Outcomes and Skills
The unit treats Sunrise on the Reaping as a dystopian novel and as a prequel. Students need both lenses: one shows how power works inside Panem; the other shows how a later story changes the way we read an earlier one.
What students learn
| Focus | Skill | Formative evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Identify dystopian conventions and explain how the novel uses them. | A genre map with examples from the novel. |
| Context | Explain the Second Quarter Quell and its place in the series timeline. | A timeline and a short explanation. |
| Voice | Analyse first-person narration, tone and reliability. | An annotated passage and a voice profile. |
| Power | Explain how propaganda, spectacle and euphemism sustain the Capitol. | A propaganda analysis table. |
| Theme | Discuss sacrifice, survival, community and grief. | An evidence log organised by theme. |
| Comparison | Compare the prequel with The Hunger Games. | A comparison table and one analytical paragraph. |
| Composition | Write analytically or creatively with textual evidence. | A drafted response with revision notes. |
What success looks like
- Students can explain what a dystopian text criticises, not just describe its world.
- They connect a narrative choice to a reader's response.
- They recognise propaganda as a set of techniques, not only a label.
- They discuss violence and grief with care and without sensationalism.
- They use comparison to say something new about both texts.
Reading plan
The novel is long enough to need a reading schedule. Divide it into five weekly chunks and protect class time for reading, discussion and annotation. Students who finish early can reread a key passage or track a motif. Students who need support can use the audiobook alongside the print text, with the same page or chapter landmarks.
Read before you analyse. The unit works best when students have read the relevant section before the lesson. A short rereading at the start of each lesson keeps the text central.