Code Orange

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.

RESEARCH PAPER: “Infectious Diseases Globally”

In this activity, students will write a research paper on a globally infectious disease.

Mitty is introduced to smallpox as a result of a research paper assignment in his biology class. Similar to Mitty, you will research an infectious disease and write a paper about its effect on society. Use the following questions to guide your research:

• Which infectious disease you will be researching?
• Historically, when did it exist? Is it eradicated now? Explain.
• Which populations did this disease affect? Consider both physical location as well as socioeconomic status.
• How has it affected populations globally? What steps are being taken to limit the spread, if any?
• Does your selected infectious disease link with one or more of the novel’s themes of Terrorism: Pre- and Post-9/11, The Existence of Evil, The Hero’s Journey, and/or The Resiliency of Cities, Particularly New York City? If so, how?

Once you have completed a draft of your paper, participate in peer review. After you revise, share an abstract of your paper with the class.

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity invites students to utilize their research skills within the context of the novel’s plot. Additionally, this Activity mirrors the central plot development in Cooney’s novel, as Mitty’s initial interest in smallpox stems from an assigned research paper in his biology class. For students who are new to the research paper process, consider introducing the steps (i.e., initial research, annotated bibliography, thesis statement, outline, drafting, peer review, revision, and final submission).

Differentiation Suggestion: For an exercise that is still research-based with a smaller scope, the previous Activity may be amended to the following prompt: “Select one country and research their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, how did COVID-19 affect this country’s population? Was this pandemic treated as a bioterrorist threat? If so, how? Draw as many similarities as you can between the novel and this country’s particular response to the pandemic.” This could also work as a group activity to complete prior to the Activity to get students comfortable with the research paper process.

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. According to the International Criminal Police Organization, “bioterrorism” is defined as “the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or other harmful agents to cause illness or death in people, animals or plants.”

• Consider that events in the story take place in 2004, just a few years after 9/11 and the anthrax scares. How does this backdrop of fear affect the characters? (topic sentence)
• Select at least two examples of how the time period impacts the story. Explain your ideas carefully and cite your evidence with page numbers.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss how bioterrorism and the time period of the story speak to the novel’s larger theme of Terrorism: Pre- and Post-9/11.

2. The terrorists are given limited descriptions in this book. Mitty does not see what they look like because they wear ski masks, and their voices are rarely heard. 

• What is the effect of Cooney’s decision to limit the terrorists’ descriptions? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least two moments in the novel where the terrorists’ descriptions impact Mitty. Explain your ideas carefully and cite your evidence with page numbers.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, consider how these limited descriptions connect to the larger theme of The Existence of Evil.

3. Throughout the novel, Mitty references the marvel, beauty, and strength of New York City.

• In what ways is New York City not only the setting, but also a symbol in this novel? (topic sentence)
• Select at least two of these references and analyze their impact on Mitty’s motivation to protect his community. Make sure to discuss the scene in which the reference occurs in your response.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, identify the connection between Mitty’s perception of his city and the larger theme of The Resiliency of Cities, Particularly New York City.

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. Beowulf is an Old English epic poem, and Grendel is the monster in it. Read some of the descriptions of Grendel in Beowulf. Why did Mitty’s English teacher think it was a good idea for Mitty to write a paper that compared smallpox epidemics to the actions of Grendel? How does Beowulf mirror Mitty’s journey, and how does this connect to The Existence of Evil and/or The Hero’s Journey? Explain your ideas carefully and cite all evidence with page numbers.

2. As a work of fiction, Code Orange uses Mitty’s narrative to address modern concerns about terrorism and disease. Consider how these themes are explored in the novel, and then supplement your ideas by researching one of the books that Mitty uses, such as The Demon in the Freezer (2002) by Richard Preston. (A list of some of the sources can be found at the end of the book under the “Author’s Note.”) Are these concerns still relevant today? If so, how? Explain your ideas carefully and cite all evidence with page numbers.

