Unit 2: The Social Experience
Every person is part of the larger society and is shaped by and responsible to it. Historically and currently, people have strived to create a better society that attends to the individual as well as to the collective good. Human endeavour, history, and literature attest to the ongoing challenge of achieving balance between individual and societal concerns, rights, and responsibilities; between individual aspirations and societal needs; between personal ambition and the common good; between individual beliefs and societal values. This ongoing challenge manifests itself in conformity and rebellion, causes and crusades. In this unit, students examine, critique, and interrogate the society in which they live and consider the actions students can take to create the kind of society in which they would like to live.
1.0 Dealing with Universal Issues
1.1 "Somewhere in America"
What do these youth bring up in their Slam Poetry?
<-- 1.2 CR 30.3 (d; e) Watch "If I Should Have a Daughter" and write down 10 things you know to be absolutely true.
1.3 "By Any Other Name"
1.4 "Shooting an Elephant" By George Orwell
1.5 "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathon Swift
1.6 Parody and Satire Assignment
2.0 Ambition, Power, and the Common Good
2.1 The Lottery
2.2 "A Hanging"
2.3 Banksy Does New York
2.4 Night by Elie Wiesel
3.0 Social Criticism
Guiding Questions
- What is social criticism?
- What is the purpose of social criticism?
- What is conformity? What is resistance? What is meant by "the status quo"? What is rebellion? Do different people define these differently? How are conformity, resistance, and rebellion manifested differently in different societies?
- Why do some individuals or groups challenge the system while others abide by it? What is political protest? How do societies treat resistance? Is resistance risky? Why or why not?
"A Room of One's Own"
"Still I Rise"
Privilege
Three Ways of Meeting Oppression
The Gettysburg Address
4.0 Addressing the Issues
Guiding Questions:
- How can we make the world a better place?
- Do all people tackle causes in their lifetimes? Why or why not? What causes might your generation undertake?
- What do people do when faced with a decision between advancing a cause and doing what they believe is right?
- Are there situations in which individuals might challenge authority? What are some responsible ways of challenging authority?