"Burning Bright" Socratic Seminar Questions

Be prepared to discuss these questions in class on Thursday, May 12, 2011.
If you missed the seminar, submit well-thought out written responses to two questions (100%; one question=80%). You will not receive credit for answers to the Close-Ended or other "scratched-through" questions.

If you were in class and did not respond twice, use the back of your remaining half-sheets ("buns") to respond to the questions. If you respond to a question discussed in class, your response must add to the conversation we had. (+10 pts. each.) As above, you will not receive credit for answers to the "scratched-through" questions.

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
Is it OK to run from your problems? Explain. --E.V. 1st

Under what circumstances would you "snitch out" your boyfriend/girlfriend? --A.V. --1st

If you had to evacuate your house quickly and could only take one small suitcase, what would you fill it with? --M.G. 3rd



CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
How is the Mechanical Hound able to track Montag? --V.E. 1st

How does Montag kill Beatty? --V.A. 7th

Where does Mildred go? What happens to her? --Mr. Mikesell

Where does Faber go? What happens to him? --Mr. Mikesell



OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
What does it tell you about the government that they use a scapegoat when they can't catch Montag? --J.L. 1st

Why didn't Montag turn himself over to the police? --S.P. 3rd

How does Montag escape the Mechanical Hound(s)? --Mr. Mikesell



UNIVERSAL THEME / CORE QUESTIONS
If TJ / Dallas / Texas came up with rules you felt were wrong, what would you do? --F.T. 3rd

If your vision of the future was the opposite of what most of society wants, how would you go about making it real? --M.R. 7th

What lessons have you learned from the books we're read this year? --K.L. 8th



LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
What does fire symbolize in "Burning Bright"? --A.M. 3rd

Why does Beatty refer to Icarus during his final confrontation with Montag? --A.P. 7th

What ironies are encountered in the "Burning Bright" section of Fahrenheit 451? --V.A. 7th

Socratic Seminar Question Types: Fahrenheit 451 -- "Burning Bright"

In class Wednesday, May 11rd, you will create questions (one for each of the following) for a Socratic Seminar on Thursday, May 12th. Any question not accompanied by a valid answer will receive no credit.

All questions must be related to the "Burning Bright" section (e.g., "you could ask "how does Montag change from the beginning of the book to the end" ... except now that I've used that as an example, you can't).


WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION
Write a question connecting the text to the real world.

Example: Under what circumstances would you kill someone?


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTION
Write a question about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or characters in the text. This question usually has a “correct” answer.

Example: Where does Faber go?


OPEN-ENDED QUESTION
Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof and group discussion and “construction of logic” to discover or explore the answer to the question.

Example: How does Montag escape the Mechanical Hound(s)?


UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTION
Write a question dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.

Example: If you memorized Fahrenheit 451, what could you teach someone?


LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTION
Write a question dealing with HOW an author chose to compose a literary piece. How did the author manipulate point of view, characterization, poetic form, archetypal hero patterns, for example?

Example: What is the significance of Granger's name?

Pre-AP: "Sand and Sieve" Essay Prompt Preview

In class on Friday, May 6th, students will respond to the following essay prompt.

In the "Sand and Sieve" section of Fahrenheit 451 Faber tells Montag that he believes three things are necessary in order for books to be able to make a difference in society. In a well-developed essay, discuss whether or not you agree with his assessment? Support your answer with anecdotal evidence from the novel as well as your personal life. You must specify what Faber's "three things" are.

This will count as a test grade. This will be a closed-book test (you will not be allowed to use the novel in class), but you may bring notes written on a 3x5 card to refer to. Dictionaries will also be allowed.

Pre-AP: 451F Audio File Update

If you would like to listen to an audio file of the novel as you read it (you still have to read it), please see me. You'll need a flashdrive with at least 250MB of space available.

I now have the entire novel, plus the Afterward and Coda.

Fahrenheit 451 Socratic Seminar Questions

Be prepared to discuss these questions in class on Wednesday, May 4, 2011.
If you missed the seminar, submit well-thought out written responses to two questions (100%; one question=80%). You will not receive credit for answers to the Close-Ended questions.

If you were in class and did not respond twice, use the back of your remaining half-sheets ("buns") to respond to the questions. If you respond to a question discussed in class, your response must add to the conversation we had. (+10 pts. each.) As above, you will not receive credit for answers to the Close-Ended questions.

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
If you found your job was causing other people harm (physical, mental, etc.), what would you do? --L.A. 1st

Why are books important to society --P.H. --7th

What do you do when you develop feelings for someone who isn't the person you're currently in a relationship with? --I.M. 8th



CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
What did Mildred do to commit suicide? --J.O. 3rd

What was Faber's previous job? --E.P. 7th

How old is Clarisse? --J.R. 8th

What three things did Faber say were needed for books to make a difference in society? --Mr. Mikesell



OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
Why doesn't Mildred get along with Montag? --K.M. 3rd

After reading the opening scene, what can you conclude about Montag? --I.O. 8th

Why was Mildred afraid when she saw the books? --Y.C. 8th

What did Beatty say led to books being banned? --Mr. Mikesell



UNIVERSAL THEME / CORE QUESTIONS
What is there in your life that is worth dying for? --Mr. Mikesell

What is there in your life that is worth living for --J.C. 1st

How can a person influence your point of view/outlook on life --M.V. 8th



LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
What are some of the historical/literary allusions Bradbury employs? --J.L. 1st

What does Bradbury do by characterizing Mildred as shallow, apathetic, and not particularly intelligent? --F.T. 3rd

What does Bradbury accomplish by having Montag convince Faber to make copies of the Bible? --V.A. 7th

Socratic Seminar Question Types: Fahrenheit 451

In class Tuesday, May 3rd, you will create questions (one for each of the following) for a Socratic Seminar on Wednesday, May 4th. Any question not accompanied by a valid answer will receive no credit.


WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION
Write a question connecting the text to the real world.

Example: When a friend or family member is depressed, what do you do?


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTION
Write a question about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or characters in the text. This question usually has a “correct” answer.

Example: What three things did Faber say were needed for books to make a difference in society?


OPEN-ENDED QUESTION
Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof and group discussion and “construction of logic” to discover or explore the answer to the question.

Example: What did Beatty say led to books being banned?


UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTION
Write a question dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.

Example: What is there in your life that is worth dying for?


LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTION
Write a question dealing with HOW an author chose to compose a literary piece. How did the author manipulate point of view, characterization, poetic form, archetypal hero patterns, for example?

Example: What does Bradbury accomplish by making Clarisse McClellan so different from all the other female characters in the book?

Pre-AP: An Ooh-La-La Reading Assignment

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, read Chapter 16 -- "It's All About Sex...." Be prepared to discuss it and the opening scene of Fahrenheit 451, on Monday, April 25th.

Get all your giggles out over the weekend.

Also, continue reading Fahrenheit 451; we'll discuss "The Sand and the Sieve" after TAKS week.

Fahrenheit 451 Vocab Set 1 + Meaningful Sentences

Write meaningful sentences for each of these vocabulary words:



Remember:

• a meaningful sentence is made up of two independent sentences combined with a semicolon (;)


• the first sentence includes a vocabulary word


• the second sentence contains the definition of that vocabulary word


• the first word of the second sentence is not capitalized


• you should underline the vocabulary word and its definition

For instance, if the vocabulary word was:

Hearth (n): the floor of a fireplace, usually of stone, brick, etc., often extending a short distance into a room. .

a meaningful sentence would be:

The stray dog curled up on the hearth of the friendly people who took it in; the bricks in front of the fireplace were very warm.

Pre-AP: 451F / "Harrison Bergeron" Venn Diagram

Complete a Venn Diagram with five unique things about both Fahrenheit 451 and "Harrison Bergeron" and five things they have in common.

Do not list superficial things like "they're both written in English" or "Vonnegut wrote one and Bradbury the other" or "I haven't read either."

Make your entries substantial to get the credit you want/need.

Fahrenheit 451	Both	"Harrison Bergeron"
1.	1.	1.
2.	2.	2.
3.	3.	3.
4.	4.	4.
5.	5.	5.

Pre-AP: 451F Audio File

If you would like to listen to an audio file of the novel as you read it (you still have to read it), please see me. You'll need a flashdrive with at least 100MB of space available.

I currently have "The Hearth and the Salamander." The other two sections should be available soon.

IWA #6: Fahrenheit 451, et. al.

Write a well-developed essay on the following prompt:

In some literary works, the author creates a unique society or community in order to make an important point about humanity. Examples of such works are Lord of the Flies, Anthem, and Fahrenheit 451. Discuss how the authors of these novels use their fictional society to convey important ideas about mankind and society in general. Be sure to clearly identify the “important ideas” they express.

Tips to success:

Extensive plot summary will result in a REDO grade (no points), not a REVISE (85 points). Look at diction, metaphor, imagery, setting (time and place), etc., and how the author’s use of these techniques contributes to meaning.

Remember that only REVISE and ACCEPTED essays will be taken for a grade, so submit your IWA early, rather than at the last minute to ensure that your essay will count!

*** More than 5 careless spelling mistakes and 5 careless punctuation errors will result in a REDO grade***

All essays must be typed and adhere to the MLA formatting requirements (see below). All essays must be submitted with the draft in the LEFT pocket (inside front cover) of a 2-pocket portfolio folder. Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in the draft being returned to the student unevaluated and with no score recorded.

• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.


• Double-space the text of your paper (paragraph settings). Use Times New Roman (Garamond if you're “fancy”); the font size should be 12 pt. (font settings).


• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.


• Set the margins of your document to 1" on all sides.


• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times, or set your paragraphs to indent the first line 0.5". Do not skip a line (i.e., leave a blank line) between paragraphs.

Drop-Dead Deadline: Thursday, May 26, 2011.
(If no work is received by 5/13, a "Missing" grade (counts as a 0) will be entered into the grade book; some work may receive a temporary "Incomplete" grade (no effect on grade), but that will be replaced with a "Missing" on 5/20.)

Fahrenheit 451 Presentation

Pre-AP: Friendly Reminder

You need to

1. have read the first section of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury ("The Hearth and the Salamander") by Monday;


2. bring your copy of 451^F on Monday.

Find a Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books store near you.

Open-Ended Question Practice

Following the direct-answer/embedded-supporting-evidence formula, answer the following questions on the Open-Ended Question Response Worksheet.

OEQ #1

In “Harrison Bergeron” why does the government handicap George but not Hazel?

OEQ #2

Why do the women in “Embroidery” stay on the porch instead of going inside to prepare supper?

OEQ Crossover

How do the characters in “Harrison Bergeron” and “Embroidery” react to their particular situations in life?

If the "Embroidery" link above cuts off the last page for you, try this link, instead (ignore the notes in the margin).

Preview: "Dover Beach"

Part way through Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 (the book week be reading in the final six weeks of the year), the protagonist reads a poem by Matthew Arnold: Dover Beach.

Here's the full poem read by Angela Lansbury (you may know her as the voice of Mrs. Potts in Disney's Beauty and the Beast): Listen. (Right click and choose "Save As" to copy to your computer, then move it to your iPod)

There are more classic poems to be listened to and downloaded here.