Unit 10.4: Stories of Other Worlds: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Imaginative Literature

Transcription

1 Unit 10.4: Stories of Other Worlds: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Imaginative Literature The final quarter of the year gives students opportunities to let their minds roam free to distant or imagined worlds, as they explore texts that intentionally create new settings in order to comment on the authors own societies. Whether the stories question the benefits and dangers of new technology or criticize social practices through subtle, allegorical narratives, they offer a unique perspective on the real world by creating one that Enduring Understandings Science fiction and fantasy combine realistic and fantastic elements to examine and pose questions about our world. Authors work within and against the conventions of established genres to achieve different purposes. Effective storytellers control multiple narrative elements to capture readers imaginations. Willing suspension of disbelief allows readers of fantastical literature to consider provocative philosophies. mirrors it. Each generation s anxieties, from the nuclear threat of the postwar era to the more recent rise of electronic networks that simultaneously connect and isolate individuals in a Essential Questions Why do some authors choose to communicate ideas through imaginative fiction? How do writers create worlds that are imaginary yet believable? How do writers break new ground within established genres? What makes some stories more engaging than others? worldwide community, find new expression through the varied types of stories that writers tell. Students analyze the methods these authors use to achieve their purposes, simultaneously questioning the assumptions that they make. In addition, they practice creating their own imagined societies in order to make a strong statement about the one they live in. Common Tasks Analyze the effects of the author s structural choices in a narrative Deliver a multimedia presentation that evaluates the significance of a text Write a science fiction/fantasy narrative that explores an important theme Compare the techniques or purposes of two texts. 23

2 Texts At minimum, students will read one core text during the unit. Teachers may lead them through more but should emphasize the key ideas of the unit by including several of the shorter pieces suggested below, including essays, poems, short stories, and nonprint texts. These lists of supplementary texts are not exhaustive; teachers may consider other, similar works that are appropriate for the objectives of the unit. A literature circle approach for part of the unit gives students choices about independent reading opportunities that they may then use for the common tasks and other assessments. Core Texts 1984 George Orwell Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury Frankenstein Mary Shelley Lord of the Flies William Golding Recommended Literature Circle Texts Alice s Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll Big Fish Daniel Wallace The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien Flatland Edwin Abbott Life of Pi Yann Martel The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury The Once and Future King T.H. White The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde The Princess Bride William Goldman 24

3 Shorter Works A Haunted House Virginia Woolf The Lottery Shirley Jackson Murders in the Rue Morgue (excerpts) Edgar Allan Poe Rime of the Ancient Mariner Samuel Taylor Coleridge A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman On Science Fiction Close Encounters Kurt Vonnegut Jonathan Lethem (available through Proquest) Reading Skill Focus setting, style, syntax Writing Skill Focus comparison/contrast; narrative techniques: description, diction, symbolism 25

4 Language Conventions Teachers are expected always to teach grammar concepts and other language conventions in the context of writing; the goal is not for students to be able to memorize terms, but to be able to think clearly about ways to improve their own writing. Exercises in sentence combining, expansion, and imitation offer ways students can compose more sophisticated and effective sentences. Separated and simulated instruction may be used to introduce concepts, especially those listed as focus skills below; include integrated instruction to ensure that students apply these and other skills in their writing. Focus Skill (to be addressed explicitly during the unit) Define and use relative and adverbial clauses. Review Skills (to be taught based on students needs) Correctly use frequently confused words (among/between, it s/its, loose/lose, farther/further). Correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood. Correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. Vocabulary Acquisition and Use Vocabulary acquisition continues to be a necessary and vital part of the English curriculum. Vocabulary study not only enhances understanding of the writer s craft how word choice creates character, defines mood, and sets tone but also is the key to a richer reading of all texts. Determining meaning and understanding word structure give students the tools to become independent, strategic readers of challenging texts. As students learn about the variety and richness of English, they should be encouraged to use language that is both precise and expressive. Students will study unfamiliar words that are critical to understanding the text, including those identified by the teacher and themselves. study terms and concepts central to the meaning of a particular text to promote deeper understanding. These words include course terms that are part of the language used to talk about texts. use knowledge of word relationships and word parts to make connections to unknown words. study the structure of words by working with roots and affixes and with words drawn from the assigned texts. incorporate rich, precise, and varied language in their own writing and speaking. 26

5 Allegory Allusion Comparison Contrast Diction Dramatic irony Euphemism Fantasy Figurative language hyperbole metaphor oxymoron personification pun simile understatement Flashback Foreshadowing Course Terms Irony dramatic situational verbal Narrative devices characterization conflict denouement epiphany mood plot point of view setting theme tone Science fiction Setting Six Traits of Writing ideas and development organization voice diction (word choice) syntax (sentence fluency) conventions Style Subtext Syntax Theme Tone Writing process inquiry pre-writing drafting revision/deep revision editing/surface revision presentation/publishing 27