Junior admits wanting Penelope’s approval when joining her fundraising plan.
“I wanted her to admire my commitment, too. So I lied.” (Alexie 78)Read in the chapter
Week 7 · A related practice question
Can mixed motives still lead Junior to do something helpful?
Junior’s Halloween project begins partly as an attempt to impress Penelope, but it also becomes a real effort to help people. Penelope, the classmate he wants to impress, plans to collect money for homeless people. Junior admits, “I wanted her to admire my commitment, too. So I lied” (Alexie 78). This says that he pretends his costume already represents a cause because he wants her approval. It shows that the project does not begin with a completely honest explanation. His confession, an admission he makes to the reader, lets us notice a motive Penelope does not know. It would be naive to treat every kind action as free of personal hopes. However, a selfish motive does not erase everything Junior later does. He says, “I was a poor kid raising money for other poor people” (Alexie 79). This says that he actually collects money even though he has little himself. It shows that the plan becomes an effort with value beyond making him look good. Consequently, we need to consider both his dishonest beginning and his helpful work. Because people can want approval and still care about others, a fair judgment should examine their actions as well as their motives. Junior has something to improve, but he also does something worth recognizing.
Use these four words for this model exercise. The review words are drawn from earlier lessons; they are not additional Words of the Day assigned this week. For your weekly Aim Response, use the words your teacher assigns.
See the exact vocabulary groups for your Aim Response →
Practice-only review words: consequently — Week 1
Where this model’s evidence came from
Reader note 6: Junior names the motive behind his next choice: he wants her approval. A worthwhile project and a desire to impress someone can exist at the same time.
Junior describes his Halloween fundraising.
“I was a poor kid raising money for other poor people.” (Alexie 79)Read in the chapter
Evidence-bank note: Junior helps raise money even while he is poor himself. The project gives him a way to contribute alongside Penelope; it does not make his own poverty disappear.
Notice how the model develops the observation into an explanation. Borrow that writing move; choose evidence for your own question.
See how the argument builds
- Answer the question
Mixed motives can still lead to useful work.
- Explain the first quote
Junior lies because he wants admiration.
- Keep the problem visible
His helpful goal does not make the lie honest.
- Explain the second quote
He actually works to raise money for others.
- Build the ending
Judge the motive and the action together.
Try one writing move
___ wanted ___, but ___ also ___.
Fill each blank with a person, action, or reason that fits the sentence. This is a thinking frame, not a vocabulary matching exercise.
Compare with an example
Junior wanted Penelope’s approval, but he also did real work to help people with little money.