T HE CITY PLANNERS Margaret Atwood

L/O To learn how to plan for a debate in order to understand a poem

S TARTER : T HE C ITY P LANNERS Suburbs- A residential area usually within commuting distance of a city.

Suburbia What words spring to mind when looking at this picture?

T HE CITY PLANNERS You will all be given a number. Read the poem from the perspective that you have been given. 1) A resident 2) A city planner 3) The poet 4) Yourself 5) An environmentalist 6) Somebody looking to buy a house in a new residential development

Annotate the poem according to the perspective that you have been give. 1 ) A resident 2) A city planner 3) The poet 4) Yourself 5) An environmentalist 6) Somebody looking to buy a house in a new residential development Highlight area that will be important to the perspective of that person. Good points Not so good points Worrying points

The City planners are seeking permission to build a new residential development on land in a previously Greenbelt area. They aim to build 800 houses in order to meet demand for housing. These houses will mostly be at the top end of the market. There will however, be 100 flats and two bedroom houses aimed at first time buyers. The development will also include a supermarket, a nursery, a primary school, and a secondary school. There will be opportunities for independent retailers, as the development will also include shop units. It will have close access to a motorway, and a bus service to the nearest city that is 7 miles away.

G ROUP TASK The City Planners are meeting at the town hall in the main city to discuss proposals. All interested parties are welcome to attend the meeting to discuss any issues. In your groups (decided by the numbers assigned earlier) you are going to present your case, either for or against these proposals. You have this lesson to prepare your arguments. Next lesson you will debate these issues, to decide whether or not permission will be granted.

P LENARY : Highlight your 3 strongest arguments