Lessons On Movies.com
  Free Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on American History X

  GAMES:

  • Fill-in-the-blank
  • Matching
  • Hangman
  • Flash cards
  • Sentence jumble
  • Missing words
  • No letters
  • Crossword puzzle

American History X is a 1998 American drama film directed by Tony Kaye, starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. The film tells the story of two brothers, Derek (played by Norton) and Danny (played by Furlong). Their father is murdered by a black drug dealer and Derek is drawn into the neo-Nazi movement. Derek brutally kills two black gang members, whom he catches breaking into his truck, and spends three years in prison. The story shows how Danny is influenced by his older brother's actions and ideology. However, Derek is raped by white inmates in prison and changes his view of the world. He tries to prevent his brother from going down the same path as he did.

The movie was given an "R" rating in the USA for "graphic brutal violence including rape, explicit language, strong sexuality and nudity." Critics mostly praised the film and Edward Norton got an Academy Award nod for Best Actor. The movie review site Rotten Tomatoes.com said it was: "A compelling and provocative story led by an excellent performance by Edward Norton." Movie critic Roger Ebert regarded it as, "always interesting and sometimes compelling, and it contains more actual provocative thought than any American film on race since Do the Right Thing". On the other hand, another critic said that, "in some places the dialogue is surprisingly stilted. Far worse, the ending is a misfire".

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_history_x

  TRAILER AND POSTER

AMERICAN HISTORY X POSTER

1. SIX WORDS: Look at the poster and write down six words (more if you like) that you think of as you look at it. Share the words with your partner(s). Why did you choose them?

2. STORY: Talk about what you think the story of the movie is – the start, beginning, end, etc. Change partners and share stories.

3. CREDITS: Look at the credits on the poster (the actors, director, producer…) and talk about them with your partner(s).

4. MUST-SEE: Talk with your partner(s) about whether the poster and movie title are good and make you want to see the movie.

5. STARRING YOU: Imagine you are one of the stars of the movie. Talk about your role with your movie star partner(s).

AMERICAN HISTORY X TRAILER

1. RETELL: Watch the trailer and retell what you saw to your partner(s).

2. CHUNKS: Watch 10-to-15 second chunks of the trailer and retell what you saw to your partner(s).

3. QUIZ: Watch the trailer and write down some quiz questions for your partner(s). Watch a second time to find the answers to the questions.

4. VOCABULARY: Make a note of words in the trailer that you see or hear. Talk about them with your partner(s).

5. GOOD / BAD: Watch the trailer and write down why you think the film might be good or bad. Share your ideas with your partner(s).

  MATCHING

SYNONYM MATCH

1.	story	a.	failure
2	drawn	b.	stop
3.	brutally	c.	detailed
4.	ideology	d.	pulled
5.	prevent	e.	beliefs
6.	graphic	f.	spellbinding
7.	nudity	g.	tale
8.	compelling	h.	unnatural
9.	stilted	i.	savagely
10.	misfire	j.	nakedness

PHRASE MATCH

1.	drug	a.	prison
2	gang	b.	language
3.	influenced by his older brother's	c.	surprisingly stilted
4.	inmates in	d.	an "R" rating
5.	prevent his brother from going	e.	dealer
6.	The movie was given	f.	down the same path
7.	graphic	g.	provocative story
8.	explicit	h.	brutal violence
9.	A compelling and	i.	actions and ideology
10.	in some places the dialogue is	j.	members

  LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

American History X is a 1998 American (1) __________________ Tony Kaye, starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. The film tells the story of two brothers, Derek (played by Norton) and Danny (played by Furlong). Their father is murdered by a black drug dealer and Derek (2) __________________ neo-Nazi movement. Derek (3) __________________ black gang members, whom he catches (4) __________________ truck, and spends three years in prison. The story shows how Danny is influenced by his older brother's (5) __________________. However, Derek is raped by white inmates in prison and changes his view of the world. He tries to prevent his brother from going down (6) __________________ as he did.

