ETHICAL DILEMMAS

 

Lesson 4: Movie and Class Discussion

 

OUTCOMES:  Students will begin to understand that movies can be viewed 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.

 

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. Suggest that the students take notes so that they can easily recall the events and characters. Review your definition from lesson two. Where will these fit in to this film?

¨Begin the film and stop it occasionally to review with the whole class.

¨ At the end of the film, make sure that the students all remember what happened, what decisions had to be made.

¨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? (See Appendix)

¨ Chart the issues on the board.

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

(see Overview). Show students an example.

¨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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¨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.