Calamity Lesson Plan #2

Calamity Lesson Plan #2

Calamity Lesson Plan #2

English II, College Prep

HEY KIDS!!! Guess what! You don’t have to read half the crap on this page. Just skip down to the chart under Instructional Procedures on the next page.

Lesson Summary: students will read “Harrison Bergeron” and answer questions that ask them to compare and contrast it with a previously encountered novel, Anthem, by Ayn Rand.

Estimated Duration: 45 minutes

Standards Connection:

  • Anchor Standards for Reading [6, 7, 9]: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
  • Anchor Standards for Writing [1]: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Materials and Resources:

  • Text of “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut
  • Microsoft Word or another similar program in which to write the essay
  • Internet Connection and email account from which you can email Mr. Pastor the essay as an attachment.
  • Mr. Pastor’s email address:

Vocabulary:

  • Handicapper General: cabinet official in charge of ensuring exact equality among everyone, no matter how absurdly it must be carried out

Attachments:

  • None

Instructional Procedures

STEP 1: Click on the following linkand only read the first story, “Harrison Bergeron”:
  • Read and take notes on “Harrison Bergeron” at the following link:

STEP 2: Answer the following questions in 3-5 complete sentences each
  • 1. In what ways is Harrison similar to Equality 7-2521, from Anthem? Explain thoroughly.
  • 2. In what ways do Equality 7-2521 and Harrison differ, as far as their personalities and inner qualities are concerned? Explain thoroughly.
  • 3. Which author best illustrates the folly / absurdity of governmental efforts and legislating equality amongst all people? Explain thoroughly.

STEP 3: Save your document and email it to me at or write out the answers and give them to me in class. For information on how this will be graded, please consult the rubric on this page.
STEP 4: Have a pleasant day of calamity.

Assessment: students will be graded according to the following rubric based on their ability to evaluate these texts.

Rubric:

6 – Superior, well developed response, with few if any grammatical flaws and that does an exceptional job of analyzing all aspects of the prompts.

5 – Excellent, well developed response with a few grammatical flaws and that does an excellent job of analyzing all aspects of the prompts.

4 – Very good, mostly developed response with a few grammatical flaws and that does a very good job of analyzing all aspects of the prompts.

3 – Adequate, almost completely developed response with some grammatical flaws that does an adequate job of analyzing all aspects of the prompts.

2 – Below average, partially developed response with more grammatical flaws that does a below average job of analyzing all aspects of the prompts.

1 – Inadequate, slightly developed response with many grammatical flaws that does an inadequate job of analyzing all aspects of the prompts.

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