VanderSlik Lesson Plan: Harrison Bergeron Day 2 Objectives:

As a pre-writing activity, students will free write in response to the following question(s): Should everyone be equal? Why or why not? What does it mean to be equal? Students will respond to questions through in-class discussion to focus their thinking on the topic both. Students will discuss their responses in order to help them develop a stronger position on the issue and recognize the potential arguments of opposing views. Students will take a stance on the subject of equality and begin taking notes and preparing to write their essay. Materials: 14 copies of Kurt Vonnegut Jrs short story Harrison Bergeron. Discussion questions. Free Write Topic: Should everyone be equal? Why or why not? What does it mean to be equal? Procedure: Using the fist-to-five method, ask students: Agree or disagree everyone should be treated equally. Agree or disagree: equal is always fair. (Fist = Totally Disagree, Five = Totally Agree) (2-3 m) Have students free write on the topic: Should everyone be equal? Why or why not? What does it mean to be equal? (5-7 m) Ask students to share their responses, recording them on the board. (5-7 m) Encourage students to engage in open discussion of the topic (based on time), choosing from the following prompts: o What does the Declaration of Independence mean when it states: all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. o Is the clause all men are created equal meant to be taken literally? o What is the effect of having 213 Amendments to the Constitution? o The term normal is used multiple times throughout Harrison Bergeron. What is normal?

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o In the text, Hazel says He tried to do the best he could with what God gave him, in response to the news reporter who cant repeat the news without a stutter. o Is everyone in the story really equal? (See pg. 3 comments on ballerina) o How would you feel about living in the society Vonnegut creates? Introduce Assignment: Write an argumentative essay in which you take a stand on whether or not everyone should be created equal and/or what it means to be equal. Handout assignment and go over it in detail (requirements, evaluation, due dates, and steps. (10 m) Ask for questions. If there is still time left, students may either add to their free write, brainstorm ideas for their paper, or begin marking evidence in support of their argument for the paper. Go over the next days assignment.