Name:

Student Journal
Reading Schedule
Group members:
The Wave Student Journal Due Date Discussion Date
Introduction Pages 24
Chapters 15 Pages 56
Chapters 611 Pages 78
Chapters 1217 Pages 910
The Exchange
Assessment
The Wave
by Todd Strasser
What happens
when loyalty is
unquestioned?
The Wave
Student Journal page 2 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Getting Started
What If?
You made the basketball team even though you know your basketball
skills need work. In fact, your older sisters friend, Ceci, convinced the
team captain to pick you. Now you want to do anything you can to help
Ceci. She has asked you to break into a rival school and take its state
championship trophy from a locked case.
You know this prank happens every year on Initiation Night. Ceci warns
you not to back out, or you will suffer harsh consequences. Your parents
have a small business in town and their business depends on their good
reputation. Right now, the business is struggling. A criminal record will
hurt you and your family.
Make notes about how this would affect you.
What would you do? Why?
What is your duty to Ceci and the team?
Would you still feel like part of the team if you did not do the prank?
Connect to The Exchange Question Discuss how this situation
could relate to The Exchange Question: What happens when loyalty is
unquestioned? Summarize your discussion.
The Wave
Student Journal page 3 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Introduction
Read the Introduction on pages 79 in The Wave. The Introduction will
help you understand key concepts in the book. Knowing them will help
you discuss and write about the book.
The Introduction includes information about
the experiment the novel is based on
the dictator Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party
the history teacher who created the Third Wave experiment
fascism
After you read the Introduction, answer these questions to check your
understanding.
1. What is a fascist mentality? How is it believed to affect human
behavior?
2. What was the environment created by Hitler in Nazi Germany that Ron
Jones tried to recreate in his classroom?
3. Why did Ron Jones decide to conduct an experiment with his
students? How does Ron Jones describe the experiment?
The Wave
Student Journal page 4 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Introduction: Key Concepts
Concept Map
Study the Concept Map for idealism. Write a sentence using the word
idealism.
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On a separate sheet of paper, create a similar Concept Map for each of
the Key Concept words. Write what the word is like (Characteristics) and
what the word is not like. Use a dictionary to include a definition of the
word and examples. Then write a sentence for each Key Concept word.
Key Concepts
controversy
idealism
identity
morale
superior
Concept Map
idealism
Characteristics of concept: Not characteristic of concept:
belief that perfection
is possible
Definition of concept
world peace
believing students will always do honest work
Examples of concept
dreams realistic viewpoint
Key Concept
high standards
belief in goodness
negative attitude
no faith in dreams
The Wave
Student Journal page 5 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Respond to Chapters 15
1. Personal Response Laurie is really upset after seeing the film about
the Holocaust. What event in history upsets you? Why?
2. Cause and Effect In Chapter 5, what effect does Ben Rosss new
teaching method have on his students morale? How have they
changed? Use the word morale in your response.
3. Conclusions Ben Ross emphasizes discipline in his classroom,
demands obedience from his students, and trains them to react
without thought. How might this help his students to better understand
the Nazis actions?
4. Generate Questions Write a question about this section for someone
else reading this book. Exchange questions with them. Do you agree
with their answer?
The Wave
Student Journal page 6 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Respond to Chapters 15, continued
5. Character In this section, you learn about Mr. Ross and his history
class. Read the goal. Then write the events and the outcome that
occur. Use the Chart to answer the question.
Do you think that Mr. Ross will continue the experiment? Why or why not?
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Mr. Ross wants
students to
understand what
life was like in
Nazi Germany.
Outcome
Goal Events
Goal and Outcome Chart
The Wave
Student Journal page 7 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Respond to Chapters 611
1. Personal Response At Gordon High, The Wave gains membership
and the group grows. What are the social groups at your school? How
do these groups improve or worsen the school community?
2. Comparisons How has Roberts identity changed since The Wave
began? How do Wave members view themselves in comparison to
nonmembers? Use the words identity and superior in your response.
3. Characters Point of View Lauries mother is the first person to object
to the idea of The Wave. Why does she come to this conclusion after
Laurie tells her only a few details about the movement?
4. Generate Questions Write a question about this section for someone
else reading this book. Exchange questions with them. Do you agree
with their answer?
The Wave
Student Journal page 8 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Respond to Chapters 611, continued
5. Foreshadowing The Wave movement grows stronger. List events that
show The Waves development in the Sequence Chain.
Sequence Chain
How does the growing popularity of The Wave foreshadow dangers in
the future?
2.
1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The Wave
Student Journal page 9 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Respond to Chapters 1217
1. Personal Response As more students join The Wave, parents begin
to oppose it. Have you or someone you know of ever taken a stand
that other people opposed? What happened?
2. Argument In Chapter 12, what is the controversy between Laurie and
David? How does she support her argument? Use the words idealism
and controversy in your response.
3. Comparisons How do Laurie and Amy react differently to the growing
popularity of The Wave? Why?
What If?
4. Connect Look at your notes on Student Journal, page 2. Think about what might
happen if you are always loyal, no matter what. Compare this to The Wave. How do
you decide when it is appropriate to question loyalty?
The Wave
Student Journal page 10 of 10 Hampton-Brown
Respond to Chapters 1217, continued
5. Opinion Ben Ross ends The Wave experiment. List the events that
lead to the end of the experiment in the Cause and Effect Chart.
Cause and Effect Chart
Do you think The Wave experiment was a success? Explain. In your
opinion, could the students learn the same lesson without participating
in the experiment? How?
Causes Effects