Unit of Work: John Hersey, Hiroshima

John Hersey’s Hiroshima is one of the narratives that have shaped our world, and is a great core text for a study of journalism, modern non-fiction, or life-writing. This extensive unit comprises:

• An introductory section on the event
• Six sections on each of the work’s parts
• An extra/extension section on short films about nuclear issues
• A bibliography of the influence of Hersey’s journalism
• A close-reading exercise which compares Hersey’s style in 1946 and 1985
• A list of long-form analytical and creative responses
• Several contextual texts including the JapaneseImperial Rescript of Surrender and the Renouncing of Imperial Divinity; poetry by other survivors, and other American essays justifying the military’s decision
  This unit was tested with a mixed-ability Year 10 class (age 15-16) and a lower-ability Year 11 (age 16-17) class.