The Thoreau Show
"acquisitiveness versus simplicity"

Premise:

Individuals from various eras, some of whom may now be deceased, come together for a meeting on a television talk show.

These people would never have met in real life, but audiences are fascinated by what they might have said to one another if indeed they had somehow met.

Students are going to simulate one of those television talk shows by holding a panel discussion of prominent people who have remarked on or demonstrated their ideas about acquisitiveness versus simplicity as a lifestyle.

Students will play some of the following persons for this panel discussion:

	Henry David Thoreau (Majlak, Halkovic)
Cornelius Vanderbilt (Spring, Terranova)	Martha Stewart (Davies, Gulyas)	Andrew Carnegie .(Callahan, Cella)
Hilary Clinton (Halkovic, DuHaime)	Henrietta Howland Robinson Green (Bier, Greco)	Bill Gates (Magliore, Dunlevy)
Henry Ford (Hotak, Faustini)	Mother Teresa (Hall, Johnson)	Mahatma Gandhi (Boggan, Constantini)

The basics of the panel discussion:

* The panel is made up of experts (see above) on a pre-selected topic (for example, the place of materialism in the panelists' lives). The individuals are often chosen because they have some experiences in common and some that are different.

* The discussion consists mostly of remarks by the members of the panel to questions and comments from a moderator and other members of the panel.

* The questions can ask for facts or opinions.

Here are some questions to consider:

1. One of Thoreau's desires was to simplify his life. Explain how you would simplify your own life, giving consideration to Thoreau's meaning of "clutter." Is simplification just a matter of renouncing possessions, or is it something more?

2. Discuss the changes in American society and culture brought on by the Industrial Revolution, and how those changes may have sent Thoreau running for the woods to commune with nature.

3. "To suck out the marrow of life" is a quote from Thoreau. Explain what is meant by this advice for living advocated by Thoreau.

4. Discuss the symbolism in Thoreau's decision to retreat to Walden Pond on July 4th,1845.

5. Analyze one of the six quotes displayed in Walden and debate its meaning. What does the quote reveal about Thoreau, and could the quote be applicable to modern life?

The responsibilities of each member of this imaginary panel:

-- Become very familiar with the details of the person's life by doing research in primary and secondary sources

-- Determine what the person might have thought about particular issues

--Prepare to respond to the overarching topic of the panel-acquisitiveness versus simplicity as a lifestyle

--Contribute to the discussion by listening actively and indicate that he or she has questions or comments about what another member has said

--Give co panelists time to respond; that is, do not monopolize the discussion.

Schedule:

Day 1: Introduce the project; select the characters, read the list of questions.
Day 2: Research characters' lives using primary and secondary sources.
Day 3: Rehearse in groups (students practice asking their questions and responses)
Day 4: Videotape the show.

Evaluation:

Students who will be in the audience for the panel discussion will use an evaluation chart that they can use to rate each participant. Qualities on which participants could be rated include the following:
· Familiarity with details of subject's life
· Clear, easy-to-hear speaking skills
· Level of participation
· Quality of questions asked