The Unwanteds

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What are the qualities of good leadership? What role does personal attitude play in leadership? What is authoritarian leadership? How is authoritarian leadership different from other leadership styles? What are the consequences of authoritarian leadership?

Teaching Suggestion: The novel’s protagonist, Alex, is caught between two opposing worlds. Quill, the world Alex is born into, is ruled by authoritarian leadership. Alex is sent to the Purge because he does not fit into the social standards of Quill; then he is taken to Artimé, a world created by Mr. Today, a figure who values creativity and the sharing of ideas. It may be beneficial to open the unit by discussing the differences between authoritarian leadership styles and leadership styles that value individuals rather than control.

• This 5-minute video describes what makes a good leader.
• This 2-minute video describes authoritarian leadership styles.

Short Activity

Consider each of the following statements, noting in your reading journal whether you believe it is true and how you think it might relate to the novel.