Debbie Abilock & Cynthia Hirsch Kosut

Overview

To pique interest in both literature and significant authors of the 20th century by giving students the choice of locating and reading any "classic" written in the 20th century and information about any award-winning individual of the 20th century.

Objectives

Investigating what the 20th century has valued by:

• Identifying criteria for defining a "classic"
• Identifying individuals whom society honors
• Recognizing that awards can reflect importance to society
• Reflecting on people that have not been included

Time Required

Estimated:

• 15-20 hours for summer reading and research
• 10-15 minutes per student for monologue and questions
• 10- 15 minutes per student for bookshare of classic novel and questions

Recommended Grade Level

Middle School.

Curriculum Fit

Interdisciplinary (Language Arts, Library Research, History)

Resources Used

• Nobel Prizes [http://Nobelprizes.com/nobel/nobel.html/]
• MacArthur Fellows Program [http://www.macfdn.org/programs/fel/fel_overview.htm]
• Pulitzer Prizes [http://www.pulitzer.org/navigation/index.html>
• 100 Best English-Language Novels of the 20th Century (Modern Library, Random House) [http://www.polk.edu/it/library/subject/100bestML.htm]
• Best English Language Fiction of the Twentieth Century (Library Journal) [http://www.stanford.edu/~bkunde/best/bl-slibj.htm#]
• Top 100 Novels (Radcliffe Publishing Course) [http://www.polk.edu/it/library/subject/100radcliffe.htm]

Procedure

1. Give summer letter with explanation.
2. Allow time during the first weeks of school for each student to bookshare a chosen classic and present a monologue as an award winning individual.
3. After each presentation, the student should identify the strategies used to identify the notable person and novel.
4. Compile a list of "classic" titles and post in classroom.
5. Compile a list of notable individuals and post in classroom.
6. Compile a list of criteria which students used to select an individual or classic novel, as a preface for considering the values of the 20th century.  Post in classroom.
7. Discuss differences of opinion and missing notables.  Who has been omitted and why?   Post list of omissions in the classroom.

Evaluation and Extension

Presentations were evaluated for:

• Strategic behavior in selecting a classic and a noteworthy individual
• Ability to convey the importance of an individual to society through a monologue
• Ability to summarize a classic novel and to comment on its importance to the century