On the Rainy River Essay Example

teacher will show a brief film of O’Brien answering the question: “What do you carry?”

3. After showing the film, the teacher will ask the class: a.) “How do you think O’Brien has spent his life and career in the years since he made the decision to go to war?”

b.) What is the “theme” of Tim O’Brien’s life? What does he believe about human behavior and human choices?

4. The teacher will ask the students to recall instances when people have had the courage to stand against injustice. She will also ask students to list the conditions under which they think change becomes possible.

5. The teacher will show a slideshow of various groups standing up to injustice as a springboard/support for the students’ contributions.

Student participation: (Describe what the students will do during the lesson. Will they work alone, in pairs, in groups or as a class? How will you structure the lesson to maximize student involvement?)

Students will be answering questions in a large group setting, and they will be answering collaboratively in small groups as well. Students will write a journal entry in which they discuss their personal reaction to the lesson and explore one of the analytical questions below.

Assessment: (How will the instructors and students know if the objective has been achieved?)

Student responses to questions and participation in the discussion will reveal the students’ ability to grasp the theme of the lesson and apply it to other historical events.

Analytical Questions for the class: (Choose at least one question to answer in your learner’s log.)

1. Is it

possible to find redemption for a shameful choice one has made? If so, how might one find redemption?

2. Is it fair to hold individuals responsible for a choice society pressured them to make?

3. Is it fair for society to ask individuals to engage in behavior they find morally wrong even if that behavior might benefit society as a whole?

4. Does the way in which we define “community” translate to various levels of “loyal” behavior to the community? How might O’Brien’s decision have been different if he had defined “community” as the global community rather than his individual family/home town?