Unit Overview In this classic novel of the 1960s, the anti-hero Randle Patrick McMurphy, a boisterous, brawling, fun-loving rebel, swaggers into the world of a mental hospital and takes over. A lusty, life-affirming fighter, McMurphy rallies the other patients around him by challenging the dictatorship of Nurse Rached. He promotes gambling in the ward, smuggles in wine and women, and openly defies the rules at every turn. But this defiance, which starts as a sport, soon develops into a grim struggle, an all-out war between two relentless opponents: Nurse Rached and McMurphy. During this unit, students will be asked to write answers to chapter discussion questions, complete reader-comprehension quizzes, and a unit test. *If you are absent you may view this packet to see what is covered everyday, in addition to homework and upcoming due dates. Below is a brief description of the nightly homework. If you lose this packet I handed out in class, you may print another copy here.
Jan. 7 - SWBAT apply their prior knowledge and biases of mental health and individuality to an anticipation guide.
IR
p/u OFOTCN
Hand out Cuckoo's Nest Packet
Due Wednesday, Jan 8th: Read PBS Online’s Mental Illness Timeline, and choose 1 of today’s prompts and write a paragraph about it. Include your opinion, plus at least 2 examples to back it up, to be turned in. (see pp.3-5 in packet for details and example). And read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.3-13 (through “can’t you wait half a minute to prod me with that damn thermometer of yours?”), and write 1 short paragraph: 1. What do you make of the sentence, “It’s the truth even if it didn’t happen”? (8).
Due Thursday, Jan 9th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 13-24 (through “Then he lets go my hand.”), and write 1 short paragraph: 1. What are your initial impressions of McMurphy? Do you think he belongs on the ward--why or why not?
Due Friday, Jan 10th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.24-37 (through "keeps her outfit from running smooth").
Due Monday, Jan. 13th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 37-67 (through “You won’t be going any place for a while”). Take notes on your assigned group’s discussion points in order to prepare for Tuesday's fishbowl. Group 1: Discuss the purpose of group therapy according to Nurse Ratched and the doctor, including the theory of the therapeutic community (p.44). What social commentary Kesey is making here? Group 2: Discuss McMurphy’s, and the other patients’ understanding of the purpose of group therapy. What do you think is the purpose of this group therapy? Group 3: Discuss what McMurphy has been arrested for, according to Nurse Ratched’s file, and how this might affect our understanding of him as a character. Group 4: Discuss the patients Harding and Bibbit: What do we know about them and what role do they play on the ward/ in the novel so far? Group 5: Discuss the patients Pete and Cheswick: What do we know about them and what role do they play on the ward/ in the novel so far?
Due Tuesday, Jan. 14th: Fishbowl 1.
Due Wednesday, Jan. 15th: Finish Fishbowl 1 if necessary. Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 67-75 (through "somebody told me you was deef.")
Due Thursday, Jan. 16th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 75-90 (through “from the open fields, and sweat, and work.”)
Due Friday, Jan. 17th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.90-126 (through the end of Part One) Reading Quiz on Tuesday.
January 20th - NO SCHOOL
Due Tuesday, Jan. 21st: Part One Reading Quiz: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 126-151 (through “blue fingers, he was drowned”)
Due Wednesday, Jan. 22nd: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 151-160 (through “deck exploded between his two trembling hands”)
Due Thursday, Jan. 23rd: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.160-172 (through end of Part II). Part II Reading Quiz on this day. After the quiz we will complete the following: Using your knowledge of what we’ve read so far of the novel, revisit the anticipation guide and fill our your opinions, backing them up with textual evidence from the novel.
Due Friday, Jan. 24th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.175-192 (through “row of beds to the hall”).
Due Monday, Jan. 27th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.192-221 (through end of Part III). Reading quiz Part III today. Revisit the Anticipation Guide; edit your responses as needed; collect evidence from the text to support your opinion.
Due Tuesday/Wednesday (Block), Jan. 28/29th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp. 225-238 (through “leather cuffs to fit our arms”). OFOTCN as a feminist text. Answer the questions on the packet page 10 beginning with "Feminist/Gender Theory." Aim: How can we reconsider what we've read so far through a feminist lens. Takeaway: Why is it important to look at plot from Nurse Ratched's perspective?
Due Thursday, Jan. 30th: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.238-267 (through “lights at six-thirty”).
Due Friday, Jan. 31st: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, pp.267-281 (end of book). Read Quiz Part IV today. Hand out study guide for novel exam (Feb. 6) and assign fish bowl happening Monday. One paragraph response due Monday.
Due Monday, Feb. 3rd: Fishbowl 2: Groups 1-7 will discuss their assigned question today and their impression of the ending of the book.
Due Feb. 4th/5th: Study Guide; Will review for exam on this day and finish the film.
Thursday, Feb. 6th: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Exam today.
Friday, Feb. 7 - Book Talk #2 and Notebook Check #2
Feb. 10th-14th:Essay on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. During this week you will write multiple drafts, peer edit, and turn a final copy on turnitin.com by Feb. 15th, 11:59 p.m.
Due Thursday, Feb. 13th:Return Cuckoo's Nest book if you borrowed one from the school. [Optional HW: Listen to NPR’s Studio 360 “American Icons” 2013 radio show dedicated to the novel: http://www.studio360.org/story/american-icons-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/]