The movie was given (7) __________________ in the USA for "graphic brutal violence including rape, (8) _________________, strong sexuality and nudity." Critics mostly praised the film and Edward Norton got an Academy Award nod for Best Actor. The movie review site Rotten Tomatoes.com said it was: "A compelling and provocative story (9) __________________ performance by Edward Norton." Movie critic Roger Ebert regarded it as, "always interesting and sometimes compelling, and it (10) __________________ provocative thought than any American (11) __________________ Do the Right Thing". On the other hand, another critic said that, "in some places the dialogue is surprisingly stilted. Far worse, the (12) _________________".

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Their father is merueddr
2.	the neo-Nazi tmnvoeme
3.	Derek ylbtrual kills two black gang members
4.	his older brother's actions and idgoleyo
5.	etamsni in prison
6.	eeprntv his brother from going down the same path
Paragraph 2
7.	The movie was given an "R" rgatin in the USA
8.	ipxeclit language
9.	A lgeinplcmo and provocative story
10.	an excellent aroneefcprm by Edward Norton
11.	in some places the iealodug is surprisingly stilted
12.	the ending is a mefrsii

  PUNCTUATE & PUT CAPITALS IN THE TEXT

american history x is a 1998 american drama film directed by tony kaye starring edward norton and edward furlong the film tells the story of two brothers derek (played by norton) and danny (played by furlong) their father is murdered by a black drug dealer and derek is drawn into the neo-nazi movement derek brutally kills two black gang members whom he catches breaking into his truck and spends three years in prison the story shows how danny is influenced by his older brother's actions and ideology however derek is raped by white inmates in prison and changes his view of the world he tries to prevent his brother from going down the same path as he did

the movie was given an "r" rating in the usa for "graphic brutal violence including rape explicit language strong sexuality and nudity" critics mostly praised the film and edward norton got an academy award nod for best actor the movie review site rotten tomatoescom said it was "a compelling and provocative story led by an excellent performance by edward norton" movie critic roger ebert regarded it as "always interesting and sometimes compelling and it contains more actual provocative thought than any american film on race since do the right thing" on the other hand another critic said that "in some places the dialogue is surprisingly stilted far worse the ending is a misfire"

  INSERT THE VOWELS

_m_r_c_n H_st_ry X _s _ 1998 _m_r_c_n dr_m_ f_lm d_r_ct_d by T_ny K_y_, st_rr_ng _dw_rd N_rt_n _nd _dw_rd F_rl_ng. Th_ f_lm t_lls th_ st_ry _f tw_ br_th_rs, D_r_k (pl_y_d by N_rt_n) _nd D_nny (pl_y_d by F_rl_ng). Th__r f_th_r _s m_rd_r_d by _ bl_ck dr_g d__l_r _nd D_r_k _s dr_wn _nt_ th_ n__-N_z_ m_v_m_nt. D_r_k br_t_lly k_lls tw_ bl_ck g_ng m_mb_rs, wh_m h_ c_tch_s br__k_ng _nt_ h_s tr_ck, _nd sp_nds thr__ y__rs _n pr_s_n. Th_ st_ry sh_ws h_w D_nny _s _nfl__nc_d by h_s _ld_r br_th_r's _ct__ns _nd _d__l_gy. H_w_v_r, D_r_k _s r_p_d by wh_t_ _nm_t_s _n pr_s_n _nd ch_ng_s h_s v__w _f th_ w_rld. H_ tr__s t_ pr_v_nt h_s br_th_r fr_m g__ng d_wn th_ s_m_ p_th _s h_ d_d.

