AP® English Language and Composition—Semester B

Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 11.03: "I'm a Normal"

Hickock's idea of target practice = not normal.
(Source)

Arguably, as a proud weirdo, Shmoop's biased. But…let's just start by saying that anyone who feels the need to claim, "I'm a normal," probably has a few issues. So when Dick takes this as his mantra…we're not surprised.

But, before we try to figure out what, exactly, Dick's issues might be—you know, besides the violent criminal part—let's focus on Dick's assertion itself. Particularly on the word "normal." Shmoop's guessing that, as good students of our friend Neil Postman, you probably have some cerebral fireworks going on—questions popping into your head about what Dick might mean by "normal."

Questions like:

• What's the definition of normal?
• Whose definition is it?
• Why has that particular definition endured?
• What purpose or agenda does the definition serve?
• What other definitions of normal might exist?

Who knew a normal little word like "normal" could be so complex, right?

Oh, right—we did.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 11.11.03: The Aftermath

As Holcomb struggles to come to grips with the Clutter murders and the KBI pursues all sorts of leads, Dick and Perry begin their journey towards whatever the future holds…destined to see it through, together, to the end.

For this lesson's reading, you'll be tackling the first half of Part Two (In Cold Blood, pages 77–113). Read through to the section break, ending with the line, "Boy! We sure splattered him!" (Have we mentioned recently that these guys have some serious issues?)

As you read, you'll want to pay attention to the usual rhetorical stuff and your blog themes and—because we know you love to-do lists—any and all references to what constitutes "normal" in the worlds of Dick, Perry, and everyone else. As usual, don't forget to update your blog after today's readings, too.

Remember, we've got you covered…so, check out our chapter summary if you want to make sure you didn't miss anything. (Watch for spoilers, though…we're only tackling the first half of the section in this lesson.)

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 11.03a: Normal Is Relative: Part One

So you know that list of questions from the Lesson Intro about Dick's brand of normal?

Well, you didn't actually think we'd forget about it, did you?

Good. Because we haven't. In fact, we've been pondering it ever since. And we hope you have, too. This activity—in which you get to do a little role-playing—depends on it.

Step One

Open two Word documents (or grab two pieces of paper), and label one Dick, and the other Perry. We're gonna have you start by answering the questions from the Lesson Intro twice: Once from Dick's perspective and once from Perry's. (Hence the two separate documents.) And, because we love us some creativity, you'll be writing in their voices, in the first person.

Here they are again, in case you need them:

• What's the definition of normal? 
• Whose definition is it?
• Why has that particular definition endured?
• What purpose or agenda does the definition serve?
• What other definitions of normal might exist?

And, yes, we totally realize that some of those questions are either super obvious (like whose definition is it) or redundant (like what other definitions might exist). Our advice: just roll with it.

At this point, your notes are for your eyes only. Just make 'em good, because they sure will come in handy later. As in Step Two later.

Step Two

Now that you've got the basics down, it's time to get your role-playing groove on. However, before you launch into your SNL-esque impersonations of Dick and Perry, let us fill you in on the deets.

• You'll be writing two diary entries or letters (your choice)—one from Dick's perspective and one from Perry's.
• The goal of each entry or letter: to articulate each man's views on what it means to be "normal," and to identify points of concern regarding those views. For example, Dick's concept of normal includes being "balanced" or "sane," and he uses these terms to distance himself from Perry's mental instability. Dick doesn't want others to think that there's "something wrong" with him (as he does of Perry). And Perry's concept? Well…we'll let you answer that one.
• Where appropriate, use specific textual evidence to support Dick's and Perry's views. Using brief quotes from Dick's and Perry's dialogue would be appropriate, as would referencing details like Perry's obsession with maps—if you felt that it supported your case.
• Use your answers to the questions posed in the introduction and again in Step One as a guide for each entry or letter.
• Strive to capture the essence of Dick's and Perry's voices, personalities, and perspectives through your choice of diction and syntax.
• Each entry or letter should be about 275–300 words long.
• Perhaps obvious, but something to keep in mind: Writing a letter is different from writing a diary entry. A letter is usually addressed to someone in particular, whereas a diary entry typically isn't—unless "Dear Diary" counts as a "someone in particular." Just keep this distinction in mind as you write.

See? Easy peasy. For example, we might start ours:

Dear Diary,

I think there must be something wrong with us…Dick and me. Despite what Dick says. He keeps calling himself "a normal," but there's no way what we've done is normal…

Now that you know what to do, it's time to get writing. Go ahead and write up a draft of each entry or letter.

Step Three

With your drafts done, it's time to revise and edit the two letters/entries as needed. Translation: make sure that each letter or diary entry

• has a clear central focus.
• addresses all of the key points and questions from Steps One and Two.
• uses language (syntax and diction) effectively.
• is written in Dick's/Perry's voice.

