Butterflies Political and Historical Questions: Research Project

On Tuesday, March 9 you will give a brief speech to the class (one or two minutes long) to answer one historical or political question that you have about In the Time of the Butterflies.

Your brief informative speech needs to include information from two credible sources (print or Internet). You may look at Wikipedia for information but do not count that as one of the sources.

If you need help organizing your speech, click here for a brief tutorial. Make sure that you practice your speech so that you know that you can inform the class in the two minutes allotted.

Use signal phrases to incorporate your sources (e.g. according to World Book Encyclopedia). Sign up for a question by commenting on this blog post. You may answer one of the questions generated in class (listed below) or you may create one of your own (simply tell your classmates that question in the comment section so that we do not have duplicate speeches).

Here are the questions from your brainstorm day.

In general, how do dictators rise to power?

Specifically, how did Trujillo rise to power?

Why didn't people stop Trujillo during his rise to power?

How does Trujillo keep his acts a secret?

What does it feel like to have an oppressive government?

What was the U.S. doing during this time in regards to Trujillo?

What was happening in U.S. politics in general during the years of Trujillo's regime?

What kind of government did the Dominican Republic have before Trujillo?

What kind of government does the Dominican Republic have right after Trujillo's regime?

What kind of government does the Dominican Republic currently have and who is in power?

What caused Trujillo to rise to power?

What political parties were in the Dominican Republic during Trujillo's regime and what were their stances?

How were other world powers reacting to Trujillo's regime?

What specific strategies did Trujillo use to remain in power?

What was the economy of the Dominican Republic like during Trujillo's regime?

What are main economic forces in the Dominican Republic today?

What is the geography and topography like in the Dominican Republic?

What is the ethnic make-up of the Dominican Republic and how was that influenced by European colonization?

What are some cultural components unique to the people of the Dominican Republic?

Butterflies Reading Schedule

In the Time of the Butterflies Reading Schedule

The date indicates the date the chapters are DUE:

March 1: Chapters 1 & 2
March 2: Chapters 3 & 4
March 4: Chapters 5 & 6
March 8: Chapters 7 & 8
March 9: Chapter 9
March 11Chapters 10 & 11
March 12: Chapter 12
March 15: Epilogue

Butterflies Discussion Questions, Chapters 1 & 2

After you briefly describe the characters in your notebook and complete the fast fact finder flow map in chronological order, work with your group to answer the questions below in your notebook.

1.Briefly describe your reactions to the novel so far. Discuss the passages you chose and why.

2.Make a double-bubble map comparing and contrasting the writing styles in chapters 1and 2. Consider: tone, word choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language and imagery, flashback, dialogue, voice of the narrator, and other literary devices.

3.In the frame of your double bubble map, write a one-sentence answer to the question, “What differences do you notice in author’s style between chapters 1 and 2?”

4.Discuss and make notes on the following questions:

a. Which aspects of culture seem uniquely Dominican and which aspects seem like part of United States culture?
b. What do the Spanish words used add to the story?
c. What does knowing that Dede is the lone survivor of the Mirabal sisters add to the story? Why do you think Alvarez would let the reader know the outcome of the story in the first chapter?
d. Why are possible interpretations of the chapter title, “Complications”? Give supporting material from the text.