Th_ m_v__ w_s g_v_n _n "R" r_t_ng _n th_ _S_ f_r "gr_ph_c br_t_l v__l_nc_ _ncl_d_ng r_p_, _xpl_c_t l_ng__g_, str_ng s_x__l_ty _nd n_d_ty." Cr_t_cs m_stly pr__s_d th_ f_lm _nd _dw_rd N_rt_n g_t _n _c_d_my _w_rd n_d f_r B_st _ct_r. Th_ m_v__ r_v__w s_t_ R_tt_n T_m_t__s.c_m s__d _t w_s: "_ c_mp_ll_ng _nd pr_v_c_t_v_ st_ry l_d by _n _xc_ll_nt p_rf_rm_nc_ by _dw_rd N_rt_n." M_v__ cr_t_c R_g_r _b_rt r_g_rd_d _t _s, "_lw_ys _nt_r_st_ng _nd s_m_t_m_s c_mp_ll_ng, _nd _t c_nt__ns m_r_ _ct__l pr_v_c_t_v_ th__ght th_n _ny _m_r_c_n f_lm _n r_c_ s_nc_ D_ th_ R_ght Th_ng". _n th_ _th_r h_nd, _n_th_r cr_t_c s__d th_t, "_n s_m_ pl_c_s th_ d__l_g__ _s s_rpr_s_ngly st_lt_d. F_r w_rs_, th_ _nd_ng _s _ m_sf_r_".

  MARK THE SPACES

AmericanHistoryXisa1998AmericandramafilmdirectedbyTonyKaye,
starringEdwardNortonandEdwardFurlong.Thefilmtellsthestoryoftw
obrothers,Derek(playedbyNorton)andDanny(playedbyFurlong).Th
eirfatherismurderedbyablackdrugdealerandDerekisdrawnintothene
oNazimovement.Derekbrutallykillstwoblackgangmembers,whomh
ecatchesbreakingintohistruck,andspendsthreeyearsinprison.Thest
oryshowshowDannyisinfluencedbyhisolderbrother'sactionsandideol
ogy.However,Derekisrapedbywhiteinmatesinprisonandchangeshis
viewoftheworld.Hetriestopreventhisbrotherfromgoingdownthesam
epathashedid.Themoviewasgivenan"R"ratingintheUSAfor"graphic
rutalviolenceincludingrape,explicitlanguage,strongsexualityandnu
dity."CriticsmostlypraisedthefilmandEdwardNortongotanAcademy
AwardnodforBestActor.ThemoviereviewsiteRottenTomatoes.comsa
iditwas:"Acompellingandprovocativestoryledbyanexcellentperform
ancebyEdwardNorton."MoviecriticRogerEbertregardeditas,"alwaysi
nterestingandsometimescompelling,anditcontainsmoreactualprovo
cativethoughtthananyAmericanfilmonracesinceDotheRightThing".
Ontheotherhand,anothercriticsaidthat,"insomeplacesthedialogueis
surprisinglystilted.Farworse,theendingisamisfire".

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	__________________________________________________________________
2.	__________________________________________________________________
3.	__________________________________________________________________
4.	__________________________________________________________________
5.	__________________________________________________________________
6.	__________________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	__________________________________________________________________
2.	__________________________________________________________________
3.	__________________________________________________________________
4.	__________________________________________________________________
5.	__________________________________________________________________
6.	__________________________________________________________________

  AMERICAN HISTORY X SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about American History X in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	Student 1 __________	Student 2 __________	Student 3 __________
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write your own movie review. Show your partner your letter. Correct each other's work.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about "American History X". Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about "American History X". What are (did) critics and moviegoers saying (say) about it? How good were the actors' performances? What was good and bad about the movie? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. "AMERICAN HISTORY X" POSTER: Make a poster about "American History X". Make sure you put tag lines, audience and critics' reviews, why people should see it, etc.  Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY PREQUEL / SEQUEL: Make your own prequel or sequel for  "American History X". Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback.

6. CHARACTER STORY: Choose one of the characters from the movie. Imagine you are that character. Write your story about what you did in the movie. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback.

7. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, Twitter stream, or any other social media tool to get opinions on "American History X". Share your findings with the class.

  ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH

1.	story	a.	tale
2	drawn	b.	pulled
3.	brutally	c.	savagely
4.	ideology	d.	beliefs
5.	prevent	e.	stop
6.	graphic	f.	detailed
7.	nudity	g.	nakedness
8.	compelling	h.	spellbinding
9.	stilted	i.	unnatural
10.	misfire	j.	failure

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Please check for yourself by looking at the movie review article at the top of the page.
(It's good for your English ;-)