University of Maryland

HEALTH 101 Sally_B_Smart_Anns Story copy.4.2.1 Ann’s Story (20 points)
Directions: Read Ann’s Story. Then, reply to the prompts below.
Section A-Choose one (4 points)
 Ann talks about feeling isolated from her friends. Using two examples from the text, explain how you think this occurred.
Ann is isolated from her friends because she is afraid she will do something that provokes Connor’s uncontrollable jealousy. Two examples
include her relationships with Mark and Abby. Mark’s a new friend, but she knows her relationship with him has already angered Connor. She also
describes how Abby has given up being her friend because of how controlling Connor is and how he inspires fear in her that isolates her from her
friends.
 Ann describes how she has come to blame herself and how she tries to change her behavior so that Connor will not abuse her. Give two
examples from the text that reflects this way of thinking.
One example of this is when she tries to convince herself that Connor is a good person who just “needs some guidance, some love, some
understanding”. She tries to pacify her behavior to be loving and accepting even when Connor hurts her because she believes it her obligation to
fix him, which leads to her blaming herself when he abuses her anyways. An example of this is when she’s lying on the ground trying to keep still
and talk gently so Connor won’t hurt her. She says, “I know if I think clearly, I can steer him back toward being himself again. If I do this right,
Connor will be back. …” This shows that she clearly believes that Connor is fundamentally good and it’s her job to do the “right” thing and fix
him.
Section B-Choose two (16 points)
 Cite four specific examples of anger/emotional abuse from Ann’s Story.
One example of emotional abuse is how Connor attempts to isolate Ann from other guys like Mark because of his jealousy and possessiveness.
Another example of verbal abuse is when he tells Ann she is stupid in the car. Two examples of physical abuse occur when Connor squeezes Ann’s
wrist and hurts her in the car, and when he throws her to the ground in his apartment.
 What types of scars is Ann accumulating? Identify at least two.
Grade 10 – Comprehensive Health Education
2018 MCPS
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Ann will clearly accumulate physical scars from the physical violence that Connor enacts upon her. In the story, he is unhesitant to hit her,
which will leave physical scars. Ann is also accumulating mental scars from the emotional abuse and the terror of being in a relationship with
Connor. This has already shown itself in Ann’s isolation from her friends and all the other people in her life who care about her.
 Think about how Ann could get help and set boundaries to protect herself. Provide four different ways she might accomplish this.
Ann could talk to the police about her situation. She could also call a domestic violence shelter and get help. She could also set boundaries
between her and Connor by trying not to be alone with him and by telling her friends and family. She should also keep her cell phone and
important phone numbers with her in case she needs to get help. When she ends the relationship, she should also do it in a public place with
friends and family around so people can help her if Connor reacts violently.
 What do you think the author is trying to show with this line: “...eventually all the scars will have scars and that is all I will be, one big
scar of a love gone wrong.”
I think the author is trying to show that all of the scars Connor is leaving on Ann, both physical and mental, have changed her drastically. She
is terrified of Connor and emotionally manipulated by him. It will take her a long time to recover. Eventually her physical scars will heal, but
the mental ones will take a while.
Ann’s Story
August 15
Eleven Months, Sixteen Days
I’ve made a mistake. A huge, monumental mistake. I forgot Connor’s truck broke down. I forgot he was going to be waiting for me when I walked
out of Subway. I’ve only been back on the job for two weeks, and it’s already putting a strain on my relationship with Connor. And now he’s seen
me. He’s seen me laugh and push Mark, the new guy.
And I know what he’s thinking, and I know where his mind is going, and I know without asking that he’s steaming, waiting for me. I know the fear
he has of losing me overpowers everything else, even his common sense. I know deep inside he trusts me, but I know his raging insecurities will
always prevail.
He’s so afraid of losing me that he can’t see I’d never leave him. And I know he had to have seen the way Mark hugged me with one arm, just a
loose sideways hug, but still a hug. He won’t believe me when I say Mark means nothing. He’ll just replay that hug over and over in his mind and
he’ll spin a story that’s so far from the truth.