Thursday, September 18, 2011
Friday, September 19, 2011
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Discuss Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)
Classzone (In Computer Lab 403)
Group Discussion
Before Reading
– Literary Analysis
– Reading Strategy
– Author’s Background
• Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
• After Reading
– Journal #1
– Discussion
• Grammar and Style
Unit 4: Harrison Bergerson
Short Story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
What if everyone were THE SAME?
Harrison Bergeron
Objectives
• Literary Analysis
– Explore the key idea of
average
– Analyze plot and conflict
– Read a short story
• Reading
– Draw conclusions
• Grammar and Writing
– Use precise adjectives to
revise a draft
– Use writing to analyze
literature
State Standards
• Reading Standards
– E2-1.1 Compare/contrast
ideas to make inferences
– E2-1.4 Analyze plot
– E2-1.4 Analyze the
relationship between plot and
theme
• Writing Standard
– E2-4.6 Use revision strategies
to improve quality of voice in
writing
Harrison Bergeron
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Key Idea: What if everyone were THE SAME?
Literary Analysis: Plot and Conflict
Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions
Author Background: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Background Information:
– Handicaps
– Utopian Society
Harrison Bergeron
• What if everyone were THE SAME?
What would the world be like if everyone were
the same – average in intelligence, talents,
appearance, and strength – and no one was
better than anyone else? How do you think
people would feel and act toward each other?
Would they be happy and satisfied?
What are some possible advantages and
disadvantages of a world where everyone is
the same – exactly average?
Harrison Bergeron
• Literary Analysis: Plot and Conflict
The plot of a story is driven by a conflict, or
struggle between opposing forces. In some
stories the conflict is between the main
character and society. In “Harrison Bergeron”
for example, the title character struggles with
U.S. society in the year 2081.
As we read, notice how Harrison and the
government oppose each other.
Harrison Bergeron
• Reading Skill: Drawing Conclusions
When you draw conclusions, you make
judgments based on story details and your
own prior knowledge. Use the following
strategies to draw conclusions about the
society depicted in “Harrison Bergeron”:
- Note what results from the society’s practices
and laws.
- Apply your own knowledge to speculate about
the motive of its officials.
Harrison Bergeron
• Background:
– Handicap: In sports a handicap is a way to even up
a game so that good, average, and poor players
can compete as equals.
– Utopian Society: This story describes an attempt
to create a Utopian, or perfect, society in the
United States by abolishing all kinds of
competition. For centuries, writers have described
perfect societies. The word Utopian comes from
Sir Thomas More’s book Utopia. This story takes a
satirical look at Utopian society.
Harrison Bergeron
• Key Idea: AVERAGE
Looking at lines 14-28
What does the government do to people who
are above average in some way?
Harrison Bergeron
• Key Idea: AVERAGE
Looking at lines 111 – 124
How does Harrison remain above average, even
with handicaps? What is ironic about how
Harrison looks as compared to the other
handicapped people?
Harrison Bergeron
• After-Reading: Discussion
– Was the story’s ending a total surprise to you?
– Would another ending have been better?
– Do you think the story ended on a positive note
about human nature or a negative note about
society?
Grammar and Style
• Using Precise Language: When describing people,
places, and events in your own writing, choose
adjectives that allow readers to easily visualize
them. Avoid using adjectives such as good and
nice, which are too general to give readers a true
sense of what is described.
– She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because
the mask she wore was hideous. (lines 95-96)
– Her voice was a warm, luminous, timeless, melody.
(line 101)
Grammar and Style
YOU TRY IT:
Harrison Bergeron has a big problem. He’s better
than everyone else, and the government says
that’s bad.
Grammar and Style
YOU TRY IT
The noises that George heard were loud.
Harrison wore big handicaps.
One ballerina had a soothing voice.
Summer Reading Reminder
• Test on Heart of a Champion will be:
– Thursday, September 8th (A-Day Classes)
– Friday, September 9th (B-Day Classes)