BOOGIDA
An Internet WebQuest on The Dark Side of Man

created by Ralph A. Bucci
Charles W. Flanagan High School

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Conclusion |


Introduction
UNDER CONSTRUCTION- TO BE COMPLETED SUMMER 2011

As we trace the origins of violence, many essential questions concerning the biological roots of bad behavior begin to surface. The deep inner workings of a person's mind and spirit are full of mysteries to be solved. Why do the darkest impulses of the male psyche overtake the good side of self to produce the negative side of our nature exposing the sinful self and reducing man to its base nature? Is male violence largely innate, a product of millions of years of evolution, or is aggression programmed by our DNA. Innate or instinctual? Biological or evolutionary? And so the investigation begins. This deeply entrencehed behavioral strategy, especially among males, begins with a glimpse of cultural awareness and extends to a sociological view to determine the roles that each plays in encouraging violence.

This WebQuest examines four facets of morality as it relates to both individuals as well as groups.

Task
WHY IS THERE A MALE PROCLIVITY FOR VIOLENCE AND HOW DOES THE DARK SIDE OF MAN SURFACE?

Process
In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about The Dark Side of Man. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background Information
Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

1. Select any five authors and find commonalities in their views concerning the dark side of man.


Phase 2 - Roles
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

WAR:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to WAR:

1. How did loyalist gunmen play a brutal part in the conflict that involved Brian Nelson?

2. Who is beyond the law in Northern Ireland?

3. What threats do agents face in wartimes?

4. What forces the dark side of man to surface during war?

RAPE:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to RAPE:

1.

MURDER:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to MURDER:

1.

GENOCIDE:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to GENOCIDE:

1.


Phase 3 - Reaching Consensus
You have all learned about a different part of The Dark Side of Man. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Conclusion
It's the same for understanding a topic as broad or complex as The Dark Side of Man: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of The Dark Side of Man could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.

created by Filamentality Content by Ralph A. Bucci, rbucci@browardschools.com
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/webthedarkda.html
Last revised Mon Mar 14 3:57:22 US/Pacific 2011