By Ray Bradbury

A WebQuest

Ms. Whitt

Frederick Douglass Academy II

“The Rules”

1. Answer the alarm swiftly

2. Start the fire swiftly

3. Burn everything

4. Report back to firehouse immediately

5. Stand alert for other alarms

“School is shortened, discipline relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored. Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work. Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pulling switches, fitting nuts and bolts?”(56) Sounds like the perfect society no homework, no reading, no school. The days are spent hanging out with friends, watching videos, playing video games, flipping through fashion magazines, driving fast cars, and eating quick meals. People are no longer bothered with intellectual discourse of war, media, politics, history, and religion. Everything in life is immediate. You want to have fun have fun and more fun.

But unfortunately, as with all good things, there comes a cost. A price every individual must pay. This price is the loss of freedom in speech and thought. People become too concerned with having fun and less concerned with the overall conditions of their society. Then somewhere “almost invisible, a voice somewhere behind a screen of smoke” (56) a person begins ruling the thoughts, actions, and speech of the society.

This society is created in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451. While pulling a late night to finish the novel, you fall asleep. And through your dreams you are transported to Montag’s futuristic American City. As you explore his society you become overwhelmed with what seemed to be an amazing place is actually a dangerous place. It is now your job to ensure that Montag’s futuristic American city does not become your future American city.

Using the Public Policy Analysis (as described in the process) define and analyze the social problem as Ray Bradbury sees it through his characters in Fahrenheit 451 and through his interviews. Using the information you gathered in your Major Works Data Sheets and your Public Policy Analyst (PPA) worksheets write a 2-3 page double spaced typed paper illustrating the social problem as Ray Bradbury sees it and describe the ways you could prevent this from happening to your future society.

Step 1: In your groups of three clarify your group roles:

Student # 1: Recorder / Writer-This student will take notes on information gathered by group members. This student will be responsible for completing the Public Policy Analyst Worksheets.

Student # 2: Researcher/ Leader: This student leads the research, by guiding other members to the web pages. He/she will search the Internet resources and gather information that will be used to complete the worksheets.

Student # 3: Time keeper/ task master: Will keep the group on track. He/she will assist in the research and be aware of teacher made deadlines and schedules. He/she will assign homework to make sure the deadlines are met.

**All group members are required to contribute to the completion of the worksheets. The 2-3 page paper will be completed individually.**

Step 2: Review and share the information on your Major Works Data Sheets make sure all your information is correct and the sheet is complete.

Step 3: Using the information from your novel, the resources and your Major Works Data Sheets complete the information for the PPA. Remember to complete the worksheets from the perspective of Ray Bradbury and your society. You must use both information from the book and the resources.

#1- Defining the Social Problem

     What does Ray Bradbury consider to be the social problem?

      #2- Gather evidence of the problem

          How does Ray Bradbury know that this is a problem? How do you know this is a problem in our society?

      #3- Identify the causes of the problem

         According Ray Bradbury what causes the problem? What is causing the problem in our society?

      #4- Identify and evaluate the existing public policies

          In the novel, what policies already exist? What policies exist in our society?

      #5- Developing public policy solutions

          In the novel, what new public policy do the some of the characters want to create? What new public policy do you want to create?

       #6- Selecting the best policy solution

           Decide with your group the best policy to use to solve the problem.

Step 4: Using the completed worksheets and the major works data worksheet, individually complete the outline for your paper and write the rough draft.

Step 5: Using the outline, individually complete the rough draft of the paper

Step6: After completing the peer-editing sheet make final revisions and prepare your final draft

Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury

http://www.raybradbury.com/articles_peoria.html (This website is very helpful in completing: Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2 and Worksheet 3)

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/viersmilles/greenl/stats.html (This website is helpful in completing Worksheet 2 & 3 from perspective of our society)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51785-2005Feb24.html (This website is helpful in completing worksheet 1 from the perspective of our society and worksheet 5 & 6)

http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/ewp_03.htm (This website is also helpful in completing Worksheet 1 2 and 3, however please note the date, some information may be a bit dated)

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/02/02152005.html (This website is helpful in completing worksheet 5

http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-fahrenheit451/socconc.html (This website is helpful in completing worksheets 1 & 2

http://www.nytimes.com/ (This is a good general resource. Check out the educational section)

(Click Here)

Congratulations!! You completed your action plan, your paper, made yourself one step closer to college, and saved the world from ignorance.

New York State Performance Standards in English

E1c. Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a. Produce a paper on information and observations.

E3c. Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

E4b. Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.

Standard 5 Civics, Citizenship and Government

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional Democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation