1. Question Formulation Technique
Anthem

2. Objective
Today all students will develop questions based on a focus topic related to Anthem. They will choose priority questions as prompts for their final Argumentative Essay.

3. Question Formulation Technique (QFT)
Step 1: Produce questions based on QFocus
Step 2: Categorize questions
Step 3: Improve questions
Step 4: Prioritize questions
Step 5: Questions Argumentative Paper
Step 6: Reflection
Before we get started, let’s go over ground rules

4. Group Ground Rules: Rules for Producing Questions
Ask as many questions as you can
Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer the questions
Write down every question exactly as it is stated
Change any statement into a question
What may be difficult about following these rules??

5. Are you ready to start QFT??
Select a Scribe
Follow the Ground Rules of Producing Questions
Share questions slowly to allow the scribe to capture questions accurately
etc.

6. Focus
“When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man.” - Anthony Burgess

7. Step 2: Categorizing Questions Identify the level of your questions (write level # on chart in a different color)
LEVEL ONE
Specific information that can be found
directly in the text (such as a definition); one word or yes/no answers; “copy and paste”
LEVEL TWO
Answer implied in the text by finding information for the answer in several places
LEVEL THREE
Answers based on experiences and opinions that is supported by textual facts

8. Step 3: Improving Questions
Look over your list of questions and select three (3) questions to “bump up”
Change a Level 1 to either Level 2 or 3
Continue your numbering with these questions

9. Step 4: Prioritizing Questions
Choose the two (2) most important questions from your list
Keep this in mind when selecting questions:
What questions would you need answered to write an Argument essay on choices, based on the book Anthem?

10. Share your Questions Please Share: 1 priority question
Rationale for selecting it
Question Level
Listening focus during sharing – listen for questions similar to your group’s priority questions; tally # of times

11. Step 5: Next Steps – Using Priority Questions
Students will pick one of the final Priority Questions to write their Argument essay for Anthem

12. Period 4 Priority Questions
In your own words, explain what makes something good and bad. Give examples. (2)
Who is Anthony Burgess and what is his opinion on this quote? How would you react to his opinion and why? (3)
What do you think is more important, choices and rights of an individual or the well being and success of the whole society? Use textual evidence and personal experience. (3)
How does this quote “When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be man” relate to the book and to reality? (3)
Will there be backfire if he chooses one over the other? (2)
Can equality be a good or bad thing? (2)
How can a man cease to be a man, and in what circumstances can this quote relate to the novella Anthem? (3)

13. Period 2 Questions
Would not being able to choose be considered detrimental, why or why not? (3)
If free-will is taken away, what will be left of a person? (Is a person truly a person without free will?) (3)
What things change a man from being a man? (2)
Is choice good or evil? Does choice matter? What are the pros and cons of choice? (3)
What happens when a man cannot choose? (2)
Does choice matter, why or why not? (3)
Why can’t men choose? Support your claim with textual evidence. (2/3)
If a man cannot choose, what is the point of life for humans? (3)
Even when equality is praised, why do men still strive for individuality? (3)

14. Period 1 Questions Why does choice create sacrifice? (3)
How does this quote relate to the book Anthem? (3)
Would a society be considered a perfect society if they have individuality and choice, why? (3)
When is it okay to not have a choice? (3)
Does choice dictate whether someone is human or not? (3)
Why is it hard for people to express who they really are? (3)
Will a man’s choice in life define himself? (3)
Even when equality is praised, why do men still strive for individuality? (3)
What are people’s perspective of a man? (3)
If you were to choose one, which is more important, freedom of choice emphasized by Anthony Burgess through his quote, or social equality depicted in the book Anthem? (3)
Why can’t people be free in Anthem? (2)

15. QFT Written Participant Reflection
-Why is learning to ask your own questions important for learning? -What was positive and challenging about this activity?