Essential+Question


 * Essential Question: __What impact can one individual make in society?__ **

In creating our essential question, we considered the following questions: w hat if Dimmesdale shared his secret earlier in the story and what impact/consequences might have resulted and how did Hester's sin and punishment impact the society? Students can apply this to experiences they have learned from and can also apply it to volunteer work. The point of the scarlet letter was to set an example for society of what the punishment would be for adultery. Thus, the focus of the unit can include how the secret affected the characters in the book personally but also how their crimes affected the society as a whole. Although the individuals themselves dealt with issues regarding their secrecy, the society was also impacted by their sins. A big part of this book was whether the individual was more important than the society as a whole. Hence,it is appropriate to touch on how these individuals' actions made a difference in society.

** Assessment: Students will complete an in class (during one period) essay in which they will respond to the following prompt: ** ** "You will compile an essay in which you discuss the impact one individual can have on society using your experiences with the activities assigned in class and using examples and quotes from The Scarlet Letter to support your thesis. ** ** - Pick one character from the Scarlet Letter to critically analyze and describe their impact on the society. **  ** - Discuss issues such as your chosen character's personal and public persona, themes within the text, and knowledge about the history of when the events in the book took place in order to connect these issues with the impact that character could have potentially made or did make in their society. **  ** - Use support and make connections using the book and personal experience from activities conducted in class." **

We decided that having students write an essay which addresses the essential question will be appropriate to assess student understanding of the unit because they will have to make connections between all the activities they experienced and connect with the book. Furthermore, students' ability to comprehend the text can be identified by examining how they choose to approach the prompt and from the connections they are able to make with the text.

Possible Final assessments: Essential question: What impact can one individual make in society?

Considering the initial impact and final chapters of Hester prim’s actions and society’s response, what impact can an individual have on society? In a well-developed essay identify a historical person or a figure/ person who is important to you and analyze the impact that person has had on society, a particular culture or you personally.

This unit has focused extensively on an individual’s public and private personae. Keeping in mind the implications or ramifications of a person’s private and public life, choose a friend, parent, or close “relative” and research the impact that they have had on society. Consider using resources such as their facebook or myspace page, interview their friends and family members.

Thinking about having students look at this as an outsider looking in. I had few more ideas but I have to go to class. This is for the final assessment. I am not sure how to make a page for it. Sorry Sabrina


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