Survival Literature
By: Ms. Jane Brewer
Course Description
The survival genre is filled with examples of individuals surviving the
elements, diseases, and war. Survival Literature hopes to address the
issue of how and why people find themselves in these situations and,
once in the environment, how they manage. How do they survive?
What reserve do they call upon to overcome what might otherwise
destroy them? Is it the human spirit that will not die? What enables an
individual or group to survive against almost insurmountable odds?
Required Reading:
Fever 1793 – Laurie Halse Anderson
Maus : A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History – Art Spiegelman
WEEK ONE: What is survival?
Forum (1): Tell us about yourself = Your name, favorite subject in
school, favorite food, and favorite thing to do in your free time. In a well
formed paragraph, give me your own definition of “survival” and give a
real life example…either your own or one you’ve gotten from a friend or
family member. Respond to at least 3 other students.
Forum (2): Group work - Meet the other members of your team in this
group forum.
Together answer these questions: What makes a team successful? What
does each team member need to do in order for his or her team to
“win?”
After coming up with an answer that everyone can agree on, your team
needs to:
1. Select a leader for the next 2 weeks
2. Come up with a name for the team
3. Choose a mascot or icon for your team
4. Decide who will bring the following items to the first f2f meeting:
a. 3 jokes about being on a team
b. A souvenir from a student’s hometown area
c. A newspaper article about a team
d. A team song or chat
e. The definition of cohesion
f. 3 sayings that involve the concept of teamwork
Reading: Read the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. Read
any 2 scenarios in The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook – Joshua
Piven, Read the short story “The Woods-Devil” .
Assignment (research): Fill in the chart for the stories “To Build a
Fire” and “The Woods-Devil.” In addition, write a paragraph for each
story stating – “Somebody wanted__________ but__________ so__________ (fill
in the blanks).
Extension Exercise (research): Use this website to read about the
author of “To Build a Fire” – Jack London.
http://www.jacklondons.net/shortbio.html
Was this author ever in a situation where he had to “survive?” Consider
the following quote from the author:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark
should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I
would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow,
than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live,
not exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them, I shall use
my time."
– Jack London 1876-1916
What does this quote mean as far as survival goes? Write one coherent
paragraph explaining this quote from your perspective.
WEEK TWO: What are some common survival scenarios?
Forum: What are some common survival situations? What are some
things that transform a regular situation into one of survival?
 (#1)
 http://www.fieldandstream.com/quiz.jsp?quizID=10001158
(#2)
 http://www.spicolisbarleybin.com/games/survival.swf (#3)
Take two of the above survival quizzes. List which two
quizzes you took. In the forum, comment on your ability to
pass or “survive” the scenarios. Why do you think you did well
or failed? Don’t forget to respond to at least 3 other students.
Assignment: Poetry questions.
Reading: Read “Staying Alive” and any 2 scenarios in The Worst-Case
Scenario Survival Handbook - Joshua Piven.
Group Work: Work to come up with instructions for your own “WorstCase Survival Scenario.”
Extension: Go to the website for the Discovery Channel to learn more
about a cool TV show.
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/manvswild/manvswild.html Watch
one episode of "Man vs. Wild." If you can't find one on TV, some of these
can be found on AOL Video or MySpace video. (Be sure it's a full
episode!) Write a summary paragraph of the episode and also a
paragraph explaining why this would be a good episode to watch at a f2f
meeting. (Or, on the other hand, you could tell me why it would NOT be
worthwhile.) (Benchmark 37)
WEEK THREE: What do you need to know to survive in a new
environment?
Forum: Complete forums #4 & #5.
Reading: Click on the weblink to read "Voices of A-Bomb Survivors"
accounts. Then read "A Song Before Sunset" by David Grigg.
(Benchmark 76)
Assignment: Complete the reading assignment.
Group Work: None this week!
Extension: Read the poem "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" by Pavel
Friedman. Answer these questions:


What experiences do you think generated this poem?
How does this poem make you feel?
Read this letter. Click on the butterfly link and create your own
butterfly. Hand this in at the next f2f meeting. (I will send it out on your
behalf.) Follow directions carefully. (Benchmark 44)
WEEK FOUR: How can one survive during a war?
