Unwind - by Neal Shusterman
Prereading Activity
The novel, Unwind, deals with many different themes and issues. To get you thinking about some of the issues explored in the novel, you will complete a webquest group assignment. This webquest is based on organ donation and can be found below:
unwind_novel_webquest_pre-reading_activity.doc |
Section 1 - pg. 1-50 Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. A) Why do you think Connor’s parents have decided to have him unwound?
B)How is this different from the other teens he meets? Explain Connor, Risa, and Lev’s individual situations.
2. Why do you think that Pastor Dan told Lev to run?
3. Connor asks Lev “So, what’s it like . . . knowing your whole life you’re going to be sacrificed?” (pg. 44), to which Lev responds, "It's better than going through life without knowing your purpose."
A) What does Lev mean by this?
B) Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. If you found out your parents/guardians were going to have you Unwound, how would you escape? Write a detailed escape plan. Things to think about:
Keep it realistic.
Would you take someone with you, or go on your own?
Where would you try to go?
What means of travel would you use?
How would you survive?
1. A) Why do you think Connor’s parents have decided to have him unwound?
B)How is this different from the other teens he meets? Explain Connor, Risa, and Lev’s individual situations.
2. Why do you think that Pastor Dan told Lev to run?
3. Connor asks Lev “So, what’s it like . . . knowing your whole life you’re going to be sacrificed?” (pg. 44), to which Lev responds, "It's better than going through life without knowing your purpose."
A) What does Lev mean by this?
B) Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. If you found out your parents/guardians were going to have you Unwound, how would you escape? Write a detailed escape plan. Things to think about:
Keep it realistic.
Would you take someone with you, or go on your own?
Where would you try to go?
What means of travel would you use?
How would you survive?
vocab._week_2.docx |
Section 2 - Pg. 53 – 117 - Reflection/Discussion Questions
- What is “The Storking Initiative”? How is this similar and different to the Safe Haven Law?
- Why did Connor take the storked baby from the house while they were trying to evade the police? What does this show about his character / personality?
- How does Risa respond to giving up the baby? Select 2 quotes from the book that show her response.
vocab._week_3.docx |
Section 3 – 121 - 192
3. In the US/Canada, organ donation is voluntary; you can choose to be an organ donor. In some countries the law says you are an organ donor from the day you are born, but you can choose not to be an organ donor. Which form of organ donation law is the better one in your eyes?
- choose to be an organ donor or
OR
- automatically become an organ donor at birth, but have the choice to opt out
4. If every part of you is still alive but inside someone else, are you alive or are you dead? Can consciousness exist even if it’s spread out? What do you think?
- How has Lev changed over the course of the story? What has caused this change?
- On pages 174-175, Hayden is asked about his view on when a human being “starts to live”. Hayden responds, “I don’t know.” After Emby criticizes this answer, Connor responds by saying, “Yes, it is an answer. Maybe it’s the best answer of all. If more people could admit they really don’t know, maybe there never would have been a Heartland War.”
3. In the US/Canada, organ donation is voluntary; you can choose to be an organ donor. In some countries the law says you are an organ donor from the day you are born, but you can choose not to be an organ donor. Which form of organ donation law is the better one in your eyes?
- choose to be an organ donor or
OR
- automatically become an organ donor at birth, but have the choice to opt out
4. If every part of you is still alive but inside someone else, are you alive or are you dead? Can consciousness exist even if it’s spread out? What do you think?
vocab._week_4.docx |
Section 4 – pg. 192 – 261
- “You see, a conflict always begins with an issue - a difference of opinion, an argument. But by the time it turns into a war, the issue doesn’t matter anymore, because now it’s about one thing and one thing only: how much each side hates the other.” Do you agree? Can you think of a current example to support your own viewpoint?
- “Of course, if more people had been organ donors, unwinding never would have happened . . . but people like to keep what is theirs, even after they’re dead. It didn’t take long for ethics to be crushed by greed. Unwinding became big business, and people let it happen.” Can you think of a situation in real life where ethics have been crushed by greed? Be sure you include at least one example to support your answer. (e.g. major company taking advantage of cheap labor in other countries while making massive profits)
vocab._week_5.docx |
Section 5
1) Now that we have read the whole story.. Looking back, can you find any examples of foreshadowing or "red herrings" earlier in the novel?
2) How does the 3rd person omniscient point of view contribute to the story? Did you like the multiple perspectives or was it too much?
3) Choose one of the following two options:
Write a review of this book. What did you like/dislike? Would you recommend it? What rating would you give it out of 10?
OR
Write a new ending for the book. You do not need to write out the entire ending with dialogue and everything, but rather, a summary of how you would end the book. Why would you prefer this ending to the existing one?
1) Now that we have read the whole story.. Looking back, can you find any examples of foreshadowing or "red herrings" earlier in the novel?
2) How does the 3rd person omniscient point of view contribute to the story? Did you like the multiple perspectives or was it too much?
3) Choose one of the following two options:
Write a review of this book. What did you like/dislike? Would you recommend it? What rating would you give it out of 10?
OR
Write a new ending for the book. You do not need to write out the entire ending with dialogue and everything, but rather, a summary of how you would end the book. Why would you prefer this ending to the existing one?
Useful Websites for Debate Preparation
General Info on Safe Haven Laws:
https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/safe-haven-laws.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe-haven_law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Lt4zUe7Ns
https://www.firerescue1.com/safe-haven-law/articles/7-things-public-safety-officials-need-to-know-about-safe-haven-laws-g086yJ84e99agBFq/
In Support of Safe Haven Laws:
https://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-07-10/baby-boxes-safe-haven-laws-a-last-resort-to-curb-infant-abandonment
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/help-needed-for-mothers-who-want-to-abandon-their-newborns-say-advocates-1.3605929
https://www.lawnow.org/legal-ethical-support-newborn-safe-havens/
Against Safe Haven Laws:
https://psmag.com/social-justice/a-safe-haven-for-whom
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/13/nyregion/13babies.html
https://www.adoptioninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Last-report.pdf
https://www.adoptionstogether.org/blog/2013/08/26/safe-haven-laws-why-adoptions-together-opposes-safe-haven-laws/