Fahrenheit 451

Fishbowl

Writer’s Notebook Writing Prompt

• In your writer’s notebook, write one paragraph, at least 7-10 sentences, explaining who shows you your real self. What qualities does this person possess that enables him or her to do this?– In answering this, think about people

who DO NOT show you your true self as a contrast.

Fish Bowl Rules (review)1. Only one person speaks at a time.2. Participants must use cues such as body language and

eye contact to determine when it is appropriate to speak.3. If two people start to speak at the same time, one must

yield.4. All participants look at the person speaking.5. Questions can be asked of other participants in the inner

circle to motivate them to join in.6. Disagree politely.7. State your ideas and support them with evidence.8. Respond to the comments of other participants by

agreeing or disagreeing and offering additional evidence.

9. Record notes, quotations from the text(s), statistics, etc., that support your ideas and opinions.

10. The teacher or seminar leader does not participate in the discussion except to provide a new question or to terminate an irrelevant or inappropriate line of discussion.

Rubric Explanation (review)

• Note the expectations on the rubric:– State and identify issues to be discussed– Use foundational knowledge– Elaborate & explain• Provide reasons, evidence, etc.

– Invite other people to contribute– Challenge the accuracy of your

companions’ statements

How to Fishbowl Set-up (review)

1. Only people sitting in the inner circle may speak.

2. If someone from the outer circle has something to say, he or she sits in one of the two side desks.

3. Said participant may stay as long as he or she has something meaningful to share.

4. Outer circle participants must take notes.

Question 1

• Does Fahrenheit 451 support the idea that modern society is safe from the kinds of censorship that exists in Montag’s world?

Question 2

• What is the connection between the way schools in Fahrenheit 451 and modern American society dummied down instruction?

Question 3

• Connecting the events in Fahrenheit 451 to modern American life, indicate how the roles of media, the government, and corporations might contribute to the downfall of American society.

Question 4

• What is it about Clarisse that shows Montag his true self, and what is it about Montag that shows Faber his true self? What do they have that everyday citizens lack?

Wrap-up• For homework, reflect on the

discoveries we made in class on Fahrenheit 451.

• Due Monday: double-spaced, at least 250 words, and typed or written in blue or black ink.