1. English I Lesson Plans Second Nine Weeks Fahrenheit 451 Guidebook Unit
Week of October 29

2. Unit Two: Fahrenheit 451
Lesson 9: Generating a research question and locating and assessing sources
Students generate a research question to learn more about the 1950s and understand the context in which Fahrenheit 451 was written.

3. MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 You will need: Today we will:
Answer text dependent questions for “Frederick Douglass” as an assessment for this portion of unit two.
You will need:
Chapters I and VII from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
Chapters I and VII Text-dependent Questions
Pencil or Ink Pen
BELLRINGER

4. Frederick Douglass Assessment
This is an assessment and counts as a test grade.
You must do your own work.
If you talk to a neighbor, you will receive a zero.
If you look at a neighbor’s test, you will receive a zero
When you are finished, bring your test to the teacher and you may work on catching up on any incomplete assignments.

5. Monday, October 29 DUE TODAY DUE TOMORROW
Vocabulary Log and Sentences
Frederick Douglass Assessment
All Superman and Douglass assignments/worksheet
Superman annotated article
Analyzing figurative language handout
Frederick Douglass Chapter VII annotated
Analyzing Language handout
Analyzing and Assessing Claims handout
Central Idea and Theme Tracker
Reading log

6. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 Today we will: You will need:
Generate a questions for research
Locate sources and assess each source’s usefulness
Determine whether to narrow or broaden our research question
You will need:
The conducting research handout.
Pen or pencil
A good attitude
BELLRINGER

7. Prepare
Please tear out your conducting research handout (p 145) from your unit reader.
2 minutes

8. Review
Last week, we read an excerpt from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
We identified author’s point of view, author’s claims and the central idea of the text.
Let’s discuss the similarities in Douglass’s and Alexie’s message to the reader.
What are some important details mentioned by the authors?
What are some important topics that both of the texts focused on?
Both texts focus on reading.
Both texts focus on oppression.
Both texts focus on the importance of education.
Education is key to overcoming oppression and fighting for freedom in life.
What was Alexie’s and Douglass’s message to readers?
Central Themes…
Alexie: Reading is important because it can help define a person’s identity, present opportunities for education, and help fight oppression.
Douglass: Education is an important right that should not be overlooked because it can help a person create a better life, free from oppression.
3 minute

9. Getting Started
Today, we will prepare to read Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 by generating and researching a topic related to the time period of the novel.
Bradbury’s novel is about a society in which all books have been banned.
The novel takes place in the future but was written in the 1950s.
In order to understand what life was like in the United States during that time, you and a partner will conduct a short research project on a topic associated with the time period.
1 minute

10. Slide 1: Generating a Question
The first step is to generate a research question.
Look at the directions on your conducting research handout.
With your partner, choose one of the general topics on the list to begin. Example: Politics in the 1950s
Think about what you would want to learn about the topic, then brainstorm some more specific topics. Example: Political figures, Threats of Communism, Political Parties, The Cold War
Choose one idea from your brainstorming and generate a question for your research. Ex: “Who were the important political figures of the 1950s?” or “What political party was in power and what important legislation did they enact?”
10 minutes

11. EXAMPLE

12. EXAMPLE

13. Slide 2: Credible Sources
Before you conduct your research, consider credibility.
What makes a source credible?
How do you determine whether or not a source is credible and useful?
With your partner/group. briefly discuss the credibility of the sources listed to the left. Ask yourselves…
Where does the information come from?
Is the information on the site based on fact/research or opinion?
Is the information recent?
Does the author of the site have any kind of accreditation?
Be prepared to share your ideas and explain them with the class.
5 minutes

14. Slide 2: Credible Sources Examined
Wikipedia is not a credible source because anyone can edit and contribute to the site.
Blogs are usually personal opinions written by people who are not necessarily experts or have no credentials.
News sites from trusted news organizations are credible because they provide factual information.
Sites that end in .edu and .gov are often credible sources of information because they are from education organizations or government. Sites that end in .net and .com may or may not be credible sources depending on the publisher.
Facebook posts and pages are not credible sources.
Articles written by anonymous sources are not credible; if the author does not list his or her name, it is impossible to verify the information that is included.
5 minutes

15. EXAMPLE

16. Slide 3: Narrowing or Broadening
Once you begin to find some information from credible sources, you might want to consider adjusting your research question.
Is there information you have learned that makes you want to revise the research question?
Is there a more specific topic within the research question you are pursuing?
Do you want to make the question broader to include more topics or more specific to focus on one part of the topic?
For example, if your original topic is politics, and your narrowed topic is civil rights, you may find that you are more interested in the effect of desegregation of public schools in the 1950s.
5 minutes

17. EXAMPLE

18. Slide 4: Researching Your Topic
Tomorrow we will go to the computer lab to research your topic.
Please bring a flash drive so that you can save your work.
Also, make sure you have your conducting research handout with you.
You will one day in the lab to complete your research and one day to complete your presentation.
Any additional time needed will need to be scheduled on your own.
10 minutes

19. Homework
On a sheet of loose-leaf paper, write your name, partner’s name, topic, research question and a brief explanation about the type of information you will be looking for, types of sources you will primarily be looking to use, and how you intend to determine whether or not the source is credible.

20. Tuesday, October 30 HOMEWORK
Tomorrow we will go to the computer lab to do research and begin creating a power point presentation
Please bring a flash drive with you to save your work

21. Tuesday, October 30 DUE TODAY
All Superman and Douglass assignments/worksheets
Superman annotated article
Analyzing figurative language handout
Frederick Douglass Chapter VII annotated
Analyzing Language handout
Analyzing and Assessing Claims handout
Central Idea and Theme Tracker
Reading log

22. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31 Today we will: You will need: BELLRINGER
Research a topic related to Fahrenheit 451
Create a presentation of the findings from your research.
You will need:
Conducting research handout
Computer
Flash drive
BELLRINGER

23. Research Your Topic Research at least 2 Websites
Find at least 5 pieces of information from credible sources on your topic
Complete your conducting research handout with your partner.
Create a PPT presentation with your information
Save to your flash drive.
your presentation to your teacher.
You will have one day in the lab to complete your research and one day to complete your presentation.
Any additional time needed will need to be scheduled on your own.
10 minutes

24. Wednesday, October 31 DUE TODAY HOMEWORK
???

25. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 You will need: Today we will: BELLRINGER
Research a topic related to Fahrenheit 451
Create a presentation of the findings from your research.
You will need:
Conducting research handout
Computer
Flash drive
BELLRINGER

26. Thursday, November 1 HOMEWORK
Complete research project and to the teacher

27. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 You will need: Today we will:
Present your research findings to the class
You will need:
Your conducting research handout
Your presentation
BELLRINGER

28. Friday, November 2 DUE TODAY HOMEWORK
Research Presentation
Conducting research handout