ETHICAL DILEMMAS

 

Lesson 13: Movie and Class Discussion

 

OUTCOMES:  Students will understand that movies can be evaluated from an ethical point of view. They will know how to evaluate the ethics of a film.

 

CONDITIONS: The viewing of the film and the class discussion that follows will require a least two class periods. This is basically a repeat of lesson 4.

 

ACTIVITIES:

                        Teacher                                                              Student

¨ You must preview the film before the class. Choose one from the list in the Appendix or a film that you feel confident you could discuss in terms of its ethics. You need to know what the ethical dilemma(s) is.

¨Introduce the film. Give an overview – the who, what, when, and where.

¨Before beginning the film, hand out the Video Worksheet (see Appendix). Show the students exactly how you expect them to complete the form. The purpose of this worksheet is to help them review what happened in the film.

¨Begin the film and stop it regularly to review with the whole class. Fill out sections of the worksheet together.

¨ At the end of the film, review the worksheets as a group.

¨ Discuss the film. You might lead the discussion by asking 1) What was the ethical problem in this film? 2) How would the story have turned out if the decision had been different? 3) How would you have handled this situation? Ask the students to now complete the Film Review II (See Appendix). You have to lead them through this. Give an example. List one event that happened, write down what you as the audience thought about that event (e.g. The lead character kissed the girl, the audience assumes that he’s after her money). Then, write down how this issue was resolved (e.g., the lead character actually falls in love with the girl), whether you are for or against this resolution, and, finally, what value is under this resolution (e.g. love conquers all).

¨ Chart the main issues on the board (love, happiness, death,…)

¨ Review what you have done today.

HOMEWORK: Ask the students to continue working on their scrapbook of ethical dilemmas, looking in the newspaper or magazines as sources.

(see Overview).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¨This is not the way that you usually see a movie. You have to keep your mind working. Keep asking yourself why the character is deciding that way.

 

¨ Ask your neighbor if you don’t understand. Get some help!

 

¨Have you ever been in a similar situation? What would you decide? Why? What do you believe that makes you decide that way?

 

¨Remember your class rules.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES: Video and VCR.

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT:  Students may be assessed using the Life Skills Rubric

for teamwork, cooperation, initiative, and problem-solving.

MODIFICATIONS / ACCOMODATIONS:  Begin by defining some terms that the

teacher might want to come up in the discussion, such as “the good of the majority”,

“the least costly emotionally”, and so on. The teacher can then tie these phrases to the

definitions that are posted in the room.

STANDARDS: Language Arts, grade 9/10, Analysis …and Media Communication,1.11.