justaddlime.co.uk
Š lime 2013
RATED
T TEEN
My Life My Choice tells the story of Nathan, an aspiring rap artist who, through a series of poor choices, becomes involved in gang life – with devastating consequences.
CONTENTS ACTIVITY A Who are they?
Page 6
ACTIVITY B
What are they thinking?
Page 10
ACTIVITY C
Character Circle
Page 14
ACTIVITY D
What’s the alternative?
Page 17
ACTIVITY E
The Group Effect
Page 21
ACTIVITY F
Letter Writing
Page 23
ACTIVITY G
Different Choices
Page 34
ACTIVITY H
Who are you?
Page 38
Name: .................................................................................................................................................................... Class: ..................................................................................................................................................................... Date: .......................................................................................................................................................................
birmingham city, april 2012.
this interview is taking place at steelhouse lane police station...
present are arresting officer ci ashfield, myself dc baker...
nathan's solicitor, christopher treadwell...
and the accused, nathan anderson.
nathan was arrested at his home this morning
armed police were dispatched to the address at 5am.
3
you at number 42, come to the door!!
armed police!
i repeat, you at number 42, come to the door!!
4 don't shoot!
get down on the ground!
walk!!
he's unarmed, here you go. nathan anderson I'm arresting you on suspicion of murder.
You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court..
anything you do say, however, may be given in evidence. do you understand?
yes...
5
ACTIVITY A
Who are they?
!
Describe each character above based on your first impressions from their picture. Jot down words in the boxes below. Think about the roles they might play in the story. A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Discuss your answers with the person sitting next to you. • Why did you choose these roles?
• Are any of your thoughts based on stereotypes?
• What influences this? Our friends, family, the media? How?
6
two days earlier THEY SAY ‘REACH FOR THE STARS, SO I HOLD MY OWN I GOT THE WORLD IN MY HANDS LIKE I STOLE A GLOBE, IF YOU’RE AT THE TOP THEN I MUST BE THE OVERFLOW, i run the show, thats how i know…
What?!
Unlock the door! What have I told you about locking the door?
what do you want dad, i'm busy!
Just open the door nathan
turn it down, now!
7
alright, i'll turn it down. can you go now?
I’m at work tonight so I wouldn’t mind getting some sleep. If you don’t keep it down, I’ll throw that thing out the window!
RIght! that's it! get out now, the lot of you!
no you won't 'cos it's mine innit? so stop your gassin'
get yer hands off me, blud! don't touch me again!
you don't scare me, little man. Get out my house!
who do you think you're talking to blud? you don't know do you?
8
banksy man, allow it!
get out now before i call the police!
whatever, man!
you're a real big man when you're with your friends nathan!
9
ACTIVITY B
What are they thinking? • • • •
!
What different perspectives do Banksy and Nathan’s Dad have on the situation? What could Nathan, his Dad, Banksy or Kane do differently? How could the situation be defused? Why doesn’t Nathan defend his dad?
Write the kinds of things they could say or do differently in the space below.
10
oh, nathan, what's going on with you?
Nat, I swear your dad’s a prick man. Trust me, I could have bare man at his door with one phone call blud. One text message and he’d have a bag o' man on his doorstep. TRUST me! And you know who I know bruv. Dem Man would burn that place to the ground without even thinkin’.
banksy that's my house too, just remember that yeah!
i don't care. ya' dad needs to watch who he's talking to next time!
yo blud. Who's that with tammy?!
lets find out!
what's good miss t?!
11
who's this? where ya' reppin blud?
Leave him alone banksy, he hasn't done anything!
he said, where you reppin'?
nowhere man, I'm leaving, just waiting for the bus!
empty your pockets...
c'mon, what you got for me?
what!? banksy, what is your problem?
trust me bruv, you don't wanna do this!
12
yo, who do you think you're talking to?
13
ACTIVITY C
Character Circle
!
In the space around the character of Banksy, write words that describe him and the reasons why you think he might behave in the way that he does. How does this compare to your first impressions in Activity A?
• Under what assumptions is Banksy acting? Why does Banksy choose to act like he does? (His behaviour earns him respect? People expect it of him? He has a reputation to maintain?)
!
In the next outer circle describe ways that you might positively influence Banksy.
!
In groups, or with the person sitting next to you, and using your character circle, imagine that you are Nathan and work through the following discussion questions:
• What other choices could you make instead of going along with Banksy’s threats and behaviour? • What could you say to Banksy to make him see things differently? • What would you do differently?
14
we headed to the park after that...
WHEN I CATCH ‘EM, I CAN MATCH ‘EM, MATCHSTICK LIGHT ‘EM UP...
..GET THE STRAP OUT, FIND THE GLOVES, CLAP ‘EM, JACK ‘EM, LEAVE ‘EM WITH CHINA BUMPS...
listen hear man. I like your flow and that but you gotta stop yer gassin'
you ain't jacked no-one in your life blud!
here, smoke this!
don't need to prove nuthin' to you blud.
smoke it!!
yeah, I'm here, where you at?
never mind where I am. My, boy's gonna be there in a minute. He's got something i need you to bring to me at bar Citrus.
what, tonight?! are you dumb blud? Yes tonight, just get it done, be there for 9pm. don't be late and don't forget the ting!
yeah, of course, i'm your man, i got it bruv. send me the address and I'll be there. is kim gonna be there?
15 cool!
yo bluds! That was jav, We are going to a dance tonight yeah? kim's gonna be there.
so you're gonna risk getting shanked up for some gally? you high or something? i said my brother's gonna be there. nuthin' gonna happen when he's there!
hang on!
so, we went to the club that evening...
sup' man. Where's my brother?!
16
ACTIVITY D
What’s the alternative?
!
Write a conversation bet ween Nathan and Kane where they talk about how they should handle the situation with Banksy. In particular focus on the following:
!
In groups or with the person sitting next to you discuss the following questions:
• How can they raise the issues and take stock of what is happening? • Explore various approaches and the pros and cons of: - confronting Banksy about his behaviour. - removing themselves from the situation entirely and the impact of abandoning Banksy. - offering Banksy some advice. How could they help him? - Speaking to someone they trust about their concerns.
• Could Banksy be a victim? • What other pressures may be influencing him? (e.g. the mention of his brother)
17
Where have you been all My life? Haven't you got something for me?
Where've you girls been all my life?
so, what you sayin' then?
I said nothing, didn't I?
yeah, yeah, here you go.
um‌N, nathan!
18
Hi, I'm KIM, what's your name?
Thought I recognised you. You're mc aren't you? I've seen you on youtube.
well you've finally found your audience nathan.
at least these girls think you can spit!
his lyrics are wack, it's like listening to JLS!
anyway, what do you know? you listen he's really good, he should make a mix tape.
to the saturdays and dem tings der!!
and what do You do apart from sell drugs for your brother?!
nat, if i were you I'd stay away from him, you seem like a nice guy, he'll only drag you down!
you'd better shut your mouth before I drag you down, bitch!
who do you think you're calling bitch?...
little man!!
19
you what?!
what? what are you gonna do blud?
what are you doing? you don't hit girls man!
20
GO on then. Go write a song about it!!
ACTIVITY E
The Group Effect
Choose one of the main characters and write words that describe him/her in the same way as you did in Exercise C. Then, focus on the remaining characters and rate them in terms of whether you think they are a positive or negative influence on your character, listing the reasons why. In the next outer circle describe ways that you might influence the group in a positive way by considering how their attitudes and assumptions can be supported or challenged. • Who are the key influencers in the story and why? • What would you say or do to change things?
!
e.g. Kim, Dad
e.g. Banksy, Jav e.g. Nathan
!
