Swindle

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.

“Swindle’s Crimes”

In this activity, students will act as investigative journalists writing the report on Swindle.

In the novel, Swindle is forced to move to California after a newspaper article is released exposing S. Wendell “Swindle” Palomino as a conman. Act as the reporter writing the article about Swindle that may have appeared in the newspaper. Use evidence and interviews from characters in the novel to create your article; be sure to convey Swindle’s personality and traits as detailed throughout the text in direct and indirect characterization. Use these points as you write your article.

• How might Swindle’s home and lifestyle be indicative of other crimes he has committed?
• Who will you interview from the novel to support your description of Swindle’s shady business dealings?
• Is this Swindle’s first crime? What other crimes has he committed?

Share the highlights of the crimes Swindle has committed in your news article with peers. Evaluate Swindle’s crimes using evidence from the novel; assess whether he might become a more morally upstanding citizen in the future and explain your views.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to brainstorm a list of Swindle’s suspicious activities to bolster their argument for his criminal activity. Students should speculate about potential criminal activity they would expect to discover if they were to investigate Swindle’s business dealings.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who would benefit from a challenge in the interest areas of technology and scriptwriting might work in small groups to create a video news report on Swindle outlining his crimes; the report might include graphics, captions, and character interviews.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The narrator in Swindle occasionally shifts viewpoints from Griffin to Ben, Swindle, and Griffin’s other classmates.

• Why might Korman have chosen to use characters other than Griffin in narrating the novel? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss the choice of Swindle, Ben, and Griffin’s classmates to narrate the novel. Describe the perspective these characters provide that Griffin may not be able to provide.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly summarize how Korman’s story would change if it were only told from Griffin’s point of view.

2. Savannah believes Luthor was not born aggressive but was trained to be aggressive through confrontation and conflict.

• How does Savannah’s perspective relate to the novel’s theme of The Morality of Rights and Ownership? (topic sentence)
• Describe the connection between the treatment of Luthor by his trainer and the novel’s theme of The Morality of Rights and Ownership. Discuss at least three points in support of your topic sentence; substantiate each with text details or quotes.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain what Luthor’s behavior may indicate about Swindle and Swindle’s treatment of others.

3. In a statement to his newly assembled teammates Griffin says: “It may be a break-in, but it isn’t stealing […]. That card is ours.”

• Why does Griffin indicate the card belongs to both his classmates and him? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss the extent to which at least three of the teammates seem to find this idea motivating.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, summarize the importance placed on teamwork in the novel.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. The characters in the novel frequently call into question Griffin’s claim on the baseball card before and after it is taken by Swindle. Discuss in three paragraphs the claim Swindle, Griffin, and the Rockford family have on the baseball card. Which of the three has the greatest claim on the baseball card? Justify your response by including evidence from the novel.

2. Griffin’s character is sometimes preoccupied with protesting, city planning, and resolving his family’s financial difficulties. Consider Griffin’s interest in areas that might be considered adult problems. In an essay of at least three main points, speculate as to why Griffin seeks active involvement in these areas. Provide examples from the novel to support your response.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What statement best describes the differences between Ben and Griffin’s personalities?

A) Griffin has a stronger moral compass than Ben.

B) Ben is a careful planner while Griffin is impulsive.

C) Griffin is excitable while Ben is cautious.

D) Griffin is more concerned about justice than Ben is.

2. How does Griffin select those who assist in his heist?

A) He chooses teammates he knows will be loyal to him.

B) He handpicks individuals he knows to be desperate for money.

C) He picks those who are known to be able to keep a secret.

D) He selects individuals based on their talents and skills.

3. What is ironic about the town’s intent to remove the Rockford House?

A) The townspeople are unaware of the value the house contains.

B) They are removing a piece of history to replace it with a museum.

C) The town hall believes they are replacing it with something more valuable.

D) They intend to replace the home with a skate park for children.

4. What is the greatest objection Griffin’s friends have to his plans to retrieve the baseball card?

A) They do not believe that stealing can be the morally correct thing to do.

B) They believe Swindle has more valid claim to the card than Griffin does.

C) They doubt Griffin’s reliability in carrying out the heist.

D) They do not think he has good intentions toward his expenditure of the money.

5. Why does Griffin feel justified in stealing the baseball card from Swindle?

A) He was not given a fair price for the baseball card from Swindle.

B) He feels it is rightfully his because he is related to Babe Ruth.

C) Swindle did not provide Griffin with payment for his baseball card.

D) The Rockford family is no longer living and therefore has no claim to it.

6. Which of the following is the strongest example of The Danger of Underestimating Children?

A) Ben and Griffin stage a sleep-in to prevent destruction of the Rockford house.

B) Savannah works to tame Luthor to help Griffin.

C) Griffin and his friends are able to perform a successful heist.

D) The police follow Griffin to discover the location of the baseball card.

7. What event convinces Griffin he is wrong concerning the theft of the baseball card?

A) Savannah convinces him that stealing is wrong.

B) His friends confront him about the theft.

C) Ben refuses to help with the heist.

D) He is arrested by police.

8. What is the skill Griffin relies on to achieve difficult tasks?

A) Charm

B) Planning

C) Ingenuity

D) Communication

9. What convinces Ben to join Griffin in stealing the baseball card, despite doubts about the morality of the plan?

A) Ben does not want Griffin to move away.

B) Ben’s other friends convince him to join the heist.

C) Ben is convinced by Griffin’s insistence on the plan.

D) Ben wants Swindle to be taught a lesson.

10. What does Ben realize about the importance of his friendship with Griffin?

A) Ben comes to the realization that Griffin is his only friend.

B) Ben understands that he and Griffin have similar personalities.

C) Ben learns that he does not value his friendship as much as he should.

D) Ben realizes that he admires Griffin’s character.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Consider the novel’s theme The Danger of Underestimating Children. Who underestimates children in the novel and in what way is it dangerous?

2. How are Griffin’s financial difficulties resolved? Do you believe Griffin regrets the heist?