Columbine High School
Before you Read
Harris and Klebold were seniors in high school. Two months from the shooting they would have graduated and left the school. Why do you think they did what they did? What are your thoughts/feelings about it and what do you expect to find out during this section of the course? Write it in your blog.
While Reading
Read the text and find 10 words or phrases that you don't understand. Don't look them up, just write them down.
After you have read
A
Do you still believe in your assumption about the reason(s) for the shooting? Why/why not? Discuss in pairs.
B
Finish one of these statements in 3-5 lines - write it on your blog:
1 - Nothing can ever justify what Harris and Klebold did, but on the other hand ...
2 - This could never happen at my school, because ...
1 - Nothing can ever justify what Harris and Klebold did, but on the other hand ...
2 - This could never happen at my school, because ...
C
Write what you think the words mean on your blog. Discuss your hypothesis with your partner - why do you think the words mean that and do you both agree? Jot down all observations, regarding language and your hypotheses, on your blog.
Now, look the words up (using your own dictionaries or one of these: Merriam-Webster (British) or Oxford Dictionaries (American)). Write the correct definition. Were you right? If you have any comments on the words, please write those as well. Remember to publish.
Now, look the words up (using your own dictionaries or one of these: Merriam-Webster (British) or Oxford Dictionaries (American)). Write the correct definition. Were you right? If you have any comments on the words, please write those as well. Remember to publish.
A Short Story About a Massacre
Before you Read
A
This is a quote from a paper Eric Harris wrote circa 1,5 years before the Columbine High School shooting:
Comment on the quote and post it on your blog.
B
The following short story is also written by Eric Harris only 3 months before the shooting. What do you expect from his short story? Write at least 5 lines on your blog.
While Reading
Notice how he sets the mood/tone of the story. Which patterns, in his use of language, are you able to spot?
After you have Read
A
Look at your expectations for the text. Was it as you expected? Discuss, with a partner, how it was similar to your expectations and how it differed.
B
While discussing, compare the short story with the quote from Harris' '97 paper.
C
The written work of both Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold was brought to the attention of the guidance counselor because of its violent content. How would you react if one of your classmates had written a paper like this? Would you be worried or think that he/she had a great imagination?
Dylan and Eric
You will be recording a talk show with some of the people involved in the case. To be able to do this I have provided a text about each of the boys telling you all about them. In your groups of four divide yourselves into these roles before you read:
Eric Harris
Parent Investigator Interviewer |
Dylan Klebold
Parent Investigator Interviewer |
While Reading
The text is divided into sections. Take turns reading a section aloud. Make sure you take notes to the things involving your character. When you're done skim through the other text (in the end the texts are identical - you don't have to read it twice).
After you have Read
Using a smartphone, make a 5-7 minute interview to uncover why the shooting happened and whether it could have been prevented - please, make sure to make it a TV show and not a radio show. Post the video on youtube using the unlisted setting (that way only people with the link are able to see your video). Then post the link or the video on your blog.
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