Overview:

For 50 years, Gore Vidal has been a controversial figure in American politics: He is a wise man, a contrarian and a realist. He challenges us to look at politics and history critically and always to question “the party line.” By watching AMERICAN MASTERS: THE EDUCATION OF GORE VIDAL and applying Guided Reading principles to Vidal’s writing, students will learn to think and question in this way. Students will then determine for themselves how political writing can shape our understanding of history. As a culminating activity, students will debate Vidal’s claim that America “wanted to be like Greece and ended up like Rome.”

Grade Level:

9-12

Time Allotment:

• Three hours of pre-viewing research on Gore Vidal
• 20 minutes to watch segments of the video
• Three hours to research debate topic
• One hour for debate

Subject Matter:

American History, American Government, the Fall of Rome, Ancient Greece, and democracy.

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to:

• Question the validity of historical texts.
• Research different cultures and history.
• Understand the concept of historical perspective.
• Debate ideas about the beginnings of American government.
• Work together in small groups.
• Use writing for different purposes.
• Use Internet sources and primary source material.
• Present history using multimedia software.

Standards:


National Standards:


MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 5
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=5
Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process

MCREL HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING, Level 4, Standard 2

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=3&StandardID=2
Understands the historical perspective

MCREL THINKING AND REASONING, Level 4, Standard 2

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=21&StandardID=2
Understands and applies basic principles of logic and reasoning

MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 8

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=8
Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes

MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 9

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=9
Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

MCREL WORKING WITH OTHERS, Level 4, Standard 1

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=22&StandardID=1
Contributes to the overall effort of a group