Fear in War—"Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?" by Tim O'Brien

*I will teach students how to analyze the short story for its larger themes and message.
*I will cover the following topics or themes: war, fear, coping, parent-child relationships (especially father and son), loss of identity, and the Absurd (philosophy).
*The class structure will be as follows:
First 5 minutes: Introductions of teacher and students followed by class expectations and outcomes
Next 5 minutes: Background information on the short story and its author Tim O'Brien
Next 15 minutes: Preliminary analysis: Identifying the short story's setting, characters, and plot
Next 20 minutes: Guided discussion and analysis of themes in the short story (listed above)
Final 10 minutes: Concluding thoughts and takeaways
*I will lecture while sharing a PowerPoint presentation. On the slides, I will highlight select passages, introduce themes, and ask questions to invite class discussion.
*Students will listen to the lecture while watching slides. They will also participate in class discussions, which includes answering questions and responding to comments, via video chat. Typing in the chat box is allowed, but vocal responses are preferred.
*No background knowledge is required.