Autocracy and democracy Political economy Orwellian terms: doublethink, thought crime, newspeak, crime stop Reading literature for meaning Participating in class discussions Analyzing evidence: context Causation Synthesis Class discussions Chapter analyses short papers Assessments: Chapter essays Class discussions; Unit test Interdisciplinary Connections: English/Social Studies—literary analysis and Cold War era politics Additional Resources: Orwell: “Politics and the English Language”
Subject: Critical Thinking Grade: 9 Suggested Timeline: 4-5 weeks Unit Title: Psychology Unit Overview/Essential Understanding: Students will learn the essential concepts of psychoanalytic theory with special emphasis on repression and its impact on rational thinking. Unit Objectives: Employ psychological theory to explain irrational thinking Explain how the unconscious functions Explain the different of defense mechanisms Evaluate the impact of unconscious decision making on historical events Focus Standards Addressed in this Unit: 9.2.12.F Know and apply appropriate vocabulary used between social studies and the arts and humanities 9.3.12.E Examine and evaluate various types of critical analysis of works in the arts and humanities 8.1.9.B Compare the interpretation of historical events and sources, considering the use of fact versus opinion, multiple perspectives, and cause and effect relationships Important Standards Addressed in this Unit: Misconceptions: Underestimation of the impact of the unconscious on decision-making Concepts/Content: Pain and Attention The Machinery of Mind The Unconscious Repression Collective Self Construction of Social Reality Competencies/Skills: Applying psychological theory to the analysis of works of fiction in a variety of media Using psychology to evaluate the meaning of historical events Explain the various types of repression and how they function in the public mind as well as the private self Description of Activities: Discussions on the following topics: frames, groupthink, schemas, family paradigms, schemas, projection, defense mechanisms, the nature of the unconscious, neurochemical foundations of subconscious processes Analytical short paper or response sheets on The Truth About Lies and Mirror Image
Explain the way ideology influences visual narrative Utilize critical theory to interpret meaning Focus Standards Addressed in this Unit: CC.1.3.11–12.J Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college- and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression CC.1.3.11–12.E Evaluate the structure of texts including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the texts relate to each other and the whole CC.1.3.11–12.D Evaluate how an author’s point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text Important Standards Addressed in this Unit: CC.1.4.11–12.A Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately CC.1.4.11–12.B Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience CC.1.4.11–12.C Develop and analyze the thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic; include graphics and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension Misconceptions: Visual texts and literary texts can be interpreted similarly [by focusing solely on plot/literary elements vs. visuality] Concepts/Content: Cinematography terms Mise en scene Montage Frankfurt School Silent cinema Film genre and ideology Tagmemic discourse analysis Competencies/Skills: Identify different kinds of shots, angles and compositions Compare and contrast & montage Apply critical theory to the interpretation of a film Contextualize film in conditions and through time Description of Activities: Shot-by-shot analysis of a film trailer Reading academic essays on specific films Close reading of a cinematic scene Writing a on the ideology of a select film Assessments: Filming a video commentary that distills a written paper’s insights into a two-three minute short documentary film Interdisciplinary Connections: English: writing and composition, literary analysis; Social Studies: history and film Additional Resources: Various classic films [e.g. Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Rebecca]