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As we prepare for our reading of Fahrenheit 451 and/or 1984, we are discussing the issues of living in the increasingly digital and "connected" world of today's society. This page contains some valuable resources to help you understand the topic and complete the assignments in the unit.
Essential questions
What are the challenges of living in an increasingly digital and "connected" world?
How do the authors of dystopian novels get across their warnings about our society?
What are Bradbury and Orwell trying to warn us about and do we still need to listen today?
Student skills and concepts
At the end of this unit, students will be able to...
identify an issue in today’s world that is relevant to them in terms of the challenges of an increasingly digital and connected world: threats to privacy and individual freedoms; Over reliance or dependence on technology; abuse of technology; potential for mindless entertainment to stifle individual thinking; the power of information, propaganda, and language distortion.
identify a warning in 1984 and/or Fahrenheit 451 that is relevant to them in terms of the challenges of an increasingly digital and connected world: threats to privacy and individual freedoms; Over reliance or dependence on technology; abuse of technology; potential for mindless entertainment to stifle individual thinking; the power of information, propaganda, and language distortion.
draw a parallel between an issue in today’s society and a warning made by Orwell and/or Bradbury.
evaluate how serious today’s issue is to them and whether Orwell’s or Bradbury’s warnings are still relevant in 2012.
Ongoing Assignments
Before we begin, we will read a series of nonfiction articles that deal with some of the issues of living in a increasingly digital and connected world. You will identify a challenge and write a two-minute speech that explores this idea.
As we begin to read our dystopian novels and select which one we want to read, you will be asked to write a solid paragraph that defines what a dystopia is. You must use information from the different definitions we discussed AND include a relevant example from one of the excerpts read in class.
Later in the unit, the larger essay assignment will be an essay that examines an issue in today's society and connects it to one of the warnings made by either Bradbury or Orwell in their dystopian novels.
The average young American now spends practically every waking minute — except for the time in school — using a smart phone, computer, television or other electronic device, according to anew studyfrom the Kaiser Family Foundation.
This used to be the land of the free. Is it still?Rather than leave us free to choose, writer Jeff Jacoby says that Big Brother increasinglymakes the choice for us.
Below are the presentations and materials related to our class discussions.
Related links
As you explore the issues raised in our class discussions - privacy and surveillance - use this page as a resource for articles, videos and other information.
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