LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Censorship in the classroom: Understanding controversial issues

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=203

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 English Language Arts and Information Skills

Learn more

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

It is important for young people to understand their individual rights and what they, as citizens, can do to protect these rights. In addition, young people need to understand the way in which bias and stereotyping are used by the media to influence popular opinion. In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students examine propaganda and media bias and explore a variety of banned and challenged books, researching the reasons these books have been censored. Following this research, students choose a side of the censorship issue and support their position through the development of an advertising campaign.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 9

  • Goal 3: The learner will examine argumentation and develop informed opinions.
    • Objective 3.01: Study argument by:
      • examining relevant reasons and evidence.
      • noting the progression of ideas that substantiate the proposal.
      • analyzing style, tone, and use of language for a particular effect.
      • identifying and analyzing personal, social, historical, or cultural influences contexts, or biases.
      • identifying and analyzing rhetorical strategies that support proposals.

Grade 10

  • Goal 3: The learner will defend argumentative positions on literary or nonliterary issues.
    • Objective 3.01: Examine controversial issues by:
      • sharing and evaluating initial personal response.
      • researching and summarizing printed data.
      • developing a framework in which to discuss the issue (creating a context).
      • compiling personal responses and researched data to organize the argument.
      • presenting data in such forms as a graphic, an essay, a speech, or a video.

Grade 11

  • Goal 3: The learner will demonstrate increasing sophistication in defining issues and using argument effectively.
    • Objective 3.01: Use language persuasively in addressing a particular issue by:
      - finding and interpreting information effectively.
      - recognizing propaganda as a purposeful technique.
      - establishing and defending a point of view.
      -responding respectfully to viewpoints and biases.

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 9–12

  • Goal 2: The learner will IDENTIFY and USE criteria for excellence to evaluate information and formats.