• • • •
In groups or with the person sitting next to you, discuss your findings with reference to: What effect do the girls have on Nathan? How is this interpreted by Banksy? How could the girls have handled the situation differently? What is their role in all this?
21
the next day dad woke me up with the lawnmower...
i still couldn't believe he hit her...
morning nathan, you were out late!
leave it dad, i could do without one of your lectures.
why are you so angry nathan? what's going on?
can i have some money please?
if you don't
22
you think I'm going to give you money when...
give me some money I'll just have to go make my own!
ACTIVITY F
Letter Writing
! • • • •
Put yourself in Nathan’s Dad’s place and write a letter to Nathan about all the things that he may have found difficult to say face-to-face –how you feel, your worries and concerns, and how you would like Nathan to ‘meet you half way’. Consider the following questions and address them in your letter: Is Nathan’s Dad to blame for any of this? Should he be around more for Nathan? How can he balance this with the need to work? How is he really feeling?
23
and what's that supposed to mean?
money please!
things are gonna change nathan, you hear? i'm not going to let you get yourself into trouble with those boys. I'm working tonight but we're having a very serious chat tomorrow!
i know he was only worried but i just didn't care!
i went round to kane's to play some xbox. you still sweating about what banksy said?
you think he's getting out of control?
how did you get mixed up with jav, nathan? nah man, he's just trying to impress his brother. he'll calm down.
jav caught me on the way to the shop...
hey snoop dog!
get in!!
24
want anything from the shop?
25
yo, stay by your phone, i'll call you in a hot one!
aren't you supposed to be asleep by now?
Who's that nathan? what sort of people are you getting involved with?
it's a miracle i get any sleep worrying about you!
sure enough, that night...
26
don't worry dad, my life, my choice!
be outside your house at 1am, wear something dark and say nothin'
i had no idea what i was letting myself in for...
‌and yet i still got ready and waited outside..
‌just like they said!
27
ever done a robbery before blud?!
no, but he spits about it though!
well at least after tonight you'll have something real to spit about, ha ha.
that's it, the one on the end. Pull round behind those trees, we'll get to the back easier.
28
you're with me nathan
banksy, you watch the house!
29
fill the bag! bingo!
shit! c'mon jav pick up.
b***cks!
30
we need to move, now!!
shit! the strap…pick it up!
throw the bag...
you dick head1 c'mon banksy, let's get out of here!
31
wait for me‌i'll get the bag!
shit!!
stay back!!
don't do anything dumb. I just want the bag!
32
gimme the bag!!
ACTIVITY G
Different Choices Had Nathan run out of choices by this stage? Go back and review the key decisions that Nathan made at each point in the story thinking about how that decision led directly to his deeper involvement. • How much more difficult did Nathan’s decisions become? • How much more choice did he have earlier in the story? • List at least one thing he could have done differently at each key stage in the picture below to change the outcome of his story.
!
!
Choose another character from the story and work through their choices and what they could have done differently.
34
ashfield young offenders prison, three years later
35
they said it would be better for me if i told them who i was with that night.
The dealer died.
they caught it all on cctv anyway, so there was no point denying it.
so later that day...
why? what's wrong officer?
can you step out the car please sir?
...they arrested jav.
they brought kane in for questioning but later released him without charge.
banksy wasn't so lucky.
36
remember the guy at the bus stop?
turns out he was also in a gang and didn't want them to think he was a push over..
…and taught banksy a lesson he'll never forget!
i was sentenced to spend the best years of my life in prison.
years in here...
…a 6x4 foot box!
dad comes to see me now and then.
i can still see the hurt in his eyes even now!
why didn't i listen to him?...
end.
ACTIVITY H
Who are you?
Nathan could have changed the way his story ended by making different decisions earlier. What can we learn from this? Imagine that you could have intervened at any point in Nathan’s story, what advice would you give to him or others? What is your personal moral code?
!
Write a letter, poem, monologue or rap detailing the advice you would give to others.
38
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