1. Harrison Bergeron
By Kurt Vonnegut

2. Bell work Basic Facts: On day 1- We characterized Harrison Bergeron
Today, Characterize George & Hazel in the same way. 
Do a graphic organizer for each character.
Actions:
Appearance:
Thoughts:
Words:

3. Kurt Vonnegut & Influences
An American writer;
Social & Political criticism of America in the 1960s
Equality is a beloved principle enshrined in America’s Declaration of Independence in the phrase “All men are created equal."

4. What is Communism?

5. What is communism?
Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single -- often authoritarian -- party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).

6. Kurt Vonnegut & Influences
America was dealing with Russia in the Cold War
During the McCarthy era, when people were accused of communism and blacklisted from artistic, literary, and political communities.
The futuristic American society of “Harrison Bergeron” operates on communist principles, supporting the idea that wealth and power should be distributed equally and class hierarchies should not exist. 
Like the accused communists of the McCarthy era, anyone not conforming to society’s accepted standards—in a reversal of sorts, anyone not adhering to the communist structure—is sought out and punished.

7. Questions to consider:
1. Would you want to live in the society Vonnegut describes? Would your opinion change if you could change one thing in that society? If so, what would you change? What difference would that change make?

8. Questions to consider
2. Does it take courage to fight for the things you believe in? What opportunities have you had to stand up for what you think is right? How difficult was it? What might have made it easier? Should it be easier? *Can't think of a personal response? Think of one from a world event.

9. Research Essay
You will be composing a research paper on "Harrison Bergeron" and its connections to the real world. 
Elements of the essay:
What is the theme?
What characters influence the theme?
What world events can relate to this theme?
How can readers learn from this story?
Quiz on Tuesday, 1/29
Outline your essay!