Basically, your goal is to submit two polished pieces of writing that address each of the bulleted questions and requirements outlined in Steps One and Two. And once you're satisfied with the results, go ahead and upload the entries/letters below. (Although this should go without saying, we'll say it anyway: don't forget to label the letter/diary entries so that we know which is which.)

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 11.03b: Normal Is Relative: Part Two

If Capote can try on all sorts of different voices, then why shouldn't we?

And by "we," we totally mean you.

For this activity, we're gonna have you do a bit more role-playing…this time as a psychiatrist. Your task: to consider the letters/entries written by "Dick" and "Perry" in the previous activity, and—using them as evidence—give your professional opinion on just where you think Perry and Dick fall on the scale of "normal."

Ready?

Great. Here's what you need to do.

Step One

Begin by brushing up on context and then establishing your own definition of what it means to be a "normal" man in Dick and Perry's time.

Given the objective of this activity, you'll want to concentrate specifically on what constitutes normal behavior for the average adult male participating in a mid-twentieth century American society. In other words…

• What expectations are placed on how he should interact with others? 
• What self-imposed checks should he place on his behavior? 
• His emotions?

Besides using a healthy dose of common sense to create your definition, you might find it helpful to consider what authors like Rousseau, Lao-tzu, and Thoreau might say about the individual's role in a society. (BTW—feel free to throw a few other authors into the mix.) Additionally, it's time to read up. Get some background on "normal" masculinity in the 1950s at these links:

• Shmoop on the 1950s
• "Masculinity, Gender Roles, and T.V. Shows from the 1950s"

We'd recommend doing a little brainstorming session before committing yourself to writing your definition of "normal." In sentence form.

Once you're satisfied with your definition, go ahead and record it where you've been keeping track of your notes.

Step Two

Now that you've established your point of reference, it's time to articulate the ways in which Dick and Perry deviate from your definition of normal.

To keep things simple, you'll want to focus on one individual at a time. Then, once you've finished with the first, go ahead and tackle the second.

We'll start with Dick. Using the letter/diary entry that you wrote from his perspective in Activity 11.3a and relevant passages from In Cold Blood, compare Dick's definition of "normal" to the one you wrote in Step One.

A few things to consider include Dick's take on

• responsibility to others—given the time period and its more narrowly defined gender roles, it may be helpful considering different subgroups; for example, responsibility to men, to women, to children. 
• responsibility to self. 
• moral responsibility.
• one's relationship to the laws of society.
• expectations governing one's emotional maturity.

You're gonna want to jot your thoughts down to help you keep track of talking points later. No worries, though—we won't peek.

Once you have a reasonable amount of info, it's time to move on to the next step.

Step Three

Guess what? You're about to go from criminal to reputable psychiatrist in one lesson.

Yep. It's time to don your psychiatrist's hat and write up an evaluation of Dick's behavior. As with the last activity, Shmoop totally wants you to do your best impression—this time, of a psychiatrist.

That being said, we do not expect a formal psychiatric report.

Really. We don't.

We're totally cool with you using your most objective, detached, and professional-sounding voice. After all, the goal of the evaluation you'll be writing is simply to use what you know of Dick in order to analyze the degree to which his behavior and ways of thinking match up with or deviate from your definition of normal.

For example, Shmoop's report on Dick might start out something like this:

The subject is Dick Hickock, male, aged 28.

After conducting extensive interviews with the subject and reviewing his personal and criminal histories, it is the opinion of this evaluator that Dick Hickock understands the expectations, laws, and norms of society but is indifferent as to whether or not he follows them.

(At this point, Shmoop would briefly reference general societal norms and then discuss, in greater detail, how Dick's behavior and ways of thinking coincide with or deviate from those norms.)

As in the last activity, you'll want to support your assessment with appropriate textual evidence—quotes, references to specific details or behaviors, Dick's assessment of Perry (and Perry's assessment of Dick) are all fair game. Aim for about 275–300 words for your evaluation.

See? That's not so bad. Once you've written a solid draft, move on to Step Four.

Step Four

One down, one to go.

Repeat Steps Two and Three…this time, focusing on Perry.

Step Five

With your drafts done, it's time to revise and edit the "evaluations." Basically, your goal is to submit two polished pieces of writing that fulfill the requirements outlined in the steps above. As you revise, don't just look to run spell check. You should be focusing on perfecting your content and context—is your psychiatric report and what it contains realistic to the 1950s and its definition of masculinity?

(Remember, Shmoopers—this was a time when gender and sexuality norms were often enforced by the police. Times were different back then; make sure your report doesn't read like one written by a touchy-feely modern therapist.)

Once you're satisfied with the results, upload your psychiatrist reports below. (Although this should go without saying, we'll say it anyway: don't forget to label the reports so that we know which is which.)

Sample Lesson - Activity