1. Thursday, September 18, 2011 Friday, September 19, 2011
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

2. Unit 4: Harrison Bergerson Short Story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
What if everyone were THE SAME?

3. Harrison Bergeron Objectives State Standards Literary Analysis Reading
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
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

4. Harrison Bergeron 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

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Harrison Bergeron Key Idea: AVERAGE Looking at lines 14-28
What does the government do to people who are above average in some way?

10. 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?

11. 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?

12. 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)

13. 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.

14. Grammar and Style
YOU TRY IT The noises that George heard were loud. Harrison wore big handicaps. One ballerina had a soothing voice.

15. Summer Reading Reminder
Test on Heart of a Champion will be:
Thursday, September 8th (A-Day Classes)
Friday, September 9th (B-Day Classes)