Introduction
Vulgarity, immorality, profanity, sexuality, violence, crudeness, wickedness, obscenity, depravity...
These are just a handful of the common accusations cast against "questionable" or "untimely" books. Did you know that between 1990 and 2010, over 10,000 books were challenged or considered for banishment in the United States alone? (Office of Intellectual Freedom) This raises a few important questions: Why exactly would anyone want ban a book? Can a book really ever hurt anyone? Who has the right to control what we read? Or, in short:
Should books ever be banned, and if so, for what reasons?
This WebQuest is designed to help you answer this question. With this website, you will complete a "final report" showing what you learned about the banned books debate in the United States.
Task
Your task is to become a journalist and expose the truth about the banned books debate in United States. More specifically, you will need to follow these three prompts to complete your worksheet.
(1) Research the debate. Find as many relevant websites as possible. Record all of your relevant findings.
Example: American Library Association
(2) Compile a list of at least 5 books that have been challenged or banned somewhere in the U.S. at some point in history.
Example: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was challenged at the Baptist College in Charleston, South Carolina in 1987.
(3) Uncover and summarize at least 1 argument for banning books, and at least 1 argument against banning books.
Example: John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath was challenged because it was considered "vulgar, immoral, and even bestial.”
(4) Finally, you need to write one argumentative paragraph explaining which side of the debate you support.
Be prepared to share this opinion in class on Wednesday, we will have a debate/class discussion
Process
To accomplish your task, here's what you need to know:
1. You may work with a partner, but each student is responsible for his or her own final report.
2. Once you're ready, begin your research! Explore the web as you wish, but try to find the best information possible.
3. Begin with the following websites on banned books, but try to discover new sources too:
“Do Students Have a Right to Read?”
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/resources/lesson.aspx?id=13963
“The Students’ Right to Read”
http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/righttoreadguideline
“Commonly Banned Books in the U.S.”
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_commonly_challenged_books_in_the_United_States “List of Banned Books” http://www.banned-books.com/bblista-i.html
“Books Banned in the United States”
http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html
“Banned Books Online”
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-books.html
“50 Banned Books Everyone Should Read”
http://www.onlinecollegedegrees.org/2009/05/20/50-banned-books-that-everyone-should-read/
“100 Most Frequently Challenged Books”
“Are There Books That Should Be Banned From Your Library?”
“Student Opinion: Reading Banned Books” http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/category/student-opinion/
Evaluation
You will be evaluated on the completion and accuracy of the handout given in class.
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You have now completed the Banned Book Debate Webquest! This means that you have taken the first step in becoming an expert on the banned books debate in the United States. You are now familiar with some of the most challenged or banned books in history. Additionally, you now have a beginning grasp on the reasons for and against the censorship of books. And finally, you have begun to produce your own view on this debate.
As you move along in your education, you might consider how your view will change when you encounter new and more challenging material. A few final questions to think about in preparation for our discussion: How might someone on the other side of the debate respond to your argument? Would they be persuaded? Do you think anyone could be convinced to change their position on this issue? Do you think your view will change when you have children someday?