blast from the past: fahrenheit 451 essay ideas

One of the things I've come to appreciate about Open-Source Learning and curating on blogs is that I can go back and see what I've learned and taught in the past. Just now I was looking through past courses for book ideas (based on yesterday's Zoom meeting) and I found a post from a couple years ago about the Fahrenheit 451 essay. I was struck by how similar the in-class process was to our online conversation over the past couple weeks. I miss seeing you all, but it's great to see how your ideas are evolving whether we're on campus or not. In case you're still working on the essay, and want a taste of nostalgia for the whiteboards in our room, I copied the post. Party like it's 2018.
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Based on our discussions and your contributions today (please see whiteboard notes at bottom), here is the essay prompt.  Please make sure that your essay is posted to your blog no later than 11:59 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time on Sunday, May 6.  If you have any trouble posting, please type or write the essay and bring the hard copy to class with you on Monday, May 7.

The feedback in class may be described in three categories: elements of the book, elements of Ray Bradbury's writing, and connections between the book and our lives in 2018.  Therefore, please feel free to mix and match from the menu of options below.  Please observe the minimum requirements as described, and please feel free to include more and/or your own original thinking.

I look forward to reading your work!


CORE PROMPT:
Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953.  What does the book have to offer readers in 2018?

CATEGORY 1: ELEMENTS OF THE BOOK (Include at least one)

• Themes
• Self-determination
• The role of technology in society
• How authorities attempt to control people
• Happiness
• Integrity

• Characters
• Montag as dynamic character: how did he change?
• Protagonist/antagonist: Montag v. Beatty
• Clarisse's influence on Montag-- and the plot
• How Mildred helped and hurt Montag

CATEGORY 2: CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE BOOK & OUR LIVES (Include at least one)

• Bradbury's technological predictions
• Seashells (ear buds)
• Parlor walls (parlor walls)
• Bradbury's social predictions
• Medics as mechanics
• Substitutes for happiness

• High school and college education

CATEGORY 2: ELEMENTS OF THE WRITING (Analyze at least three to support your major points)

• Characterization (direct and indirect)
• Syntax
• Tone/Mood
• Symbolism
• Synecdoche
• Figurative language