Deep Water

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.

“Nature’s Power Collage”

In this activity, students will create a collage addressing The Unyielding Force of Nature in the novel.

Julie, Shane, and other characters face the power of nature in Deep Water. Nature proves unrelenting, leads to tragedy, and threatens human stamina and hope. It also inspires and teaches crucial lessons. Using objects, art, words, images, and more, create a collage representing some of the varied forces in nature present in the novel.

• Brainstorm a list of forces of nature present in the novel. Note Julie’s and/or other characters’ reactions to each one.
• Determine the best way to represent each force of nature in your collage (photo, hand-drawn image, representation with a physical object, words). Strive for varied methods and choose representations that showcase nature’s power and forceful impacts.
• Use symbolic imagery or objects for at least two of your forces of nature.
• Prepare to present your collage and display it for others to view.

·        Participate in a gallery walk to see classmates’ collages.

Finally, write a paragraph explaining one or two parts of your collage, how you used symbolism to represent ideas, and the ways in which the collage connects to details in the book. Additionally, reflect on and discuss the lessons Julie and Shane learn in the novel as a result of their experiences in nature.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might incorporate a research component in this activity, including facts about one or more aspects of nature in the novel. With this activity, students have a chance to review or learn about symbolism; encourage students to incorporate symbolism through shape, color, placement, and imagery.

Paired Text Extension:

Reading “Water” by Ralph Waldo Emerson serves as an opportunity to analyze poetry and make connections to the role of water in the novel.

Teaching Suggestion: Though brief, this poem is also dense. Asking students to sketch what they visualize at different points in the poem can help students unpack the powerful lines. Re-reading a section of the novel that focuses on water (e.g., the storm and rainwater or the ocean waves and currents) can help in making specific connections between the two texts. In connection with the activity, students might use quoted phrases and lines from the poem in the collage to caption images of water.

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. Initially, Shane panics and makes their survival even more difficult. By their rescue, though, he has changed.

• How does Shane’s Resilience and Discipline grow during the ordeal in the ocean? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss Shane’s character arc and coming-of-age experience in support of your topic sentence. Incorporate at least three textual details as you build your essay.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly explain how Shane’s growth helps both Julie and him survive.

2. Decisions, bad luck, nature, people, and even societal structures add up to the tragedy and peril at sea.

• Who or what is most to blame for Julie and Shane being lost at sea? (topic sentence)
• Determine at least three pieces of evidence from the novel to support your argument. As you construct your essay, include multiple details and quotations from the text, as well as solid reasoning.
• In your conclusion, briefly summarize how the story might have been different if the person or element most responsible had acted differently or played another role.

3. Julie relies on her Resilience and Discipline to help Shane endure the danger they face, demonstrating resourcefulness with minimal supplies.

• What 3 items are most crucial to Julie’s and Shane’s survival? (topic sentence)
• As you write, incorporate specific details and utilize direct quotations from the text in explaining your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, identify and briefly rationalize which of the three items was the most important in their survival.

Full Essay Assignments

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

1. Reflect on the family dynamics in the novel. How do Family Relationships impact characterization and change in the characters? For example, in what ways does Julie act as caretaker for her father? What is Shane’s relationship with his father like before the dive, and what does he conclude later? Where do family relationships bring comfort or conflict? As you support and defend your thesis, incorporate at least three quotations and additional textual details. Cite each quotation in the style your instructor suggests.

2. Consider the role of nature in the novel. What message does the book build about The Unyielding Force of Nature? What aspects of nature most endanger Shane and Julie? How does nature help them? Where does nature seem especially powerful, vast, or uncaring? What reflections does Julie ponder during her ordeal, and how do they relate to nature? How is the ending of the novel significant? As you write your essay, substantiate your reasoning with text details.

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

Multiple Choice

1. What best describes Julie’s feelings toward Shane on the boat before the dive?

A) Uncertain and unkind

B) Nonchalant and indifferent

C) Wary and frightened

D) Irritated and worried

2. Why doesn’t Julie’s father dive with her and the Jordans?

A) He is not feeling well.

B) He dislikes Mr. Jordan.

C) He wants to test Julie.

D) He gets an urgent phone call.

3. What leads to Julie and Shane being lost at sea?

A) A shark startled them, and they swam too far from the boat.

B) The assistant on the boat miscounted and did not realize they were still in the water.

C) A storm and strong current swept them away from the boat as they dove.

