Buried Onions

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Chapter 10: Eddie’s Future Plans”

In this activity, students will complete a creative writing assignment composing “Chapter 10” of the novel, continuing Eddie’s narrative.

Unlike many of his peers, Eddie leaves his hometown and starts a new journey with the Navy. In doing so, he leaves behind many family members, as well as some unresolved circumstances. Pretend that you are tasked with writing Chapter 10 of this novel. Use the following questions to consider what would happen to Eddie and help shape your narrative.

• Is Eddie still in the Navy?
• What happened with Angel? Does he meet him again?
• Is Eddie able to see any of his friends or family? If so, how are these interactions?
• Does he return to Fresno at any point? How is that received?

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity supports students’ textual understanding in the context of a creative writing assignment. Students may work either individually or in a group and should make an attempt to continue Soto’s narrative style as a first-person narration from Eddie’s perspective. Finally, students should be given the opportunity to share their chapters, whether as an in-class reading or in a peer-review process. Additionally, this prompt directly ties into the Scaffolded Essay Questions.

Differentiation Suggestion: For classes or individuals who might find creative freedom too unfocused, reshape the activity so all students write a chapter on the same setting of Eddie visiting Fresno on leave for one weekend. While still creative in spirit, this would instead encourage students to demonstrate an understanding of the interaction between Soto’s characters. Invite students to include as much figurative language as possible, including the symbolism of onions and uses of similes and metaphors.