Fahrenheit 451 – WebQuest Project
A WebQuest project uses the
resources of the Internet to explore and answer questions pertaining to a
particular topic. We are going to explore the issue of censorship – past and
present.
Introduction
You have been appointed to the
Government's Freedom of Speech Commission. The Commission is studying issues
related to Censorship and has asked you to investigate some of the history of
censorship and to use the information to help the Commission make judgments
about contemporary censorship issues. You will be using the WebQuest to find
information about some of the instances of censorship the Commission is
interested in.
Task
The WebQuest will have two
parts: To complete Part I, you must explore Web sites on censorship in the past
and the present. You will be given a selection of web sites related to these
issues from which to choose. Part II is an essay on a contemporary censorship
issue. The essay must use information from the Web sites, so you will need to
take notes as you explore the sites. (Remember to record reference/citation
information.). Your essay should be 2-3 pages, must follow the MLA format, and
must include a Works Cited page.
Process
Part I:
Explore these sites for
information on the kinds of historical censorship Ray Bradbury discusses in Fahrenheit 451. The sites that you need to use are included
after each set of questions. You will need to answer these questions on your
blog using good writing conventions.
Step I: The burning of Hugh
Latimer and Nicholas Ridley:
Why
were they burned at the stake?
Why
was Latimer confident that they were doing the right thing?
Why would it be important to
remind people of this history?
http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Latimer_Ridley_Cranmer.htm
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/269.html
Step II: Nazi Book Burning:
In what way might these images
have inspired Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451?
http://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-features/special-focus/american-responses-to-the-holocaust/book-burnings
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/gallery/01622.HTM
Step III: McCarthyism and
Blacklisting in Hollywood:
Why
did it happen?
Was
it right or wrong?
Could
it happen again?
How might it have inspired
Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451?
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/blacklist.html
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/mccarthy/blacklist.html
http://www.hollywoodmoviememories.com/articles/hollywood-history/hollywood-blacklist-witch-hunt.php
Part II:
Explore these sites to look at
censorship issues that are in the news today. These questions are designed to
guide your thinking for the essay you will write in Part III. These questions will
need to answered and turned in with your paper.
Questions to consider as you
prepare your paper:
Who
is in favor of these limitations on freedom of speech?
Why
are they in favor of them?
Who
is opposed?
Why
are they opposed?
Which side do you agree with?
Why?
Warning Labels on CD’s http://www.riaa.com/toolsforparents.php?content_selector=parental_advisory
The V-Chip and Movie Ratings:
Controlling access to violence and sexuality in the Media http://www.fcc.gov/vchip
Decency and the Public Funding
of the Arts http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=10906
Book Banning
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/book-banning.htm
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/banned-books
Additional Sites
Banned Books: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/banned-books.html
Banned Books: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_books
Banned Books: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter96/pubCONN.html
Banned Books: http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin157.shtml
Banned Books: http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/censorship/a/censorship.htm
Banned Books: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmccarthyism.htm
Book Burning: http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/China/BookBurn.html
Book Burning: http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/arts/artDegen.htm
Book Burning: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005852
Book Burning: http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1014-21.htm
Global Media: http://www.serendipity.li/cda.html
Global Med.: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media_control_propaganda/CensorinDemoSoc.html
Global Media: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0217-32.htm
Global Media: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/zenger/
Global Media: http://www.cybercollege.com/span/internet.htm
Music: http://www.jmm.org.au/articles/14759.htm
Television: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/v-chip-putting-restrictions-what-your-children-watch
Television: http://mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/mediaviolence/violence.php?pageID=censor
Video Games: http://www.actiontrip.com/features/videogameindustry.phtml
Part III:
Part III is an essay on a
contemporary censorship issue. You have been appointed to the Government’s
Freedom of Speech Commission. The Commission has been studying issues related
to censorship, and has asked you to write a report explaining one of these controversies
and making a recommendation for action. The essay must use information from the
Web sites, so you will need to take notes as you explore the sites. (Remember
to record reference/citation information). Your essay should be 2-3 pages, must follow the MLA format, and must include a Works Cited page.
Evaluation
Your WebQuest Project will be
evaluated in two ways: 1. Your blog will graded for writing conventions and thoughtfulness
with the questions (you will need to evaluate and explore the websites provided
for you in order to do this). 2. Your
essay will be graded using the following rubric.
Rubric
Blog: Writing conventions /10
Blog: Thoughtfulness /10
Essay: Part II questions
completed and turned in /5
Essay: Outline /5
Essay: Works cited contains 5+
sources in MLA format /10
Essay: Rough draft /10
Essay: Writing conventions /10
Essay: Introduction /5
Essay: Conclusion /5
Essay: Focus /5
Essay: Makes a reasonable
recommendation to the Commission /5
Essay: Meets all other
requirements /10
Total /90