3. Cooney’s Code Orange is both a young adult novel and a thriller. Consider the genre and the author’s intended audience. How does Cooney create suspense throughout the story? How does Mitty’s character reflect the experiences of young adults during the early 2000s, both physically and mentally? In what ways, thematically or otherwise, might this novel remain relevant today? In your response, consider a lesson or message the author might be trying to convey. Make sure to cite all evidence with page numbers.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following words best describes Mitty’s attitude toward his biology class?

A) Lackadaisical

B) Luminescent

C) Laborious

D) Loyal

2. Which of the following phrases best describes how Mitty feels about older scientific books?

A) He is interested in their historical perspective.

B) He is delighted by their witticisms.

C) He is ashamed of their stupidity.

D) He is doubtful of their accuracy.

3. Which of the following words best describes how Mitty thinks of New Yorkers?

A) Lazy

B) Tough

C) Simple

D) Haughty

4. What are “Typhoid Mary” and “Ottilie Lundgren” examples of in the novel?

A) Murderers who knowingly spread viruses

B) Authors who wrote about the mistreatment of patients

C) Cases related to the effects of infectious diseases

D) Diseases that are officially classified as “bioterrorism”

5. Which of the following phrases best describes how Mitty and his peers react to the discoveries from their infectious diseases research?

A) Bored with the outdated information

B) Relieved they are finished with the assignment

C) Elated with the possibility of receiving top grades

D) Concerned they themselves are infected

6. Why does Mitty change the words from the sources on his paper?

A) So he can prove he is not plagiarizing

B) So he can make the information more interesting

C) So he can clarify he disagrees with the analysis

D) So he can demonstrate his superior writing ability

7. How does Cooney introduce tension throughout the novel?

A) Explanations regarding the spread of smallpox in Derek

B) Reminders to the time frame of the spread of the disease

C) References to the reports from the CDC

D) Quotes related to the history of the eradication

8. Which of the following sentences best summarizes how Derek initially treats Olivia?

A) He dismisses her.

B) He admonishes her.

C) He adores her.

D) He beguiles her.

9. Which of the following phrases best describes how Olivia reacts to Mitty’s interest in smallpox research?

A) Annoyed that he is trying to compete with her intellect

B) Supportive that he is focused on staying in the class

C) Concerned that he is losing interest in her

D) Hesitant that he is becoming increasingly insane

10. Which of the following words best describes the socioeconomic status of the Blake family?

A) Destitute

B) Affluent

C) Pauperized

D) Aristocratic

11. Which of the following words best describes the dialogue that Cooney wrote among Derek, Mitty, and Olivia?

A) Informative regarding various infectious diseases

B) Tense regarding the budding love triangle

C) Jubilant regarding the excitement of school

D) Angry regarding the altercations about scholarships

12. Which of the following words best describes how Derek and Olivia act at the end of the novel?

A) Amorous

B) Uncivil

C) Investigative

D) Punitive

13. Which of the following historical events is referenced frequently throughout the text?

A) The Civil War

B) The bombing of Pearl Harbor

C) The Iran-Iraq War

D) The 9/11 terrorist attacks

14. Which of the following sentences would Cooney most likely agree with?

A) Releasing particularly sensitive information online could lead to trouble.

B) Telling your parents the truth will only bring more heartache.

C) Keeping to yourself is the best way to handle a difficult situation.

D) Educating yourself is not as important as attending class.

15. While kidnapped, Mitty reflects that “it didn't matter who these guys were and where they came from. It didn't matter whether Mitty was getting smallpox or not, and it didn't matter whether these two got smallpox either.” Which of the following literary devices is used in this quote?

A) Allegory

B) Alliteration

C) Allusion

D) Anaphora

Long Answer

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

1. What is the narration style of the story, and what is the effect of this style?

2. What is the setting of the story? How does the setting relate to a central dilemma for Mitty?