Plausibility

       

Read one of the following discussions, based on the story you read.



Raj: I think it could happen. Mike is a sensitive writer and curious. He keeps a diary or log of events. He is always observing what happens around him.

Manish: No way. The story is unrealistic. If my dad caught me looking in his desk, I would be grounded for a month. My parents would not allow me to look in their private papers or closets without questioning me more than Mike’s dad questioned him.

Talia: I think the basic idea of the story, that parents are people too is realistic.

Katrina: Mike expects to find out something bad about his dad. He doesn’t. He writes a mystery story by placing “red herrings” in the reader’s path. In other words, he is misleading the reader with untrue suspicions. Therefore, I think the story is contrived. It is not realistic.
 



Muneer: I think it could happen. Quinn’s always been the hero, so he tries to do the heroic thing.

Soyee: I don’t think throwing his brother out is heroic. He could have continued to hold him and comfort him. At least Ben wouldn’t be alone. I think Ben must have felt betrayed by Quinn.

Richard: Yeah. I agree with you, Soyee. He was going to jump with Ben, so why didn’t he just keep holding on to him?

Soyee: Not only that, Quinn will feel bad if his brother dies. He will always wonder what might have happened.

Alyssa: …assuming Quinn survives. Is he writing the story after the event?

Soyee: Not to change the subject, but I don’t know about those firefighters saying they couldn’t get in. Don’t they have ladders high enough?

Richard: Do you think those voices are real? I mean when he hears the firefighters saying they’re sorry. I just don’t think they’d abandon the boys.

Soyee: Not only that, the wind seems to speak to him. It is unclear whether this really happens or not.

Muneer: But the firefighters have to decide about their own safety. They can’t just go into the fire no matter what.

Soyee: There are so many unknowns in this story, it seems like the author has invented a highly improbable situation to push the reader outside of boundaries of right and wrong. Quinn makes it sound as if he has no options. In reality, Quinn has a choice and is responsible for his behaviour.