English II Unit 1 Intro

UNIT 2
SCIENCE

FICTION AND

SOCIAL

COMMENTARY

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Science fiction authors use the following conventions
to comment on or critique an aspect of today’s society.

INTRODUCTION: INTRO TO SCIENCE FICTION

Conventions of Science Fiction

● Scientific advancements
● Time travel
● Space travel and colonization
● Aliens
● Fictional or future worlds

Social Commentary

or Critique

INTRODUCTION: INTRO TO SCIENCE FICTION

TURN & TALK (1 minute):

What movies, TV shows, or
books have you encountered
that use the conventions of

science fiction?

Science Fiction Conventions

●

Scientific advancement

●

Time travel

●

Space travel and colonization

●

Aliens

●

Fictional or future worlds

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LEARN?

Our Essential Question:

What does science fiction teach us about ourselves and our world?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LEARN?

We are going to begin by taking a look at the big ideas, texts,

and skills we will explore in this unit!

PART 1: EXPLORING THE UNIT’S BIG QUESTIONS

Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.

Advanced technology like smartphones and artificial intelligence cause more harm
than good.

More money = more problems.

If time travel were possible, it would be better to go back in time and live in a different
time period.

We should try to trust people we don’t know.

If you work hard enough, you can achieve the American dream.

1

2

3

4

5

Poll

Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.

Advanced technology like smartphones and artificial intelligence cause more harm than good.

• Strongly Disagree

• Somewhat Disagree

• Neutral

• Somewhat Agree

• Strongly Agree

Poll

Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.

More money = more problems.

• Strongly Disagree

• Somewhat Disagree

• Neutral

• Somewhat Agree

• Strongly Agree

Poll

Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.

If time travel were possible, it would be better to go back in time and live in a different time period.

• Strongly Disagree

• Somewhat Disagree

• Neutral

• Somewhat Agree

• Strongly Agree

Poll

Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.

We should try to trust people we don’t know.

• Strongly Disagree

• Somewhat Disagree

• Neutral

• Somewhat Agree

• Strongly Agree

Poll

Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement.

If you work hard enough, you can achieve the American dream.

• Strongly Disagree

• Somewhat Disagree

• Neutral

• Somewhat Agree

• Strongly Agree

PART 2: DISCUSSING THE UNIT’S BIG QUESTIONS

SHARE OUT (3 students):

●

Which statements did you most AGREE with?

●

Which statements did you most DISAGREE with?

PART 3: WHAT WILL WE READ?

“Going Steady”

Directions: Read the overview of unit texts.

“Popularity”

Turn & Talk (5 minutes): Which texts sound most interesting to you? Why?

PART 4: WHAT SKILLS WILL WE LEARN?

Rate your confidence level for this unit’s reading and writing skills.

Don’t worry if these seem new! The unit’s goal is to build your knowledge in these areas!

Open Ended

Rate your confidence level for the following reading skills:

I can analyze how character interactions develop the author's intentions;

I can determine how figurative language contributes to the meaning of a poem;

I can analyze how diction (word choice) contributes to the meaning of a text;

I can analyze how characters' motives impact the plot of a story.

Open Ended

Rate your confidence level for the following writing skills:

I can write a complete paragraph with an advanced argument;

I can write explanations that explain what my evidence means and how it supports my argument;

I can analyze the impact of specific words and phrases through my explanations;

I can plan, organize, and write an essay about how an author develops a message.