Utopian & Dystopian Vocabulary
Class:
English 10
Objectives:
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Students will be able to: Identify and define terms associated with utopian and dystopian societies.
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Students will be able to: Use terms to explain utopian and dystopian societies in real-life and literary settings.
PA State Standards:
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CC.1.3.9–10.I: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade-level reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies and tools.
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CC.1.3.9–10.J: Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Project Summary:
As an introduction to dystopian literature, English 10 students were given a list of vocabulary words that would appear throughout the unit. Each student was assigned a word from the list and created a word map to become part of a more extensive word web. Word maps included the word, its definition, synonyms, antonyms, a sentence using the word, and an illustration of the meaning of the word. As a group, students then discussed each word, how it related to utopian or dystopian societies, and its connections to other words within the web. The web remains posted throughout the unit, and students are encouraged to refer back to it during reading comprehension and writing activities throughout the unit.