Ender
Ender's Game
An Internet WebQuest on Ender's Game
created by Leah Ott
Introduction | The Task | The Process & Resources | Conclusion
Introduction
Since you read Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, you are familiar with the
story. Now you will be taken to a time immediately following the xenocide.
Ender has been charged with murder of an entire race. You will be one of
the lawyers involved in this trial. You must either prosecute or defend Ender
in the trial. Your arguments will come from websites about Ender's Game,
children's rights, family law, and war.
The Quest
Is Ender, a child following military orders, guilty of murder? Why or why not?
Are there any extenuating circumstances?
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The Process and Resources
You are going to start by reviewing your knowledge of Ender's game and
some of the issues involved in it. You are then going to work in groups to
find out about children's rights, murder laws, and how they relate to wartime
conditions.
After you have your background information, you are going to go to specific
sites on some of the areas mentioned above and prepare for the court cases
according to your group assignment.
Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone
First, you should review the Ender's Game website to make sure of your
knowledge of what happened in the book. You should also review the
Human Rights Watch site on Children's Rights to get a basic idea of child
abuse and children in war. This will give everyone the basic background that
you will all need.
q Ender's Game Website - This site is about the story and the author. It
includes a summary for quick reference and links to other Ender sites.
q Human Rights Watch-Children's Rights - This site deals with current
issues in children's rights around the world. It links to related pages
about child labor and child soldiers.
Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) In assigned groups of four, you will visit the links and gain background
information.
2) Each group will select a recorder, two law clerks, and a presenting
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lawyer. The law clerks 'investigate' and organize relevant information for
their case. The recorder takes notes and records relevant website/e-mail
addresses based on the law clerks' recommendations. The presenting
lawyer will be prepared to argue the case.
3) Following the preparation (two days in the computer lab), the class will
come back together for the trial. Based on your arguments, a jury of your
peers will vote on the innocence or guilt of the accused.
4) After the verdicts have been reached, each group will e-mail a law expert
to get some input on their case. This will be discussed in class in one week,
in order to allow time for the responses.
*Evaluations will be based on the following:
1) Accuracy and depth of knowledge of characters and situations in Ender's
Game
2) Assimilation of legal and ethical ideas from the web resources
3) Group participation
4) Logical presentation of argument at trial
5) Well crafted attempt to get input from an expert
Attorney Prosecuting Ender
Go to some of these sites to find out about children's rights and
wartime conditions. Prove that Ender is guilty of murder and/or a
violation of the bugger's civil rights. Use insights from the given
web sites to show that no matter his ignorance of his true
actions Ender should have used his power and disobeyed his
orders in training.
q Children in War - This site is connected to the larger
unicef site and deals with the affects of war on children, as
well as children being forced to serve as soldiers.
q War Relief for Children - This is another Unicef site. It also
deals with child soldiers and effects of war on children.
q International law- this web site allows you to find
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information about international laws and concerns.
q Nuremberg Defense - an argument that could be used in
Ender's defense or prosecution.
q Washington Post article - article to help you start your
plan.
q CNN article - article to help you start.
q Milgram experiment - a psychology experiment on
following orders.
Attorney Defending Ender
Go to some of these sites to find out about children's rights and
wartime conditions. Prove that Ender is not guilty of murder or a
violation of the bugger's civil rights. Based on the rules of war,
prove that Ender as military leader, is justified to protect all of
humanity by eliminating the bugger race.
q Children in War - This site is connected to the larger
unicef site and deals with the affects of war on children, as
well as children being forced to serve as soldiers.
q War Relief For Children - This is another Unicef site. It
also deals with child soldiers and effects of war on
children.
q International law- this web site allows you to find
information about international laws and concerns.
q Nuremberg Defense - an argument that could be used in
Ender's defense or prosecution.
q Washington Post article - article to help you start your
plan.
q CNN article - article to help you start.
q Milgram experiment - a psychology experiment on
following orders.
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Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus
Now that you have done your research, you will take part in your trial. Law
clerks and recorders should have the arguments prepared at this point. The
presenting attorneys will argue their cases before a jury composed of your
peers. That jury will base their decisions on the guilt or innocence of the
Ender on your arguments.
Phase 4 - Real World Feedback
Now that you have presented your cases and verdicts have been reached
by your peers, we would like to get input from some lawyers to see how they
might have dealt with a similar case. You are going to do that by sending e-
mails to the Law Guru website. You will compose a concise message
presenting who you are and what our project has been. Then you will give
the basic points of your arguments as well as the actual results of your trial.
You will request a specific response, like, 'Are there better arguments for
this case?' or 'How might this case have gone differently in a real court?' On
the web site, you will request that a response be e-mailed back to you, so
that the responses can be shared with the class.
Your Contact is: Law Guru
Conclusion
There is often more than just a simple yes or no answer to any given
question. As you have learned, ideas like 'freedom,' 'rights' and
'responsibility' can be pretty hard to define. Just as we saw legitimate
arguments for both sides in these trials, we need to remember that there are
likely going to be good arguments for any side in any argument. Lines
between 'good guys' and 'bad guys' are difficult to distinguish in the real
world. You had to learn to manipulate information in order to attempt to win
a court case. Remember that others are constantly doing the same. We
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need to analyze whatever information and new ideas (as well as old ones)
with discernment.
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