The Giver
Padlet- Where in our lives to we have choice? Class B
Padlet- Rules Class B
Link to Speeches- The Beginning of Sadness and Newbery Acceptance Speech
Interview
Padlet- Rules Class B
Link to Speeches- The Beginning of Sadness and Newbery Acceptance Speech
Interview
Protest Song- Big Yellow Taxi
Protest songs became very popular in the 1960s. These songs either dreamed of a fictional utopia or showed where in our world we were failing (dystopia). "Big Yellow Taxi" shows that progress is not always positive. Read the lyrics, listen to the lyrics, and answer the following questions. Think about both the theme of the song as well as if the song added to your understanding of whether progress is always positive.
The Next Big Thing
This article, published in TIME magazine on September 8, 2003 and updated in 2005 shows how a few inventions revolutionized the world and changed our lives. Please read the article.
Answer the following questions about the article.
Answer the following questions about the article.
8th/9th Only
The Three-Century Woman
Po
https://www.ted.com/talks/jason_pontin_can_technology_solve_our_big_problems
https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_diamandis_on_our_next_giant_leap
https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_now
https://www.ted.com/talks/jason_pontin_can_technology_solve_our_big_problems
https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_diamandis_on_our_next_giant_leap
https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_now
How does Technology currently affect your life?
Please read Why I'm Getting a Divorce in 2014 and Is Technology a Hazard to Our Social Skills? I would suggest reading them using the Readability extension as they are on cluttered pages.
Read this article published by the Chicago Tribune in 1900 & 2000. The original writer took a looks towards the future and, like many science fiction writers, thought about problems he saw in society then and how they could change the future. What did he get right? What did he get wrong?
Harrison Bergeron
How would you define a perfect life? In the short story Harrison Bergeron, author Kurt Vonnegut define perfection as all people are equal.
Guiding Question:
Is Harrison Bergeron a hero or a villain to the society?
4-21-14
Reading #1: Please read for an overall general understanding of the story.
Character: Who is the story about? What makes that person unique?
Setting: Is this a utopia or dystopia? What changes have they made to make this the perfect society? How do the characters feel about the society?
Conflict: We expect with dystopian or utopian novels to see man vs. society. In this case, is it just one person or several people rebelling?
Theme: What do you need to give up to become equal with those around you? Is it better to attempt to raise everyone up, knowing that they will never read perfection, or to lower the expectations and abilities of everyone so everyone feels equal?
*** Please mark all parts you are unclear on as well as new vocabulary***
Please be prepared for a discussion tomorrow.
4-22-14
Annotate any notes from discussion.
Please highlight and then comment (explain why) three excerpts that show that Harrison Bergeron is a danger to society.
4-22-14
Please highlight and then comment (explain why) three excerpts that show that Harrison Bergeron is a savior to the society.
Guiding Question:
Is Harrison Bergeron a hero or a villain to the society?
4-21-14
Reading #1: Please read for an overall general understanding of the story.
Character: Who is the story about? What makes that person unique?
Setting: Is this a utopia or dystopia? What changes have they made to make this the perfect society? How do the characters feel about the society?
Conflict: We expect with dystopian or utopian novels to see man vs. society. In this case, is it just one person or several people rebelling?
Theme: What do you need to give up to become equal with those around you? Is it better to attempt to raise everyone up, knowing that they will never read perfection, or to lower the expectations and abilities of everyone so everyone feels equal?
*** Please mark all parts you are unclear on as well as new vocabulary***
Please be prepared for a discussion tomorrow.
4-22-14
Annotate any notes from discussion.
Please highlight and then comment (explain why) three excerpts that show that Harrison Bergeron is a danger to society.
4-22-14
Please highlight and then comment (explain why) three excerpts that show that Harrison Bergeron is a savior to the society.