Questions for Ryan's Story

BULLYCIDE:   Ryan’s Story:

Go to www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org, read the story, and answer the questions on this form.

**Each answer must be 30 words or more

**Put the number of words next to your answer

1.     This website was created by Ryan’s family. Why do you think they made it? (What was a possible purpose?) ____

2.     Paragraph 1: Why do you think his dad calls it something different? What do you think of what he calls it? What is the tone based on what he calls it? _____

3.     Based on Paragraph 2, describe his parents’ personality and strengths.  Tell why you think this paragraph is important in knowing Ryan’s story. ______

4.      Paragraph 3: How come you think this set up Ryan to be a target? Why wasn’t he targeted more in his earlier years? What changes in people’s tolerance as they get older?

5.     Paragraph 4 talks about several types of intelligence. Which one is your strongest form of intelligence? Why? What area is your weakest? Why? Which area of intelligence do you think is hardest to cope with not having/being good at? Why?

6.     Paragraph 5, what do you think is it about 5^th grade that made bullying really begin? (Not, what was wrong with Ryan, but WHY was 5^th grade the time it really began?) Why do you think Ryan seemed fine by the therapist?

7.     Do you think the middle school experience discussed in Paragraph 6 & 7 is common? Here in Alaska? What have you seen in middle schools? What do you think the traditional MS experience is like? Why? Some say that MS is the toughest time in life. Why do you think that is? What can make it easier?

8.     Read Paragraph 8. Why do people, “bottle up”? How did it help me/hurt him? Tell about a time you bottled something up. Why did you do it? What happened as a result? If you could go back and hit the redo button, knowing what you know now, how would you change that experience?

9.     Paragraph 9- What do you think of Ryan’s solution? Why do you think parents are reluctant to give into this wish? What concerns might they have? What do you think Ryan’s solution said about how he was feeling? What makes you think that?

10.   Paragraph 10 & 11. What does it say about the parents by what they got him for Christmas? Why? Do you think it was a good idea? Why or why not? Give a general response to what you read in these paragraphs.

11.   Paragraph 12 & 13. What do you think went wrong? Why do you think the events went the way they did? Is it more damaging if someone you think is a friend hurts you? Why/why not?

12.   Paragraph 14 & 15: What do you think of his parent’s internet rules? How did those rules help uncover the details of his suicide? Based on this and in thinking about “right to privacy”, what are your thoughts on these rules? How might you have this rule (especially the password one and be able to trust your parents aren’t snooping)?

13.   Paragraph 16 & 17 (starts with, “A few days after…”) Why do you think this was such a huge hit for Ryan? How do you think he was feeling at that time? (Put yourself in his shoes) How can someone recover from that?

14.  Read Paragraph 18 & 19.  Why do you think Ryan’s parents felt he would have been able to survive had all this happened before the internet? What is it about Cyber bullying that for many, is worse than traditional bullying? Why do you think teen suicide rates are on the rise?

15.  Paragraph 20. Why do you think it’s harder to recognize “clinical depression” in teens?  Does being depressed make dealing with the bullying harder? Why/why not? Have you ever felt depressed or known someone who was? How did it impact your/their day-to-day life?

16.   Paragraph 21: Do you agree? Talk about it? Who/what else might also be a contributor to the bullying epidemic? Why?

17.   Why do you think his parent’s approach (in the last 2 paragraphs) helps others?