The Hunger Games Group Discussions
Each meeting day, your group will discuss the assigned readings. You will be focusing on a specific concept that recurs in the book. The first few times you meet, you will have guided questions to help you focus. By the time we are halfway through the book, you will be running the discussions independently.
What to do as a group: Each meeting your group will discuss your topic. You will answer the questions provided or expand on topic points as a group—one person will write each week. These answers will then be placed BACK IN THIS FOLDER at the end of the discussion.
What to do individually: Each person in the group will also be responsible for writing a paragraph (5-7 sentences) explaining the importance of their concept (what they noticed, what they predict, what they are wondering, connections they can make, etc.). These will be turned in to Miss Lewis at the end of the class for an individual grade.
Tracking discussions: Each meeting two different people will be responsible for tracking the discussion. They will choose two other students to observe. They will jot down how many times these people speak, how relevant their information is, and expand on their ideas. PLEASE NOTE: Just because you are tracking does not mean that you are exempt from participating in the discussions.
If you are absent: You are responsible for writing the paragraph and turning it in one day after your absence. You may look at your group’s notes before formulating your response.
At the end of the book: Your group will create a 7-10 minute presentation explaining your take on the book. You must include THREE cited quotations, examples that prove your concept, an analysis of the book, and a visual. More information on this will be provided when the time comes.
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Pre-Reading: Questions to Ponder:
1. Why be compassionate?
2. Why is competition good?
3. Do ordinary rules of morality (what is right and wrong) apply when we are fighting to survive?
4. What does it mean to be human?
5. What causes us to consider other people’s feelings?
6. Define the following words:
a. Altruism
b. Dignity
c. Compassion
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 1-3:
1. Describe Katniss and Gale’s relationship.
2. Why do some of the Peacekeepers let Katniss hunt?
3. How do we see compassion from the crowd when Prim’s name is called?
4. How do self-preservation and compassion both come into play for the families of the tributes?
5. How does the crowd react when Katniss volunteers? Why?
6. Who are Katniss’s visitors? What do they want?
7. How do Peeta and Katniss know each other? Describe their sole interaction.
8. How does the slogan of the Hunger Games hint that winning is chance and not about competition?
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 4-6:
1. Why doesn’t Katniss trust Peeta?
2. What is significant about Haymitch asking, “Did I actually get a pair of fighters this year?”
3. Why is it significant to note that Cinna asked to style District 12? What does it say about him?
4. Why are the other tributes unhappy with Katniss and Peeta?
5. Describe Katniss’s encounter with the Avox. How do we see self-preservation? How does this compare to her sacrifice to save Prim?
6. How does Peeta keep Katniss from getting in trouble for knowing the Avox girl?
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 7-9:
1. What are the Career Tributes and how are they different from the others?
2. Why have all the tributes practice together?
3. When Peeta and Katniss share each other’s strengths with Haymitch, who is being compassionate and who is being competitive? How do you know?
4. Why should Katniss and Peeta save their best talents for the private session?
5. Why does Katniss let Rue follow her?
6. What does it say about the Gamekeepers that they were not paying attention to Katniss and Peeta? Why are they so upset about this?
7. What’s the conflict with Katniss’s score of eleven?
8. Describe how Katniss and Gale’s friendship evolved.
9. Why does Katniss feel betrayed by Peeta? Why is this ironic?
10. Describe Katniss’s interaction with the Avox girl.
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 10-13:
It is your job to generate discussion points for these readings. Please write out your topic and what you notice on the sheet. If you need help, please see me.
Things to focus on:
· Peeta and Katniss
· The girl with the fire
· Katniss versus the Careers
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 14-18:
It is your job to generate discussion points for these readings. Please write out your topic and what you notice on the sheet. If you need help, please see me.
Things to focus on:
· Peeta’s alliance
· Rue and Katniss
· Foxface
· Rue
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 19-21:
It is your job to generate discussion points for these readings. Please write out your topic and what you notice on the sheet. If you need help, please see me.
Things to focus on:
· Thresh
· District 11
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 22-24:
It is your job to generate discussion points for these readings. Please write out your topic and what you notice on the sheet. If you need help, please see me.
Compassion and Competition in The Hunger Games
Chapters 25-27:
It is your job to generate discussion points for these readings. Please write out your topic and what you notice on the sheet. If you need help, please see me.