Forum: Complete the 6th forum. Be sure to respond to at least 3
people. (Benchmarks 37 & 80)
Reading: Read through chapter three in the graphic novel Maus: A
Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History. (Benchmark 76)
Group Work: The team should choose a new leader. YOU HAVE TWO
WEEKS TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ASSIGNMENT!
(Benchmarks 55 & 80)
Situational Simulations
Read the scenario and decide what the challenges the character
has faced. Describe the obstacles he or she confronted. Create a
"plan" that helps this character survive his or her situation.
Answer the specific scenario questions. The questions are not
very specific on
purpose. Tell all assumptions that you have made. This will be
done in pairs of two or three. You will be assigned a partner for
this activity. However, you will be able to pick which scenario you
want to work with. Please note that each scenario has to be used
once. Let me know your choice straight away. This will be worth
16 points. You will also write a 1-page reflection in your log about
your process that is worth 4 points.
Extension: Search the Internet to find a famous survivor. In an 8-11
sentence paragraph, explain what situation this person survived. Was
she/he the type to panic? Or did they keep a cool head? Also, find one
quote that proves your position. (Benchmark 42)
WEEK FIVE: What are the qualities of a survivor?
Forum: #7 - US Holocaust Memorial Museum Interviews. (Benchmark
80)
Reading: Read chapters 4-6 in Maus. (Benchmarks 44 & 76).
Group Work: Continue your group work assignment from week four.
It is due this week!
Assignment: Complete the Reading Questions Worksheet below.
(Benchmark 76)
Extension (research): Research the Jewish culture to find out what
types of food they like to eat. What does "keeping kosher" mean? Make
a recipe and bring it to our 2nd f2f meeting to share with the class. Be
sure to find out as much as you can about the particular food you make.
**Please let me know ahead of time if you plan on bringing
something so that I can allot time for this activity! (You are
responsible for bringing plates, forks or whatever utensils you need to
serve your dish.) (Benchmark 42)
WEEK SIX: How do stereotypes and prejudice affect one's survival?
Forum: #8 Complete the "rules" forum below. (Benchmark 80)
Reading: Finish reading Maus. (Benchmarks 55 & 76)
Assignment: Answer the reading questions below. (Benchmark 44)
Group Work: Work together on the group figurative language
assignment. (Benchmark 44)
Extension (research): "Nobody is stronger; nobody is weaker than
someone who came back. There is nothing you can do to such a person
because whatever you could do is less than what has already been done to
him. We have already paid the price." ~ Elie Wiesel
Do some research on Elie Wiesel. Who was he? Why is he famous?
Think about the quote above. What does it mean to you? Write a three
paragraph essay on Elie Wiesel and the meaning of this quote. Be sure
to include good topic sentences, a proper introduction, and a proper
conclusion. (Benchmark 42)
WEEK SEVEN: Is society better equipped to survive now (in 2008)
than we used to be?
Forum: Complete forum #9 about lifestyle differences. (Benchmark 80)
Group Work: Select a new leader for the group. Each team member is
to continue to work towards achieving their goals spelled out in the
action step chart. Choose a topic for your final group project. THIS
PROJECT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CLASS AT OUR FINAL F2F
MEETING IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS! (Benchmarks 42 & 76 & 80)
Reading: Read chapters 1-11 in Fever 1793 (pgs. 1-83) (Benchmark 76)
Extension: Choose any infectious disease to research either on the
Internet or in the library. Click on worksheet to see the assignment.
Complete and hand in for extra points! (Benchmark 42)
WEEK EIGHT: Are there moral/ethical decision made
when trying to survive?
Forum: Complete the famous quote forum #10. (Benchmarks 55 & 80)
Assignment: Complete the reading questions below. (Benchmarks 37,
44 & 76)
Group Work: Work on your final group project/presentation.
(Benchmark 80)
Reading: Read chapters 12-20 in Fever 1793 (pgs 84162). (Benchmark 76)
WEEK NINE: Wrap-up
Forum: Please complete the final forum - #11 (Benchmarks 37 & 80)
Surveys: Please fill out the 2 surveys and choice activity (?) below.
Reading: Finish Fever 1793 (pgs. 163-243). Read the appendix of the
book (pgs. 244-252). (Benchmark 76)
Assignment: After you have finished the surveys, what have you
learned about yourself?
Group Work: Finish your project and finish working on how you are
going to present it at the f2f.