You will be divided up into the following groups:

Group One
The Victims--The Clutter Family

Truman Capote tried to help bring the Clutter family members to life. Is he successful in making them real? Does he make them sympathetic? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents the Clutter family.

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents the Clutter family.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand the Clutters' internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best represent the Clutter family members and their characters.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat the murderers more sympathetically than the Clutters? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.

Group Two
The Murderer--Perry Smith

Truman Capote tried to bring the murderers to life. Is he successful in making Perry real? Does he make him sympathetic? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents Perry.

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents Perry.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand Perry's internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best represent Perry and his character.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat Perry better than Dick? Should he have devoted more time to the Clutters? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.

Group Three
The Murderer--Dick Hickock

Truman Capote tried to bring the murderers to life. Is he successful in making Dick real? Does he make him sympathetic? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents Dick.

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents Dick.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand Dick's internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best represent Dick and his character.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat Dick better than Perry? Should he have devoted more time to the Clutters? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.

Group Four
The Law--Al Dewey

Truman Capote tried to bring this case of mass murder to life. Is he successful in making the law enforcement side--represented by Al Dewey-- real? Does he make him sympathetic? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents Al Dewey.

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents Al Dewey.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand Al Dewey's internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best represent Al Dewey and his character.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat the murderers better than law enforcement? Should he have devoted more time to the Clutters? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.

Group Five
The Murderers' Families

Truman Capote tried to help bring the mass murderers--including their own family members-- to life. Is he successful in making them real? Does he make them sympathetic? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents a member of the Smith or Hickock families.

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents a member of the Smith or Hickock families.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand the family members' internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best represent the Hickock o Smith family members and their characters.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat the murderers' families more sympathetically than the Clutters? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.

Group Six
The Crime

Truman Capote tried to help bring this case of mass murder to life. Is he successful in making it seem real? Do you feel like you were there observing this? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents a key moment of the murders.

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents what transpired during the murders.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand either the murderers or the victims' internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions at the moment of the crime? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best describe the murders.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat the murderers more sympathetically than the Clutters? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.

Group Seven
The Town

Truman Capote tried to help bring this case of mass murder to life. Is he successful in making this town seem like a real place? Does he make the townspeople seem sympathetic? Analyze this aspect of In Cold Blood using the following:

1. Dramatic scenes: Pick at least one dramatic scene that best represents a towns person (don't pick Al Dewey--he's another group).

2. Use of dialogue: Pick at least one example of "recreated dialogue" that best represents a towns person.

3. Point of View: Was Capote successful in allowing the reader to understand the towns persons' internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions? Give at least one example.

4. Status details: Include at least three examples that best represent the townspeople and their characters.

Truman Capote was seen as the person in the forefront of the "New Journalism" movement, which broke many of the "rules" of traditional journalism. Do you feel Capote used these techniques effectively in In Cold Blood? Use the following criteria:

5. Objectivity, Fairness and Balance: Did Capote diverge from these expectations? Did he take sides or show favoritism to one character over another? For example, did he treat the murderers and their families more sympathetically than the people of the town? If so, give at least two examples.

6. Clear writing: Did Capote diverge from the traditional style of declarative, complete sentences? If so, give at least two sentence examples.

The examples and excerpts from the book should be typed and handed in the day your group does the presentation. You do not have to write them in a "paper" format or with any written explanation; you can just list them next to the number of the question. You can pick one person to present your findings, or two--or all of you--can present them orally if you are so inclined. No one will be penalized if he or she feels uncomfortable presenting before the class.