Germinal Lesson Plan

Point-Counterpoint

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Students will be divided into two groups and argue either side of the strike.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1.B, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4

Structure:

Although Zola does his best to remain detached from the novel's proceedings—and he often does avoid having his own opinions bleed into the naturalist prose—he does seem to ultimately fall on the side of the workers. However, there is a fair bit of nuance to the strike, and one could argue whether Etienne is the most effective leader for this moment. Men like Rasseneur think, for instance, that Etienne...