Where is that time machine anyway?

So, day 1 didn’t send you screaming into the Seattle night. Let’s see what day 2 can do.

First, we’ll do a little writing.  I’ll provide you with a quote and ask you to write for 15 minutes on it. Then, we’ll talk a bit about writing.

All of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness.  ~Mark Kennedy

Do you agree/disagree with this statement. Give 2-3 specific examples that show what you think about technology.

Afterward, we’ll discuss in small groups and discuss as a full group. First, we’ll talk a bit about writing and then about the prompt.

Finally, imagine that you and everyone in your small group had somehow invented a time machine. It could go anywhere. You need to answer two questions and everyone needs to agree.

1. What are you going to bring? (10 items)
2. Where are you going to go?

One person in each small group will have a special role.

HW: Bring laptops tomorrow as well

Today’s a biggish day. Our rough drafts of the Compare/Contrast essays are due.  But first… I want us to have a short 30 minute graded discussion on the similarities and differences between the two novels.  Some possible topics of discussion.

• The beginning/ending
• The protagonist
• The supporting characters
• The types of dystopias
• Plot
• The author’s purpose (i.e. why is he/she writing this)

Then, we’ll write a quick body paragraph in class before doing the peer edit. The peer edit:

Reader 1:  Does the writer have all of the parts?  Does each paragraph have a) topic sentence b) a set up for #1 quote c) the first quote/evidence d) setup for #2 quote e) the 2nd quote f) a 2+ sentence discussion. Reader 2: The same as Reader 1 Reader 3: Check for grammar issues and evaluate how well the discussion explain why the similarity or difference is important.

HW: Final draft due Thur

We’ll start with the quiz, our last on the dystopias, I think.

Next, we’ll get small groups together to work on exploring themes and how they are explored in the novels.  We’ll research and then we’ll present.

Finally, I’ll go through our next paper F451/Anthem Compare/Contrast and explain what I’m looking for.  I hope to give you time to work on the pre-write in class. Get the .pdf version of my talk on literary analysis paragraphs here.

HW:  Anthem–Finish the Book, F451–to pg. 136

So, we’ll give you about 10 minutes to get set and then we’ll film your :30 ads/plays.  I’ll be grading you on 1) demonstrating some knowledge of the book and 2) demonstrating some knowledge of advertising techniques.

Next, I’ll give back the quizzes and talk a bit about the themes and ideas the novels and how someone might comment on them.

F451–>Themes: Censorship, anti-intellectualism, literacy, totalitarianism, propaganda, technology, consumerism, rebellion, society

Anthem–>Individualism vs. collectivism, technology, education, society, peer pressure, work, totalitarianism.

Anthem Questions

1. Why does Equality think that Liberty is different than all of the rest?
2. Why is it bad to be “too” happy in this society?  (46)
3. What’s so scary about the Uncharted forest?
4. What did the man do to deserve being burned at the stake? What does Equality imagine happened when he saw him?
5. What does Equality learn with the crazy frog’s leg?
6. Why is the conversation between Equality and Liberty forbidden? What do they tell each other?
7. What decision does Equality make on pg. 70 and why?  What do you think will happen?
8. Prediction:  How will this story end?

F451 Questions: Section 2

1)    Pg.68  Montag reads a quote “It is computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered death rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end.”  What do you think that means?  Why did Montag read it?
2)    Pg. 74.  Why does Mildred prefer her “family’ to books?  Is she right?
3)    Read quote beginning “Jesus God…”  (pg. 73) What doe we learn about the political and military situation?
4)    Who is Faber and why does Montag want to talk to him?
5)    Who is the White Clown and why does Montag want to know if he loves Mildred?
6)    How does Denham’s Dentifrice drive Montag crazy?  What does this passage show about how advertising affect people?
7)    Why does Faber consider himself a coward?  What does he give Montag?
8)    What plan do Faber and Montag cook up?  Do you think it will work?

HW:  F451–> Finish section 2 (Pg. 110).

Anthem–> Read pages 62-87.

Period 6:

First, I’d like to give blogs another shot.  I think it’ll work this time.

Next, I’d like us to complete a short writing assignment.

Ray Bradbury, when asked about writing Fahrenheit 451, said this:

People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it. Better yet, build it. Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you breathe, and predict more of the same. To hell with more. I want better.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What aspects of the likely future would you want to prevent? Or, do you think that the future will be fine?  Why?  Explain using specific examples from your own life to back up your ideas.  200 words.

Then, I’d like to talk a bit about Harrison Bergeron and how it compares with Anthem.

Next, I want small groups to answer these questions about F451 and then we’ll talk as a full class.

1. What is Montag doing at the beginning of the novel? How does he feel about it?
2. Why does the girl Montag meet upset him? What does she ask him and how does that challenge him?
3. What do we learn about what a fireman is and why they have the job they do?
4. Re-read the paragraph on page 9 starting “I sometimes think…” What is she describing about how people live in that time?  What do you think the author is saying about the danger that technology holds over people?
5. What’s wrong with Montag’s wife and what happens just as he finds out?  Why did the author choose to have that happen?
6. What do we learn about how the history of firefighting (and Benjamin Franklin) has been distorted in this world?
7. What happens to the woman who quotes from Master Ridley? What does this show us about how some people feel about the book restrictions?
8. What do we know so far about the world of F451?  How does it differ from our own?

Then, we’ll talk.

HW:  Read F451 to the end of Part I, page 68 (Quiz Tuesday).

Image Credit: The Big Read