The+Lottery

A story about a highschool student, Sal Hansen who has been deemed “dud of the year” by a dominant group within the school through a scroll she found in her locker. “Shadow Council” or “S.C” is an influential group who runs the school with a silent mob mentality that has all the students obeying their every demand. The rest of the school is required to shun the “lottery winner” and anyone who doesn’t comply is hurt or humiliated as the Shadow Council sees fit. The only support she receives throughout the year is from her brother and his best friend “Lizard” who for most of the novel don’t even know she is the winner. The relationship of her and her brother is the most dominant one throughout the novel and is an important development. The novel follows Sal as she must obey S.C’s every command until a point comes that she has had enough. She accidentally comes across Willis’ “ little black book” and in an outright fashion, starts handing out pages to everyone in the school, exposing the very secrets that S.C has spent years building. In the end Sal is given the choice of whether or not to re join S.C and continue her role within in the group or be shunned by the school for not adhering to S.C rules. She decides to walk away from S.C and their reins.
 * //__Novel Study Assignment__//**
 * //__The Lottery By: Beth Goobie__//**
 * //__By: Samantha Seto__//**
 * __Summary__**

//Sal v. Friends// -Sal must deal her best friend Brydan (among others) abandon her at the request of S.C -she feels alienated and alone -She must also deal with the new “friendships” she has made and the dynamic those present -Willis, S.C President and Sal develop a relationship unheard of. When the question of Brydan and others is brought up Willis questions their true intentions as friends because of what they have done. This seems quite ironic considering Willis is the one that has caused this. //Sal v. Family// -Her mother plays a very small role in the novel. A part from serving her breakfast in the morning and seeing her once at night, Sal’s mother is invincible. -Throughout the novel, the relationship between Sal and her brother Dusty is very strong. He teaches her how to drive and is constantly watching over her. This relationship becomes more and more important throughout the novel he takes on the role as parent, brother and only friend //Sal v. Past// -The reader sees little glimpse into Sal’s past in the form of flashbacks. We know that the father is not there and throughout the novel we slowly learn that he is dead, and then that he has killed himself, and finally that it was a suicide with a suicide note. Until these revelations Sal had thought it was her fault because before they left the house she has said “ I hate you” to him because of his alcoholic ways.
 * __Storylines__**

Grade Level- Grade 9 Academic English -Could also use it in a Grade 10 Applied class. -Because the novel is about a Grade 10 student and the complexities of adapting to high school I would aim at the same kind of audience. This allows for relevant lesson planning and activities. -19 Chapters. A lot to work with and grouping them together may be beneficial time wise in the beginning. In the end however, it may be beneficial to over all understanding to go through the chapters individually, as many things surface.

-The novel reveals the complexities of dealing with high school and the hierarchies that are present. It also focuses on the social and peer pressures that exist -The importance that decisions have for both you and the people around you -It also reveals a complex family dynamic and the roles that each play within a family and how talking and silence reflect those relationships -The past very much resides in the present
 * __Main Ideas__**

__Social__ -Pressures that exist in all high schools -The want to fit in -The powerful v. the powerless and what it means to belong to both -How when in the context of high school it is that social setting that dictates much of your life -The inner workings of high school become the most important aspect of high school -Counters most conceptions of what groups are valued in high school (sports team, bands, and student council)

__Topic__ -Identity serves as the main issue and topic within the novel -Many Grade 9 and 10 readers may find they are going through the same things -Mental Health (Autism and it is eluded too that Sal herself may suffer from psychological issues) -Topic of who belongs and who doesn’t and who decides -Individual history and the role it plays in the present -Music __Cultural__ -School culture -Home culture -How both affect each other -How both cultures demand acceptance -Because it focuses very closely on high school culture, race is never brought up. This opens up relevance to almost any student who has ever felt alienated or pressured.

__Textual__ -1st Person narration -Present tense with allusions to past experiences and events -Simple language -In the beginning of the novel events are eluded to but not discussed or revealed until later


 * __Issues or Challenges__**

-Initial hook to the novel may be hard to find as the first few chapters are not concrete but rather provide bits of information about many things. -students may loose interest -If teaching in a Grade 9 classroom, this novel may be a tough introduction to novel studies. There are a few story lines and this novel although possessing simple language isn’t a simple read. -Caters to one type of audience. -Considered “same old novel” when it comes to originality, storyline and even race of characters. -Keeping focus for 19 Chapters ( resist temptation to do chapter by chapter analysis)


 * __Possible Assignment__**
 * -**Because this would most likely be the students’ first introduction to a Novel Study Unit, the aim is to make it exciting and relevant.

-Hand out scrolls to every student in the class -Each scroll will have the name of a group that you belong to within the class (this will be denoted with a colored arm band) -Each scroll will also possess your role within the group and how you are to react to those around you (only talks to members of groups, ignores everything set out by the group, leader of group, some will have nothing written on theirs and will have to adapt to the situation and decide how they want to act etc) -Activities will be set up around the classroom and as students interact from their groups each will play out their roles

-This will help the idea of the Shadow Council become relevant. Most students do not believe that a Shadow Council can exist, but when dividing up the students according to something relevant (gender, sports, intelligence etc) they are able to see how power and struggle are evident and dealt with.

-Debriefing is important for this activity as many students will have differing views from what they felt before the assignment to after