B+Project+Human+Nature+Nissly

Spencer Nissly //1984// by George Orwell//-// George Orwell’s 1949 novel centering around the futuristic dystopian society of Oceania. Winston Smith, the main character, takes the reader into the oppressed society ruled by The Party, which is headed by Big Brother. As Winston begins to question the world around him, he begins to understand what it means to truly live. But his self-realization threatens the very fabric of Oceania’s society and Winston soon finds that Big Brother is always watching. Themes: Government control, Identity, Freedom, survival //The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian// by Sherman Alexi//-// Junior has never been the biggest, toughest or best-looking kid on the reservation, but he has always been the smartest. When he finally gets tired of getting beat up and picked on, Junior transfers to Readrdon, but his problems are far from over. Themes: Identity, Relationships, Coming of Age //Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have)// by Sara Mlynowski//-// April and her friends have all the same problems and desires as any high school junior, the difference is, their living in a house with no parents and unlimited funds. The girl learn invaluable life lessons about friendship, love and family, but not before they make some mistakes. Themes: Friendship, Identity, Betrayal //Deadline// by Chris Crutcher//-// This contested book by renowned YA novelist Chris Crutcher tells the story of Ben Wolf, a high school senior who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ben decides to keep the news to himself and live his final year to the fullest, treatment free. Through his dealing with death, Ben learns more about life than he has in his previous eighteen years and the more he learns, the less sure he is he’s ready to leave it behind. Themes: Identity, Death, Equality //The Hunger Games// by Suzanne Collins//-// Panem is a country of 13 districts spread across what we know as North America. Though the capital is full of wealth and glamour, the other districts are impoverished and oppressed. Each year the capital hosts a contest known as the Hunger Games. The winner gets wealth, fame and food for their District, the rest of the contestants die. Katniss Everdeen is competing this year, and if she wins, Panem will never be the same again. Themes: Survival, Relationships, Government Control, Identity Human nature, as a common theme for all of these books is both abundant yet challenging. Though all five texts exhibit human nature I think it’s a hard theme to grasp because not only are the texts different, but human nature is a concept viewed differently by many people. For this reason I think the best approach is to center your class around the opposing view points of Human Nature and how they relate to the conflicts in the stories. Treat the text as a case study and allow the students to form their own beliefs about human nature based upon the evidence in the book and their own life. //The Matrix// (Film Clip) //V for Vendetta (//Film Clip//)// //Mean Girls (//Film Clip) Michael Jackson- Human Nature( Song) Neil Young- The Needle and the Damage Done (Song) “How Human Nature Dotes” Emily Dickinson (Poem) “Natures Questioning” Thomas Hardy (Poem) “A Modest Proposal” Alexander Pope (Essay) “Essay on Man” Alexander Pope (Essay) “The Importance of Civil Disobedience” (Essay) //A Contract With God-// Will Eisner (Graphic Novel)
 * __ B Project Handout: Human Nature __**
 * Human Nature **
 * Alternative Texts **

(These strategies are to be used in connecting //1984// with the other four books) //Pre-Reading// Discuss human nature as class. Use an excerpt from Pope’s “Essay on Man” to center your discussion around. After you read the excerpt have the class do a “Follow the Signs” activity to focus their discussion try these questions for starters. 1) At the heart of every man, their desires are the same 2) America and it’s government was founded on the very core of human nature 3) Human Nature cannot be changed or altered. A liar can never be trusted, a teacher never stops teaching and an addict is always an addict. 4) At their core, all humans are inherently good. 5) Murder is a violation of our own nature. 6) Every human being has a destiny to fulfill. 7) Conformity is goes against human nature and thus probes us to revolt against authority. Give time between each question for groups to confer among themselves and then share their rationale with the class. Afterwards present the class with the theories of “State of Nature,” be sure to connect the theories with time periods and governments. These theories will go form our EQ, “What is the core of human nature and how does that shape our social constructs.” //While Reading// Have students in groups based upon which of the 4 books they will read with //1984.// These groups will serve as lit circles throughout the unit. Throughout the unit you can also bring the class together for jigsaws or Socratic seminars. This will give the class a chance to confer together about //1984// as well as gain new perspectives from the other texts being read. Finally, each student will be required to keep a reading journal charting progress, characterization, themes, cultural connection etc. //Post Reading// As a final project the groups will confer together to create an intensive collaboration connecting their text to //1984.// There will need to be a visual element, digital component, speech/presentation and a reflection paper. Groups can distribute these elements however they like, but there must be evidence that everyone has contributed. In addition, there must be evidence of connection to an alternative text (film clip, graphic novel, song or poem) as well as the text of another group. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage collaboration and connections. All projects should be aligned with the EQ. In addition the journals will be collected and graded.
 * Teaching Strategies **