Happiness and Meaning Lit.

Circle Student-Led
Seminar
Essential Questions
1. How do the characters in your book define happiness/meaning?
2. What can you learn about your own pursuit of happiness and meaning from your book?
3. What other significant theme emerge in this book and what is the importance of this
theme?

Step 1: Group Prep

1. Brainstorm a list of 5-6 of the major themes (or binaries) in this novel
2. For each theme, find a min. of 2 quotes that highlight the essence of that theme
and suggest what the author might be trying to express about that theme. (Write
down these quotes and the corresponding themes in a shared document
so you all have access to it after group prep.)
3. As a group, discuss each theme and what you think the significance of it is in the
novel. The more in-depth your discussion, the more prepared you will be to
individually prepare for the student-led seminars. Feel free to take notes on this
discussion if you think it will be helpful.
4. Choose 1 theme that your group wants to focus on for your student-led seminar.
Example from The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail
Theme: Complacency and Conformity
Quote #1: "I know where he's going. He's going where he's supposed to go. So he can
be where he's supposed to be, at the time he's supposed to be there. Why? So he'll
be liked. My God, a whole country of us who only want to be liked." (Henry)

Quote #2: Waldo: "I have cast my vote! I've done it. I put it in the ballot-box. What
more do you expect me to do?"
Henry: "That's not enough. Do the impossible. That's what you tell people in your
lectures. But you don't really believe any of it, do you?"

Analysis: The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is a scathing critique of complacency and
conformity as the playwrights seek to use Thoreaus experience protesting the Mexican
American War as an example to inspire non-conformity and action for American citizens
during the Vietnam War. The playwrights seem to suggest that it is morally wrong to
stand idly by in the face of injustices and that we must think critically, question
authority and swim against the current of the status quo if necessary. For example in
the 2nd quote above, Henry is disillusioned by his once idol, Waldo, and adamant that by
refusing to speak against the War, Waldo is essentially complicit in its wrongs,

suggesting that we are responsible for wrongdoings in society even if we dont directly
contribute to them. Through the play, Lawrence and Lee assert that standing up for what
you believe in is more important than being popular, which is clearly shown the first
quote above as Thoreau criticizes people for simply trying to be liked. By using
Thoreaus act of civil disobedience and his time in jail as well as refusal to follow the
conventions of public education, the playwrights are able to thoroughly showcase the
ways in which Thoreaus life serves as a warning against complacency and conformity.

Student-Led Seminar Guidelines

On Friday, your group will run a seminar with one of the groups who read the other lit circle book.
Your seminar should seek to answer ALL 3 of the essential questions listed at the top of this
document and needs to have the following components:
1. A summary of your novel (avoid spoilers!)
2. Context on an important historical, social or political element relevant to the heart of your
seminar discussion
3. An excerpt (or a few different excerpts) from your novel that will be the focus of your
discussion (try to limit it to 3-4 pages) photocopied and provided to all members of the
other group.
4. A thought-provoking discussion facilitated by your brilliant questions!

Preparing for Student-Led Seminar

Step 1: Individual prep
Skill: Complete a close reading and analysis of one scene/passage that you think best supports
your groups chosen theme and connect the passage to the broader theme in the novelhow
does that scene/passage fit within the authors broader exploration of that theme?
Task Choice #1: Write a TEA paragraph like my example on page 1 for The Night Thoreau Spent
in Jail.
Task Choice #2: Write a found poem. Here are guidelines for how to write a found poem.
Step 2: Divide and conquer
Your group may choose to allocate responsibility differently that Im proposing here, but just
make sure the work is evenly shared among all group members and that you have all the
required components dialed for seminar.
1. Questioners (2 students): Come up with a list of at least 10 thought-provoking
questions related to the theme your group has chosen and/or that will help the group
further answer 1st and 2nd essential question. At least 5 of these questions MUST be
anchored in evidence from the textmeaning you will need to have a quote or scene
described from which your question arises.
2. Plot Summarizer (1 student): Concisely summarize the novels plot without spoiling the
ending.
3. Contextualizer (2 students): Find an outside source that relates to your groups theme
and that will help provide important historical, social or political context on the novel. This

source can be an article or a video clip. Try to keep the article to ~ a page and the video
clip to 3-5 minutes. Describe the event and how it relates to the novel.
4. Evidence-Provider (1 student)
a. This student will need to select the excerpt(s) from the novel that you think best
highlights the theme your group has chosen. You will need to make copies of the
excerpt for the other group members.
b. You will also need to select the excerpt(s) from the novel that you think best
answers essential question #1 on the top of this document. Write a brief analysis of
the passage and be prepared to share the passage during seminar.
Monday
Religion and
Science ministudy
Group seminar
prep

Tuesday
Religion and
Science
Mini-study
Seminar prep

Wednesday
BBC film: The
End of God? A
Horizon Guide to
Science and
Religion
Seminar prep
time

Thursday
Rehearse SLS
with group
Seminars

Friday
CHEM LAB