Last year my students read The Handmaid’s Tale in American Lit. I’m reworking my unit this year to really emphasize the relationship between Atwood’s dystopian world and real-word political, religious, and human rights issues throughout history and in contemporary societies. It’s easy to get caught up in the strangeness of the story itself — but Atwood is directing her story toward real issues we face. We read The Handmaid’s Tale following The Crucible, so it makes for an interesting transition regarding themes of women and power and the impact of religion on politics. With increased access to chromebooks in my classroom this year, I’m hoping that this final project — a PowerPoint (or Google Slide) presentation will give my students a chance to practice real-world skills and conduct meaningful research.
Final Project, The Handmaid’s Tale
- Goal: Connect the surreal, dystopian world of Gilead to real issues faced by individuals and societies today or in the past.
- Role: American Lit teacher.
- Audience: Members of your American Lit class.
- Situation: An opportunity to share the world of The Handmaid’s Tale, and more importantly, its emphasis on satire and social commentary, with your class
- Product: An interactive PowerPoint (or Google Slide) presentation that you will present in a five minute presentation
Process
Pick one of “Atwood’s Targets” (satire & social commentary points) to focus on:
- “Rapid change into extraordinary brutality from an apparently civilized society”
- A superficial and misleading focus on “family values” in oppressive societies
- A focus on indoctrinating the young in repressive regimes
- To oppress groups, oppressive leaders first dehumanize them
- Books and literacy were seen as threats in oppressive societies
- Oppression of women — e.g., requirements to be fully covered, limitations on their education
- Objectification of women, women = their bodies, women’s bodies are their most important asset
- Government through fear — brutal punishments to intimidate the population
- Rigid gender roles — each gender serves a specific, prescribed function in society
- The evils of slavery
Review your copy of The Handmaid’s Tale and find two instances of this “target” being examined, explored, satirized
Research governments or religions that contain elements of oppression or face human rights challenges (either historical or contemporary) and take notes on how this government or religion exhibits your chosen “target.” Check out these resources to get a feel for the types of sources you should be consulting:
- 5 Most Shockingly Oppressive Governments
- Facing History and Ourselves
- Where The World’s Slaves Live
- Terrorists in Love
- Freedom House — World’s Most Repressive Societies
- Human’s Rights Watch — Women’s Rights
- What Muslims Around the World Think about Women’s Rights, in Charts
- The Role of Women in Christianity: Statements by Christian Leaders & Commentators
- Iran: Seven Key Human Rights Challenges Facing President Rouhani
- 10 Facts: Literacy Rates in India
Review these resources for how to create a high quality, interactive PowerPoint.
- 10 Tips for More Effective PowerPoint Presentations
- Presentation Zen: What is Good Presentation Design?
- 15 Strategies for Giving Oral Presentations
- Top Ten Slide Tips
Review PowerPoint or Google Slide software so you know what you’re doing, tech-wise.
Create your PowerPoint (or Google Slide) presentation connecting your research to The Handmaid’s Tale. Cite your sources.
Script the verbal part of your presentation and rehearse.
RUBRIC
Total Possible Points =160
| Criteria | A – 36-40 pts | B – 32-35 pts | C – 28-31 pts | D – 24-27 pts | F – 23 pts or below |
|
Explanation of Ideas & Information |
Regularly builds in audience interaction
Presents information, findings, arguments, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically, audience can easily follow the line of reasoning
Does not read off the slide and is well-rehearsed but not scripted in delivery
Conveys passion for ideas and show |
Builds in audience interaction at some points
Mostly presents information, findings, arguments, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically, audience can follow the line of reasoning
Does not read off the slide and is rehearsed in delivery
Conveys passion for ideas and show
|
Rarely builds in audience interaction
May not present information, findings, arguments, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically, but audience can generally follow the line of reasoning Mostly does not read off the slide and is mostly rehearsed in delivery
Conveys some passion for ideas and show |
Does not build in audience interaction
Presents information, findings, arguments, and supporting evidence in a way that is confusing and/or incoherent; audience struggles to follow the line of reasoning May read off the slide frequently; delivery is unrehearsed or overly scripted
Conveys minimal passion for ideas and show |
Builds in no audience interaction
Sloppily presents information, findings, arguments, and supporting evidence; audience can’t follow the line of reasoning
Reads off the slide frequently; delivery is unrehearsed or overly scripted
Does not convey passion for ideas and show |
|
Organization |
Meets all requirements for what should be included in the presentation
Has a clear and interesting introduction and conclusion
Organizes time well; no part of the presentation is too short or too long |
Meets all requirements for what should be included in the presentation
Has a clear introduction and conclusion
Mostly organizes time well; for the most part, no part of the presentation is too short or long |
Meets most requirements for what should be included in the presentation and has an introduction and conclusion
Some parts of the presentation may be too short or too long |
Meets some requirements for what should be included in the presentation but many elements are missing
Parts of the presentation are too long or too short |
Does not meet requirements for what should be included in the presentation
The presentation is disorganized; time is not used effectively |
|
Eyes, Body, & Voice |
Keeps eye contact with audience most of the time; only glances at notes or aides
Uses natural gestures and movements
Looks poised and confident
Speaks clearly, not too quickly or slowly
Speaks loudly enough for everyone to hear; changes tone and pace to maintain interest
Rarely uses filler words
Adapts speech for the context and task, demonstrating command of formal English when appropriate |
Keeps eye contact with audience most of the time; only glances at notes or aides
Mostly uses natural gestures and movements
Mostly looks poised and confident
Mostly speaks clearly, not too quickly or slowly
Mostly speaks loudly enough for everyone to hear; may change tone and pace to maintain interest
Uses filler words occasionally
Demonstrates some command of formal English when appropriate |
Keeps eye contact with audience some of the time; may look too closely at notes or aides
May use unnatural gestures and movements
May not look poised or confident
May speak too quickly or too slowly at points
May not speak loudly enough for everyone to hear; may not change tone and pace to maintain interest
May use filler words often
Demonstrates some command of formal English when appropriate |
May struggle to keep eye contact; may look too closely at notes or aides
Uses unnatural gestures and movements
May not look poised or confident
Speaks too quickly or too slowly at points
Does not speak loudly enough for everyone to hear; does not change tone and pace to maintain interest
Uses filler words often
Doesn’t demonstrate command of formal English when appropriate |
Does not make eye contact; looks too closely at notes or aides
Uses unnatural gestures and movements
Is not poised or confident
Speaks too quickly or too slowly at points
Does not speak loudly enough for everyone to hear; does not change tone and pace to maintain interest Use filler words
Doesn’t demonstrate command of formal English when appropriate |
|
PowerPoint |
PowerPoint follows all guidelines in assignment instructions – simple, readable, incorporates pictures or video — and effectively contributes to audience engagement and understanding
Demonstrates thorough research; sources are cited |
PowerPoint mostly follows all guidelines in assignment instructions – simple, readable, incorporates pictures or video – and contributes to audience engagement and understanding
Demonstrates some thorough resources; sources are cited |
PowerPoint follows some guidelines in assignment instructions – simple, readable, incorporates pictures or video – and somewhat contributes to audience engagement and understanding
Demonstrates research; not all sources may be cited |
PowerPoint is missing several important guidelines in assignment instructions – struggles to contribute to audience engagement and understanding
Demonstrates minimal research; not all sources may be cited |
PowerPoint is missing most guidelines in assignment instructions – does not contribute to audience engagement and understanding
Lacking in research quality and citation of sources |
