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to sound of waves
Teacher
Tips:
Duplicate
the map in this guide or use a classroom map to give students practice
in map reading skills. |
Lesson 3
The
Sound of Waves:
The concept of wa
(group harmony)
( chapter 3 and 4)
Guiding Question: How does the geography of Japan influence
Japanese social customs and personal psychology?
Performance Objectives
Students will be able to:
- define the concept
of WA
- demonstrate the
importance of community and group harmony to the Japanese
- analyze literary
techniques utilized to develop characters
Teacher Background
The vulnerability
of the island to natural elements and the economic interdependence of
inhabitants encourage a cooperative spirit of community on Utajima. The
strong sense of duty that the Japanese individual owes to family and society
is instilled at a very young age. This communal spirit and allegiance
to the group is called WA
Procedures:
At beginning of period,
have students record reactions to the following first question in their
literature logs. Allow 4-6 minutes for writing.
- What are your
feelings about being a member of a club, team or organization? Be specific
about groups you've joined and discuss how it felt to be a member.
Share literature
log responses and introduce concept of WA Read excerpts from pp. 29-32
(the exchange between Shinji and Hatsue).
- In your own words,
describe Shinji's reaction when he heard the name of Hatsue mentioned.
- You are a television
news reporter. Describe the meeting of The Young Men's Association in
45-60 seconds.
- How do community
projects reflect the concept of WA?
- What are some
of the techniques that the author uses to make his characters more realistic?
Summary/Application
WA, group harmony, is a very important factor in determining how
people behave in Japanese society. In the United States, we stress individualism.
In an essay, choose the point of view you prefer and give reasons for
this choice.
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