Writing Topic
Select the role of someone who was involved with or someone who observed Tom Robinson's trial. Write an account of the trial from that person's point of view.
- - - a member of the black community sitting in the balcony

- - - a member of the jury who believed that Tom was innocent but was afraid to go against the other members of the jury

- - - a newspaper reporter from New York who was covering the trial

- - - Judge Taylor in his later years writing his memoirs

- - - Reverend Sykes

- - - Atticus writing in his journal

- - - Miss Maudie Atkinson

- - - Aunt Alexander
Make sure that what you write is consistent with the character whose point of view you have assumed.

It was a long first day in the courtroom today. Nobody truly took a lead over the other, although I feel I made great progress. This is going to be a vigorous case all the way to the end. Even though I will not win, I truly want to take this case seriously. As long as I put up a good fight against Mr. Gilmer, I will be happy. I feel that I am doing the right thing.

Hopefully, someday, people will respect me again for who I am and not my views about black men. I know that I will feel better about myself in the end when this case is complete. I will feel better that I went against the usual behavior and stuck up for what was right. Most people in the courtroom today knew that Tom Robinson is innocent, but unfortunately, he will be convicted in the end. Hopefully, someday, people's views will change and we will have a fair society to live in. 

1. What is the main idea of this NYT article? What is its connection to OMAM?
The main idea of the article is to talk about how we are in a recession, but most people feel that we exiting the worst part of it right now. Its connection to OMAM is that OMAM took place during a recession just like our time now. 

2. According to the article, "Some Forecasters See a Fast Economic Recovery," what 'psychological factor' is mentioned as providing the U.S. society with a false sense of comfort?
The psychological factor is that people will have a massive infrastructure spending and people will start to feel like everything is working.

3. Is there a similar psychological phenomenon that plays out in OMAM? [Hint: Where do the migrant workers' earnings go? Find support for your answers on pages 76-78 of the text.]

In OMAM, all the workers immediately spend their money in town at the bar. This is similar to what people could start doing if they think we are coming out of the recession. They could start spending their money freely.