.
Encourage Class Discussions
After the play, teachers can ask the students to carry out a discussion regarding their characters and observations. Students will then discuss with the entire class how their character faced these consequences and how things could have gone differently.
Reflect
Teachers can help students guide the discussion and ask them to summarize the key points of this discussion and what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Analyzing Cause and Effect in Maniac Magee
What are some of the major incidents in the novel that are connected through cause and effect?
Maniac's entrance in Two Mills, his meetings with various characters, his attempts to heal the racial barrier, and the ultimate transformation of the village are a few major events with cause and effect relationships in the book. All these incidents later had an impact on his life that became the reason for the ending.
How does the community change as a result of Maniac's presence in Two Mills?
The entrance of Maniac upends the ethnic and social barriers in Two Mills. His presence challenges the residents' preexisting assumptions and causes changes in the way they interact with one another. His struggles also blurred some boundaries between the two communities.
What happened because of Maniac’s friendship with Amanda Beale and Mars Bars Thompson?
Maniac's relationships with Amanda Beale and Mars Bar Thompson contribute to the community's racial barrier being gradually bridged. The relationships disprove prejudices and aid in bridging racial divides in the eyes of others.
What contributes to the conflict between the East End and West End neighborhoods, and how does Maniac deal with it?
Historical racial divisions and deeply rooted prejudices are to blame for the conflict between the East End and West End populations. Maniac deals with this problem by making friends with people on both sides and defying social norms.
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