READING BOOK:

The Age of Innocence

2nd Bchto. D

TEACHER:

Visitación Berrocal Calderón

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE

Newland Archer has just married the beautiful May Welland. The sensational arrival of May's cousin- Ellen-, who has recently returned to America after separating from her husband, is shocking the New York aristocracy with her revealing clothes, carefree manners, and rumors of adultery. As Archer starts to know Ellen, he begins to appreciate her unconventional views on New York society. Meanwhile, Archer becomes disillusioned with May. Soon, Archer realizes that he loves Ellen. But he feels obliged to act on behalf of the Mingott family and persuade Ellen to remain with her husband. Then, Archer and May marry and after their wedding and honeymoon in Europe, Archer and May settle down in New York.
Twenty-five years pass. In that time, the Archers have had three children and May has died from pneumonia. Now Archer's son convinces him to travel to France. There, they arrange to visit Ellen at her Paris apartment. However, at the last minute Archer sends his son alone to visit her, content instead to live with his memories of the past.

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1.Choose one of the characters of the novel and explain his/her relationship with the others.

2.Who is the main character of the novel? Answer the question reasoning it.

3.Describe the differences between Newland's outlook on society and Ellen's.

4.What do Newland’s and Ellen’s views have in common?

5. What does the term "innocent" mean in the context of the novel?

6.Are you surprised by Newland's decision at the end of the novel? Tell why.

7.How would you end this story?

The Street Lawyer

READING BOOK
1st Bchto. C
Year: 2009-2010
TEACHER:
Visitación Berrocal Calderón

The street lawyer tells a story of Michael Brock where everything is rosy until an odd incident occurs which changes his outlook on life and begins to take an interest in the homeless and takes on unpaid legal work on behalf of the street people. At the beginning of the story Michel was a rising star, with no time to waste, no time to stop…but after the strange incident he decided to become a street lawyer and told his wife his decision to take a job with less money and no benefits and she then filed for a divorce. Then, he began searching and realized that the company he worked for had illegally evicted homeless people from a building and this caused death to some. He worked long and hard to prove this and in the end Drake & Sweeny realized the mistake, fired the lawyer who done this and began helping Michael Brock help the homeless.

ACTIVITIES:

1.- Explain how Michael discovered the truth about the eviction and why Hector played an important role in the eviction. Engage them in speculating why Barry Nuzzo visited him at the 14th Street Law Centre.
2.- What did you learn about street lawyers working in Washington DC?
3.- Why is it that some people who have a job live in shelters such as the Samaritan House?
4.- What is the condition for street lawyers to take new clients?
5.- What are the most common problems street lawyers in Washington have to solve?
6.- Where do street lawyers get the necessary information for their cases?
7.- Talk about the power of the media and how their intervention changed the course of events in this story.
8.- If you were the author of this book what would you change and how would you finish the story.