Point of View & Perspective - Answer Keys

Grade 8 ELA | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.1.3

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Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 Marcus assumes Keisha is "too good to talk to anyone" and "doesn't want friends." Keisha's version shows she was actually upset about her mom's text and couldn't look at Marcus because she was trying not to cry - she wasn't being unfriendly at all.
2 Yes, Marcus is an unreliable narrator because he has LIMITED information. He can only see Keisha's external behavior (sitting alone, short response) but has no access to her internal experience (the upsetting text, trying not to cry). His conclusion is understandable but wrong because he lacks crucial information.
3 If told only from Marcus's perspective, the reader would likely see Keisha as rude, antisocial, or stuck-up. We'd accept Marcus's interpretation that she doesn't want friends because we'd have no reason to question his account.
4 An author might show both perspectives to demonstrate how easily we misunderstand others, to create sympathy for multiple characters, and to show that the "truth" often depends on who's telling the story. It makes the story richer and more thought-provoking.
5 Themes that emerge from both perspectives: Don't judge people based on appearances; everyone has hidden struggles; misunderstandings often happen because we can't see inside each other's experiences. Neither perspective alone would reveal the theme of how easily we misread each other.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 A. She admits she has never actually seen Madison talk badly about Chloe
This shows the narrator makes assumptions without direct evidence.
2 The narrator's perspective conceals: Madison's actual character and behavior toward Chloe; why Chloe enjoys Madison's friendship; whether Madison's influence is actually negative; Chloe's true feelings about both friends; and an objective view of the volleyball suggestion (maybe Chloe was already interested).
3 This statement reveals the narrator's belief that she has superior knowledge of Chloe - even more than Chloe herself. This is a sign of potential unreliability because it suggests the narrator may dismiss information that contradicts her assumptions and may be overly confident in her interpretations.
4 From Chloe's perspective, we might learn: that Madison is actually kind and supportive; that Chloe has wanted to try new things but felt limited by her friendship; that she values both friendships but feels the narrator is possessive; and that the volleyball interest might have predated Madison's suggestion.
5 B. The reader must question the narrator's interpretations and consider alternative views
6 B. A limited perspective can lead to incorrect conclusions
7 The limited perspective prevents the reader from knowing what Ms. Chen was actually thinking during the interview - that she was impressed by Marcus's "poise and preparation." We only see Marcus's anxious interpretations of neutral behavior.
8 This reveals that anxiety causes people to interpret neutral evidence negatively. Marcus's fear of rejection made him read negative meaning into behaviors (email glance, neutral expression) that had no actual negative meaning. His emotional state distorted his perception.
9 The author uses dramatic irony to help readers experience how we all misinterpret situations through our emotional filters. By discovering the truth alongside Marcus, readers realize they were also "wrong" - creating empathy and teaching a lesson about how anxiety distorts perception.
10 B. Individual heroism vs. the team's contribution
11 Both narrators show some bias. Evan overemphasizes his individual contribution and minimizes the team ("I had won us the game"). Mia may undervalue Evan's clutch performance to make a point about team contribution. However, Mia's account provides more factual information (the screen, inbound pass, DeShawn's fouls) that Evan's version omits, making her account more complete even if she has her own perspective.
12 A third perspective (coach or spectator) might reveal: an objective view of how important each contribution was; whether Evan's shot was truly skilled or lucky; whether the team could have won without each person's contribution; and a more balanced assessment of individual vs. team success.
13 The theme that emerges: Success often involves both individual skill and team support, and our perspectives are shaped by our role in events. Neither Evan's self-focused view nor Mia's team-focused view tells the whole story - the full truth requires multiple perspectives.
14 Answers will vary but should identify a perspective and explain its effect. Example: "I'd choose Mia's perspective to highlight the often-invisible contributions that make 'star' moments possible, creating awareness that success is usually collaborative."

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question Answer
1 B. The narrator's certainty about the light decreases from "yellow" to "I'm almost certain" to "90% sure"
2 B. They are trying to control the reader's interpretation before presenting facts
3 B. The narrator undermining evidence that contradicts their version
4 B. The narrator is minimizing the other driver's credibility and emotional response
5 B. The other driver's perspective and what actually happened
6 A. To establish their credibility and suggest they're not the type of person who causes accidents
7 B. The reader must critically evaluate the narrator's claims and consider what's being hidden
8 B. They may be trying to convince themselves as much as the reader
9 See rubric and sample response below.
10 See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric (Signs of Unreliability)

Score Criteria
2 Identifies at least THREE specific details of unreliability and explains what each reveals about the narrator's bias or limitations
1 Identifies fewer than three details OR doesn't fully explain what they reveal
0 Fails to identify meaningful signs of unreliability or provides no explanation
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Three signs of unreliability: (1) The narrator's certainty decreases from "yellow" to "90% sure" - this reveals they aren't as confident as they initially claim. (2) They dismiss the eyewitness by saying "eyewitnesses are unreliable" - this shows they're undermining evidence that contradicts them. (3) They emphasize their fifteen years of accident-free driving - this is an appeal to character rather than evidence about what actually happened. Each detail shows the narrator building a defense rather than objectively reporting facts.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Alternative Perspective)

Score Criteria
2 Explains what the other driver's perspective would reveal, identifies what current narrator conceals, and explains how understanding would change
1 Addresses some elements but incomplete analysis of how perspective would change understanding
0 Fails to meaningfully address how alternative perspective would differ
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
From the other driver's perspective, we would learn what she actually saw - whether her light was definitely green, whether the narrator's car seemed to be speeding. We'd understand her fear for her daughter, which the current narrator dismisses as "making a scene." We'd also get her interpretation of the narrator's behavior and possibly more objective details about the accident. The current narrator conceals this perspective entirely - we never hear that she has a child in the car until the narrator mentions it dismissively. The reader's understanding would change because we might see the narrator not as a victim of false accusations but potentially as someone at fault who is constructing a self-serving version of events.
FAST Success Kit | Grade 8 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.1.3
Answer Key - For Teacher Use Only