To Ban or Not to Ban – You Decide

8th Grade English Language Arts Research Project

Topic: Banned Books

What do you already know or think about removing books from library and classroom shelves?

Having seen some of the titles that have been challenged and/or banned in schools and public libraries across the United States, you will complete a freewrite that answers the Essential Question: What is your position regarding the removal of books from library and classroom shelves and why? Before you write, think about the article on censorship that you read for notetaking practice in class.

Goal Setting

Next, you will research the issue of censorship, learning about the issues of challenging and banning library materials from shelves. Once you develop an understanding of the issues, you will form an opinion as to whether or not books should be banned, and why.

Essential/Research Questions:

• What is your position regarding the removal of books from library and classroom shelves and why?
• What does it mean to be a participatory citizen?

Below are the focus questions that will guide your research and enable you to answer the essential question above.

Focus Questions:

Question #1: Why would someone want to remove books from library shelves and who are these people?
Question #2: What is the difference between a challenge and a banning?
Question #3: In general, is it okay to remove materials from library shelves when someone objects to them?
Question #4: Is it okay for parents to restrict what their own children read?
Question #5: What protects our right to read in this country and what are the limits to those rights?
Question #6: Should libraries have materials on their shelves that are offensive to some people?
Question #7: What could happen eventually if we remove from library shelves any items that might be offensive to someone?

Research

• Cite your sources on your notes sheets.
• Take notes to answer questions found in your readings as you visit the sites linked for you below and as you read the books available on the cart in the classroom.
• Remember to use your own words in your notetaking, as we did in the lesson in the classroom
• Number your notes according to the questions.

Remember, some of the sites below and some of the books may have challenging text. Don't hesitate to use a print dictionary in our library or in your classroom, or go to www.dictionary.com for an online dictionary if you have trouble with vocabulary in the print and online readings.

STEPS:
1. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary for the unit by reading "Understanding the Issues ":
http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/firstamendment/talking.html#issues

2. Read the Constitution, or at least the Preamble and the first paragraph of each of the 7 Articles at:
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=constitution&page=readTheConstitution.cfm

3. Read The Bill of Rights, which consists of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in order to protect citizens from the power of the federal government.
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=constitution&page=billOfRights.cfm

4. Read "Fascinating Facts About the U.S. Constitution" at:
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=constitution&page=fascinatingFacts.cfm
5. Read Useful Definitions and Synonyms to help you understand the First Amendment. Then re-read the Bill of Rights.

6. Read "About the First Amendment" to find out what the First Amendment guarantees and why the founding fathers thought it was necessary:
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?item=about_firstamd

7. Read what these authors of banned and challenged books have to say about censorship in "In Their Own Words: Authors Talk About Censorship":
http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/firstamendment/authors.html

8. Then go to the top of the page and click on "Talking About Banned Books" to read more about what the authors have to say, except for Zilpha Keatley Snyder - she doesn't have a second article. http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/firstamendment/talking.html

9. Read the articles at these 3 sites.

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=151926

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bannedbookslist.html

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/aboutbannedbooks/index.cfm

10. Wrap up your notetaking by reading "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Question & Answer":
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/basics/ifcensorshipqanda.cfm

Extra Credit Opportunity:
Test your knowledge by completing the crossword puzzle in print format that you will receive from Mrs. Woo. If you complete the puzzle, turn it in for Extra Credit.

Organizing

Organize your notes according to the focus questions. Is further research needed?

Goal Evaluation

Look back at your focus questions. Do you have answers to all of them? Is further research needed? If not, synthesize the information you have - put it all together - so it makes sense.

Product

After you have developed an informed opinion based on your notes, you will revisit the freewrite you did at the beginning of the project.

Your final product will be a persuasive letter about your book. Follow the guidelines set by your English teacher.

Presentation

Fish Bowl Discussion.

Conclusion

You now have an understanding of the issue of censorship as it applies to materials in school libraries, and how the issue is related to the Bill of Rights, which is part of the U.S. Constitution. If you would like to learn more about the topic of the Freedom to Read and why we celebrate this freedom every year during Banned Books Week, feel free to visit some additional links off of the ALA (American Library Association) Web site:

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/banned_books_week_proclamation/proclamation.cfm

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=bbwlinks&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=25735

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/foryoungpeople/youngpeople.cfm

And for more on the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence:

http://www.constitutionday.com/Html/education.html

Credits & References

"Banned Books Week Bookmarks, Bracelets, and Circus Poster." 2006. American

Library Association. Accessed on 6 May 2007. Available at

http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog&_pn=sub_category&_op=123

"Censorship Causes Blindness Poster." 2004. Random House Children's Books.

Accessed on 1 May 2007. Available at

http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/firstamendment/resources.html#amend

Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books. American Library Association: Chicago, 2004.