Why was Tom so willing to take such an extreme risk for his career? What does he learn from this experience?

Teaching Suggestion: Discussing Tom’s decision and motivation to chase down his notes, and his eventual epiphany after the experience, can help students think more deeply about the theme of The Consequences of Unbridled Ambition.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who struggle to organize their ideas might benefit from a graphic organizer that helps them track Tom’s changing thoughts about his career throughout the story.