D) The boat’s anchor shifted, so they could not find the boat when they resurfaced.

4. What causes Mr. Jordan’s partial paralysis?

A) He panics and surfaces too quickly, getting decompression sickness.

B) He hits his head on a portion of the reef, fracturing his neck.

C) He drinks too much sea water, leading to extreme dehydration.

D) He is stung by a jellyfish and suffers an allergic reaction.

5. Which literary device does the following quotation include?

“Through the haze of gray was a giant wavering cone of darkness dropping out of the clouds and drilling the surface of the water into a white froth. Then I heard it, rumbling like a train, vibrating the steel beneath me.” (Chapter 41)

A) Personification

B) Symbolism

C) Simile

D) Alliteration

6. What most accurately characterizes the relationship between Julie and her father?

A) They talk often but do not share similar interests except surfing.

B) Julie’s father can be overbearing, which drives her to want to spend less time with him.

C) They enjoy spending time together, and Julie sometimes tries to take care of him.

D) Julie’s attitude and her father’s unhappiness lead to many fights between them.

7. When the sharks circle and attack, what best describes Julie’s reaction?

A) Fear with focused and determined discipline

B) Panicked hysteria, screaming, and crying

C) Uncertain deference to Shane and his father

D) Immediate quiet resignation and hopelessness

8. What best describes how Julie’s father and Shane’s father are different?

A) Julie’s father is standoffish and reserved, while Shane’s father is openly compassionate.

B) Julie’s father is filled with self-hate, while Shane’s father is arrogant and prideful.

C) Julie’s father is loving and full of dreams, while Shane’s father is driven, selfish, and cruel.

D) Julie’s father is goofy and loved by all, while Shane’s father is quiet and unsure.

9. Which of the following best describes Julie’s feelings about her mother?

A) Julie mostly dislikes her mother and blames her for the divorce.

B) Julie loves her mother but feels distant due to her mother’s busy work schedule.

C) Julie hardly knows her mother and wishes she could spend all her time with her father.

D) Julie hopes to be like her mother, driven and achieving her career goals.

10. What best summarizes Julie’s reaction when a large sea turtle surfaces as she is stranded in open water?

A) She is terrified and pulls away from Shane and Mr. Jordan, despite their attempts to help her.

B) She dives down below the surface to try to see what other sea creatures are nearby and nearly drowns.

C) She remembers a poem she studied recently in school and begins reciting it purposefully.

D) She imagines animals might be able to talk to humans when others aren’t around and speaks to it.

11. What literary device does the following quotation incorporate?

“The air exploded like someone slamming a steel door, and lightning blinded my eyes like a thousand camera flashes in my face. The water went from black to a deep translucent blue and I saw suspended jellyfish glowing in the depths.” (Chapter 14)

A) Imagery

B) Understatement

C) Personification

D) Irony

12. How does the relationship between Julie and Shane change from when they first realize they are stranded at sea to their rescue?

A) Shane refuses to listen to Julie and insists on doing things his own way. Once they reach the oil rig, he admits he needs her help.

B) Julie takes care of them both, with Shane getting in the way often. Later, Shane steps up to lead more. Along the way, they become friends.

C) Julie and Shane equally share the burden of decision-making, until Shane shuts down and cannot participate. When rescued, they never speak again.

D) Shane and Julie fight good-naturedly, knowing they need each other. Shane soon decides he will be better off alone. Julie convinces him to stay together.

13. How does the red light on the oil rig save Julie and Shane twice?

A) The light frightens off an attacking whale, saving their lives. It also guides them as they navigate through a lightning storm.

B) The light shows them the oil rig and relative safety. When they break the light, people in charge notice, arrive, and rescue them.

C) The light symbolizes hope and helps them remain determined. It also leads them to a locked door, behind which they find a working phone.

D) The light flashes when they are arguing and reminds them to work together. After it stops working, they realize they need to leave in the lifeboats.

14. What best summarizes Julie’s attitude toward nature?

A) Julie is terrified of nature, avoiding it when she can.

B) Julie is somewhat indifferent toward nature, preferring cities.

C) Julie respects the power of nature and recognizes its immense beauty.

D) Julie used to adore nature but lately has been too busy to appreciate it.

15. Which of the following examples of The Unyielding Force of Nature does Julie survive?

A) Heat stroke

B) Barnacles

C) Hurricane

D) Snakes

Long Answer

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

1. What is foreboding about the oil rig?

2. How does Julie feel about scuba diving at the end of the novel?