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?

Guiding QuestionsWhat is “truth” and what is “justice”? How do we define “truth”? What are important truths in life? How do we find truth?How do we tell right from wrong? What challenges result from varying views of “right” and “wrong”? What are the rights of all? How do we define “justice”? Why is justice often hard to achieve? Is justice fair? Infallible? Why does justice sometimes “sting”? How do we remedy injustice? Are there situations in which it is more just to treat people differently than to treat them the same?


<-- 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.

Kay, Sarah. "If I should have a daughter...". TED, March 2011, https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_ have_a_daughter?language=en.
Lesson 13 By Any Other Name

1.3 "By Any Other Name"

CR 30.4 d-- use knowledge from texts as a basis to understanding self and society...
Elephants in Art.pptx
CR 30.2 Demonstrate critical viewing behaviours to evaluate how effectively information, ideas, issues, and opinions are communicated in visual and multimedia texts and whether the texts achieve their intended purpose:Determine what the text is representing
u6_shoot_elephant_se.pdf

1.4 "Shooting an Elephant" By George Orwell

CR 30.4 f Read historical and contemporary literary and informational texts to understand, appreciate, and respond to international and global perspectives.
A Modest Proposal

1.5 "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathon Swift

CR 30.4 j-- Use note making and outlining to better understand texts.
Write a story or essay using parody, satire, and/or irony

1.6 Parody and Satire Assignment

CR 30.4b Compose and create narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writings that include a position paper, a comparative essay, a letter of inquiry, a critique of an author's style, and a short story or essay that uses parody, satire, and/or irony.

2.0 Ambition, Power, and the Common Good

What is meant by "the common good"? Who decides what the common good is? Is the common good best for every individual in a society? How do we attend to the common good while respecting individual goals and values?
the_lottery_ss_.docx
ss_the_lottery_worksheet.docx

2.1 The Lottery

What is the nature of ambition and power?
A Hanging.pdf

2.2 "A Hanging"

How do ambition and power drive us? How do they challenge us? How do individuals acquire real and perceived power? How do people enact power?
banksy_does_new_york_handout.docx

2.3 Banksy Does New York

How are power and privilege aligned? How does lack of power or imbalance in power affect individuals, groups, and societies?
night_student_handout_jp_2015.docx
night_theme_tracking.docx

2.4 Night by Elie Wiesel

What is social criticism
Lesson 11 Social Commentary

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?
Feminism.pptx

"A Room of One's Own"

Still I Rise

"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?



<--How do these texts promote social and personal change? How does it raise awareness about a range of topics/ ideas?

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?

Final ELA 30 B Project