Section 11

1. “It’s to help kids like that that Brannan and her volunteers put together an informational packet on secondary trauma for parents to give to teachers, explaining their battle-worthy idiosyncrasies and sensory-processing sensitivities. They’re common enough problems that the Department of Health and Human Services got in touch with Brannan about distributing the packet more widely.”

This quote makes a Factual Claim, it talks about real events that actually happened. In the quote it says that Brannan and her volunteers created a packet to help parents explain secondary trauma to teachers, and also that the Department of Health and Human services got in touch with Brannan about giving the packets out more widely. The claim describes real events and actions and not just opinions or arguments.

2. “Brannan gave the packet to Katie’s kindergarten teacher, but thinks the teacher just saw it as an excuse for bad behavior. Last fall, she switched Katie to a different school, where she hopes, more understanding will lead to less anxiety. Though Brannan hopes Katie will come out of childhood healthy, she still says, “She’s not a normal kid. She does things and says things. She’s a grown-up in a six-year-old’s body in a lot of ways.”

This quote makes a value claim because it shares Brannan personal thoughts and opinions. She feels that the teacher misunderstood the reason for the packets, thinking that it’s an excuse for Kaite’s behavior. Brannan also describes Kaite as “not a normal kid” and also compares her to a grown up. These are Brannan personal perspective and feelings, not just facts.

3. “Katie Vines.” Brannan is stern but impeccably patient. She doesn’t know why Katie adapted this story about confiscating a weapon from an insurgent into a story about bloodshed, but she isn’t too happy about it. That kind of small talk recently ruined a birthday party one of her classmates was having at Chick-fil-A. Brannan and Katie have a talk, again, about inappropriate conversation. Katie is sorry—God, is she sorry, you can see it in her face and guilty shoulders, but she seems to feel like she can’t help it. Sometimes, at bedtime, she asks her mom to pray with her that her teacher will like her. Once, she asked Brannan to take her to a hypnotist, so he could use his powers to turn her into a good girl.”

This quote also makes a value claim, as well as the previous quote, because it reflects Branna personal thoughts and feelings about Katies actions. Brannan is upset with Kaite because she told a story about violence which ruined her friend’s birthday party. It also shows how Katie feels about this situation as well, Kaite feels bad and wants to change, like how she asked to see a hypnotist to turn her into a good girl.