Critical Reflection on Dystopian Young Adult Fiction

A Critical Reflection on Adolescents’ Interest in

Reading and Writing Dark, Dystopian Fiction

Wall Street Journal article, “Darkness Too Visible” and the New York Times article, “The Dark Side of Young Adult Fiction”

1.     Read the articles silently, highlighting words you don’t know, and writing a brief definition or synonym for the word next to it on the article.

2.     Write 1 paragraph (in your Chrome book) summarizing ONE of the writer’s arguments in the NYT article “The Dark Side of Young Adult Fiction.”

3.     Write 1 paragraph (in your Chrome book) summarizing Gurdon’s central argument in “Darkness Too Visible”. (Do not include your opinion; just consolidate her own main points.)

4.     Write 1 paragraph stating your opinion about the articles.

·      What points do you think are valid and why?

·      What arguments do you disagree with? Why?

·      Reflect on your own reason for your love of the literature you read.

5.     In a final paragraph, reflect on your choice for the subject matter of your creative short story. Why do you think there was such a consistent theme of violence, darkness, and loss in your and your peers’ short stories? Is there potentially something healing and/or cathartic about exploring darkness and death in your writing?

**Challenge: In addition to Gurdon’s concern that today’s content is too graphic, violent, and disturbing, she also argues that reading material can actually influence kids’ taste, and potentially even their actions. Do you agree with this agreement?

English Assignment Today

Dear Seventh Graders,

Please work silently and thoughtfully! If you do not finish in class today, we will continue later in the week.

1.     Read the article the Wall Street Journal article, “Darkness Too Visible.”

      Highlight words you don't know while you're reading, and writing a brief definition or synonym for the word next to it on the article. Some words may overlap from our previous article (such as “depravity”) but there will be others that will definitely be new to you. (This article has more complex language than the NYT one.)

2.     Write 1 paragraph (in your Chrome books) summarizing Gurdon’s central argument. (Do not include your opinion; just consolidate her own main points.)

3.     Write 1 paragraph stating your opinion about the article. What points do you think are valid and why? What points do you disagree with? What arguments do you think are off base? Why?

**NOTE: In addition to Gurdon’s concern that today’s content is too graphic, violent, and disturbing, she also argues that reading material can actually influence kids’ taste, and potentially even their actions. Do you agree with this agreement?

4.     Write 1 paragraph reflecting your own reason for your love of the literature you read, and your choice for the subject matter of your creative short story. Why do you think there was such a consistent theme of violence, darkness, and loss in your peers' short stories?

Advisory - STIs

Below is a list of common STIs linked to the Center for Disease Control Website.
In groups of two or three, please take notes on the following for TWO infections


1. Basic facts about the infection (symptoms, what kind of pathology it is, what it attacks, etc.)
2. How the infection is transmitted
3. How the infection can be treated
4. What happens if the infection remains untreated
5. How contracting this infection can be avoided
6. Statistics about the infection

• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis, Viral
• Herpes, Genital
• HIV/AIDS &
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Other STDs
• Trichomoniasis
• Syphilis
• STDs and Infertility
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• 
  

Poems to Inspire...

Spoken Word/ Performance Poetry Assignment

Here are some amazing performance poetry pieces to inspire you! Notice ways in which they impact you - when do YOU enter their story? How do they appeal to your emotions? What are some of the techniques you might want to emulate, such as repetition, rhythm, rhyme scheme, and imagery.

Be honest, be brave, speak your mind, speak from the heart.



"Knock Knock"

"Tourettes"

"If I Should Have a Daughter" 

"Thinking About You"

"1893"


ORIGINAL POEM DUE FOR SHARING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 15th.

Short Story Plan / Storyboard

Name:

Publish Your Own Story! -THE PLAN

1) Write what your story is about in one to two sentences.

2) What will your “working title” be? (Be clever and fun! This is subject to change.)

3) Write a bumper-sticker slogan or a movie poster slogan for your story. Example: Prince of Tides:“The memories that haunt us; and the truth that sets us free.” Hobbit: “There and back again.”

4) What is the genre? (fantasy, mystery, adventure, comedy, romance, biography, suspense, science fiction, etc.)

5) What is the point of view? (first person, second person, third person objective, third person omniscient, third person limited omniscient, multiple perspectives)   

SETTING

6) What is the setting(s) of your story? Be specific with exactly where it takes place (building/forest/ocean/planet/city/state/country/planet/universe/etc.) 

Location(s):

Season(s):

Time period (time in history, future, or present-day):

7) In a paragraph or two, describe your setting. This will very likely be the beginning of your story, so take your time here. Write with beautiful language, sensory imagery (sight, touch, sound, testes, etc), unique colors, metaphors, similes, and detailed, descriptive language.

CHARACTERS

List each character and give a brief description of what they look like and how they act.  Note which characters CHANGE, GROW, or DISCOVER SOMETHING throughout the story. (These are called the “dynamic” characters.) Then note which characters remain the same. (These are called “static” characters.)

List characters below:

Protagonist:

Physical description: 

Personality description:

Basic life story:

Role in the story:

Antagonist:

Physical description: 

Personality description:

Basic life story: 

Role in the story:

Secondary Character 1:

Physical description: 

Personality description:

Basic life story: 

Role in the story:

Secondary Character 2:

Physical description: 

Personality description:

Basic life story: 

Role in the story:

PLOT / CONFLICT

1) What is the central conflict or problem in your story? 

2) Write the kind of conflict it is (character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. itself) and then specify what is verses what. (e.g. character vs. nature – Johnny vs. the avalanche)

3) Draw a storyline of your story. Include the exposition (set-up including the setting description), at least three to five events in the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. 

4) Write a paragraph describing the rising action in detail.  “The conflict begins when…”

5) Write a paragraph describing the climax in detail.  “The climax occurs when…”

6) Write a paragraph describing the falling action and the resolution in detail.  “The conflict gets resolved when…”

7) What is the value of your story? Is there a lesson or moral to your story? Does it teach or show the reader something? How does it enrich the reader? What?

STORYBOARD ROUGH DRAFT– Title:

Mini Storyline or Plotline:	1.	2.
3.	4.	5.
6.	7.	8.

NAME:

ILLUSTRATION STORYBOARD ROUGH DRAFT:

COVER:	1.	2.
3.	4.	5.
6.	7.	8.