Arthur
Miller, Drama, War Poetry
HOW IT WORKS
The
purpose of this unit is to familiarize students with Arthur Miller, author
of the play “All My Sons,” and to introduce them to the major elements
used in drama. The students are also exposed to the exploration of the
theme of war in poetry. Based on the conclusion drawn from these poems,
they discuss why Chris, one of the main characters in “All My Sons,”
behaves the way he does, and how realistic they feel the portrayal of his
character is. Their thoughts are shared with fellow classmates in the Web
Discussion Forum.
Teacher preparation includes doing on-line research to find the
best sites for war poetry & other documents on war, Arthur Miller, and
drama, and linking these sites to the Web page for this unit. (Done for
you in the companion web.) The teacher also must design study questions to
lead students into the discussion of the topic.
Student activities include visiting a Web site to learn about
Arthur Miller: who he is, what he has written, and his most significant
works. They read poems written by war veterans and get a real sense of how
people who have experienced war feel. They also read poems by Wilfred Owen
and compare and contrast how he feels towards the same subject.
WHAT YOU NEED
This
program requires minimum of one week to complete. A computer with an
Internet connection is needed. Software used includes the Netscape page
composer, FrontPage, and “All My Sons" textbooks.
Teacher technology skills include Web creation and building a
discussion forum. Student technology skills include Web navigation and
creation, and on-line discussion.
OVERALL VALUE
“All
My Sons” provides students with a total on-line learning experience that takes full
advantage of the Internet. With the course lessons, the play, and
discussions accessible via the Web, students can work at their own pace
from home or in the classroom. It also makes it easier for the teacher to
track and assess student participation and performance.
TIPS
The
study questions developed by the teacher should help students focus on the
topic instead of getting them lost in the sea of information from the Web
site. Create a discussion forum where students share their reflections and
conclusions on the topic. (See the companion web.)
STANDARDS
Standards
addressed in this program are: making thematic connections among literary
texts, public discourse, and media; analyzing the characteristics of
literary forms and genres; demonstrating how literary works reflect the
culture that shaped them; comparing texts that share the same theme; and
analyzing the literary, cultural, and social context of a work.
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Bo Wu teaches English at Murry Bergtraum High School in Manhattan. She is
a TeachNet Project Mentor
Subject Area: English
Grade Level: 11
Project Title: Arthur Miller, Drama, War Poetry
Project Page: click here
Email Contact: bodamato@hotmail.com
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