English 11: Preparation for Friday's discussion

Greetings English 11!

On Thursday, we'll be finishing the Lord of the Rings mini-series. What a neat little show to accompany the end of our unit! There were many differences between this show and the novel - particularly in the story telling and characterization. For Friday we will be having a discussion and a little reflection afterward designed to have us think about approach by director Marc Munden.

To prepare for this discussion, students will prepare 3 questions to be used in their groups. During the discussion, I will be moving about the room and assessing the following:

A. Question Quality
    Questions are open-ended and invite interpretation
    Clearly connect the novel and the miniseries
    Focus on character development or theme

B. Use of Evidence
    Refers to specific moments from the book and show
    Explains how evidence supports ideas

C. Discussion Skills
    Listens actively and responds thoughtfully
    Builds on peers’ contributions
    Encourages balanced participation

D. Depth of Thinking
    Demonstrates insight into adaptation choices
    Recognizes complexity in characters (Jack, Ralph, Piggy, Simon)
    Avoids simplistic moral judgments

Please note - that while some of these are quite specific, these are only examples of how to thrive in the discussion. Essentially, I want to see an engagement with the subject and an intent to carry the discussion forward with critical thinking and engagement.

After the discussion, we will reserve roughly 20-30 minutes for a brief written reflection on our discussion.