Your Task: Complete this webquest to learn more about the events that inspired Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451.
Directions:
**Copy the questions on to a MS Word or Google Doc. Answer all of the questions using the web links included with each question.
-Use complete sentences, and research your answers by reading the information on the links.
Read everything below:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.
Explore the following sites for information on the kinds of historical censorship Ray Bradbury discusses in Fahrenheit 451:
Introduction
This class will be studying issues related to Censorship and has asked you to investigate some of the history of censorship in order to use the information to help the Federal Communications Commission (The FCC, This is a government group that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.) make judgments about contemporary censorship issues. You will be using this Web Quest to find information about some of the instances of censorship in which the Commission is interested.
Task
Part I requires you to explore Web sites on censorship in the past and the present. You will be given a selection of websites related to these issues from which to choose. Take notes and write out important information needed for your report to the Commission.
Part II is a list of modern day censorship issues affecting teenagers today. Select two topics about which you wish to report on to the Commission.
Process:
Part I
Explore these sites for information on the kinds of historical censorship Ray Bradbury discusses in Fahrenheit 451: For this part of the Webquest, I will be collecting answers to the questions that accompany each web site. Click on each link and answer all the questions in each section.
Step A: Censorship
- What is censorship?
Step B: The burning of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley:
- Why were they burned at the stake?
- Why was Latimer confident that they were doing the right thing?
- Why would it be important to remind people of this history?
- What was Latimer's final quote to Nicholas Ridley?
- What do you think this quote means?
Step C: Nazi Book Burning:
- Why do you think the Nazis burned these books?
- How is this similar to why the firemen in Fahrenheit 451 burn books?
- In what way might these images have inspired Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451?
Step D: McCarthyism and Blacklisting in Hollywood:
This site will take you to a page of links. Each link takes you to a page that tells a small part of the story of Blacklisting in Hollywood in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.
- Who was Joseph McCarthy?
- What did McCarthy say had happened?
- Were his accusations true?
- What is "McCarthyism?" (according to the second paragraph)?
- Was it right?
- What were the "Hollywood Ten" accused of?
- When did this happen?
- When did it end?
- Do you think it's right or wrong?
- In what situation do you think this could happen again? Think about the politics today and give an example of how this could happen in today's society with the things of which Americans are afraid.
- How might the Red Scare and "The Hollywood Ten" have inspired Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451?
Part II
Explore two of the following sites to look at censorship issues that are in the news today and answer the question.
A.. Book Banning
Explore two of the following sites to look at censorship issues that are in the news today and answer the question.
A.. Book Banning
- Banning Young Adult Novels in Libraries
- Banning Books like Huck Finn
- The First Amendment
- Library Guide to Banning Books
Topic #1 ______________
- Who is in favor of these limitations on freedom of speech?
- Why are they in favor of them?
- Who is opposed? Why are they opposed?
- Which side do you agree with? Why?
Topic #2 ______________
- Who is in favor of these limitations on freedom of speech?
- Why are they in favor of them?
- Who is opposed? Why are they opposed?
- Which side do you agree with? Why?
The webquest is due on Thursday, 9/2. www.turnitin.com
We will have half the class to work on the quest. We will go over the answers the second half.
