Passages 11

Web Links

Unit 2 Technology and Science: Changing Worlds

John Henry (folk tale retold by Steven Zorn)

• AFRO-American FolkTales
  This great resource provides a list of on-line Afro-American folktales that are available in full text. Students can select and read a folktale and compare the moral of it with the moral in "John Henry."
• John Henry
  This Web site has a wealth of information about John Henry and the Park that was established in his honour. It is an excellent source of information for those students interested in this folk hero.

• Group of 7
  Here is an in-depth look at the beginning of the Group of Seven, plus a photo of the Group including F.H. Varley. Students can use the information on this site to prepare a brief biography of this artist.
• F.H.Varley
  This brief biography of F.H. Varley comes from the homepage of the Group of Seven at the McMichael Collection. After the students have visited the site ask them to comment on Varley's quotation regarding portrait painting.

• Man Vs. Machine
  This Newsday article by Mark Harrington called "Man Vs. Machine" looks at technology and the price society is paying for it. Have students read the article and then prepare a rebuttal. They could use the voice of one of the speakers of the four selections in "Poetry and the Machine."
  
• The Man and the Machine (E.J. Pratt)
  
  • E.J. Pratt
    This Web site includes E.J. Pratt's biography, a few of his poems, and other information about Pratt. Students can visit this site, and then comment on what they think influenced Pratt's work-particularly the poem "The Man and the Machine."
    
• The Mills (Langston Hughes)
  
  • Langston Hughes 1
    The Web site of the Academy of American Poets includes a biography for Langston Hughes, as well as some of his poems. Students can read two of Hughes' poems and write a poetry review, comparing and contrasting "The Mills" with these other poems.
  • Langston Hughes 2
    This Web site includes a detailed biography and bibliography of Langston Hughes. Discuss how such information can be used, and why it is helpful to have this information compiled. You may wish to point out to students that when using similar information on other sites they need to make sure they double check the accuracy of information.
  • Teacher Resource for Langston Hughes
    Visit this excellent teacher resource site on Langston Hughes; it features a biography, bibliography, criticism, lesson plans, and so on.
    
• Lament for Via Rail (Ruth Anderson Donovan)
  
  • Poems by Ruth Anderson Donovan
    Here are a few other poems by Ruth Anderson Donovan, the author of "Lament for Via Rail." Have your students read through the poems and discuss Donovan's poetic style.
• Peter's Dream (Lennis Gallant)
  
  • Lennie Gallant
    This is Lennie Gallant's official Web site, featuring a biography and career news link. Discuss his career, songs, and influences.
    Have students compose lyrics to a song that reflects their own thoughts of life by the sea. Discuss how "Peter's Dream" has influenced the students' work.

• Listen to the Radio Play
  As a class, listen to the scene "You Can't Win" on this Web site. Encourage students to listen to other episodes on this site. Students could compare the radio episodes to the TV show (available in some video stores).
• Douglas Adams
  This Web site features text written by Adams, biographical information, and FAQ's about the author and his work. Choose an article or the story (contains mature subject matter) from this site and print it out for students to read. Discuss how his writing in "You Can't Win" compares to the selection you have printed out in tone, mood, style, and techniques. Note that there are also articles on this site that connect with the overall theme, and with other selections within the Changing Worlds unit.
• Quoting Adams
  This Web site includes quotations from Adams' published novels that the Web site creator found particularly pleasing or amusing. Encourage students to explore the site and choose one quotation they like. Interested students could create a similar site for their favourite author.
• Blah Trek: The Parodies
  This Web site provides other examples of science fiction scripts, featuring primarily parodies of Star Trek , but also includes parodies of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Star Wars , and other sci-fi classics. Choose a selection to print out for students to enjoy. Encourage students to write their own short script for radio, TV, or movies. It could be serious or a parody of their favourite sci-fi show.

• Raymond Souster
  This profile contains a biography of Souster, a list of his publications, some critical materials, articles on his works, and so on.
• The Enigmatic Souster
  This Web page presents Robert Fulford's Globe and Mail column in praise of Raymond Souster. Ask students to compile a list of questions they would ask the very private Souster, if granted an interview.
• The Harris Poll
  This Web site presents an American nation-wide survey, given in the year 2000 to examine adults and their computer usage. Students can use this site as a model to develop their own survey to find out how computers affect people in their daily lives.

• Interview with Robinson
  This Web page presents an interview with Spider Robinson from Science Fiction Weekly . As a class, read the interview, and brainstorm other questions to ask Robinson.
• A Keynote Address
  This Web site presents the text from a keynote address delivered by Robinson in 1996. After reading the text, students can write a responsive essay to his speech.
• Nikola Tesla
  This is the Web site of the Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, and scientist. Ask students to explore the site, and investigate and discuss the lists of inventions credited to this scientist.

• Intel Science Talent Search
  This is the Web site of the Intel Science Talent Search. The site offers information on how to get involved, entry rules and forms, and a history of the 60-year-old contest. Students can investigate how they would go about entering the Intel Science contest.
• Port Washington News
  This Port Washington News article is about Viviana Risca's first place win in 2000. Students can compare the information, structure, and bias of the two articles.
• An Award for Sinha
  This is an American Public Health Association news release announcing that Gunjan Sinha has received the Ray Bruner Science Writing Award for Excellence in Journalism. Encourage students to research online to find other articles Gunjan Sinha has written for Popular Science .

• Brush with Science
  This Web site features the artwork of Julie Newdoll (note, some images contain nudity), along with a brief look at her artistic influences. Have the students examine a few of Newdoll's pieces and discuss what they like or dislike about her work and what common trends they notice amongst her pieces.

• Buffy Saint Marie
  This is Buffy Saint Marie's personal Web site, containing, a biography, art gallery, discography, and so on. The students can discuss the different forms Saint Marie uses to express her artistic side.
• M.O.C.A.
  MOCA is a museum of computer art online. This site lists artists and their works, along with major exhibits. Note that some artwork includes mature or sensitive subject matter. Students can visit the online exhibits and write an essay about how technology influences the art world.

• Peter Bondra
  Students can visit Peter Bondra's homepage, which features a biography, stats, highlights, and quotations. Ask your students to design a Web site for their favourite athlete.
• Ontario Association of the Deaf
  This is the Web site for the Ontario Association of the Deaf. It consists of news and events. Ask the students to write an essay on how they feel the computer and the Internet have been an asset to those with hearing disabilities.
• Canadian Human Rights Commission
  Have your students examine the Canadian Human Rights Commission Web site and write a report on how this organization helps Canadians who are deaf.

• Wired Woman
  This is the home page of Wired Woman-an online site that encourages women to explore opportunities in information technology.
• Webgrrls International
  This is the women's tech knowledge connection with links to Canadian sites. Students can explore two of the links and assess the information they contain. Hold an open forum to discuss why students feel women may be reluctant to enter the IT field.

• Harryette Mullen
  This Web site includes poems and other writings by Mullen, as well as an interview and biography. Note that not all the selections will be accessible from every computer, only those with an e-subscription to Callaloo. You may want to read and select a suitable selection to share with students.
• Modern American Poetry
  This Modern American Poetry Web site has a feature on Harryette Mullen, which includes a biography, bibliography, and some online poetry.
  Students can visit both of the above sites and write a biography for Mullen.

• World Science Fiction Society
  This is the Web site for the World Science Fiction Society and its convention. Students can explore the site, searching for information about how the conventions are organized and what occurs there. Have students design an event booth for Jack Lewis or Todd Thromberry that might be used at the next Science Fiction Convention.