You are part of the advisory committee for a national exhibition at the Library of Congress: The Memory Shelf – Books that shaped (and shook) America. You are in charge of curating a section focused on banned or challenged books. The goal is not to decide if banning is right or wrong, but to explore why these books caused controversy and what this reveals about American society, as well as what role literature plays in memory and identity.

Act out the selection committee meeting.
You are meeting to finalize the selection of three contested books for the exhibition. In small groups, discuss each potential ban, share your research, and debate the different perspectives on why the book has been challenged or criticized. Together, you decide which titles to include, justifying your choices to the committee.

• Research your options: Review the documents from the unit and conduct additional research to identify potential books for the exhibition. Each group member chooses one book.
• Connect to context: Refer to historical, social, or cultural background that makes each book controversial.
• Discuss and share: Present your ideas clearly to your group, and listen carefully to others' opinions.


• Respond thoughtfully: Ask questions and answer questions from other committee members respectfully and clearly.


• Reach consensus: Work with your group to agree on which books to recommend and why.

➤ Préparez votre intervention

• Étudiez les œuvres ou propositions : comprenez leur contenu, leur contexte et leur message.
• Identifiez les points clés : quels aspects sont pertinents pour la sélection (thème, impact, originalité, etc.) ?
• Préparez vos arguments : notez deux à trois idées claires pour défendre vos choix. Appuyez vos idées avec des éléments précis tirés des œuvres ou documents.
• Anticipez les objections : imaginez ce que les autres pourraient critiquer et préparez des réponses.

➤ Participez activement au débat

• Écoutez attentivement : suivez les interventions des autres participants et participantes et prenez des notes si nécessaire.
• Intervenez de manière constructive : posez des questions, complétez ou nuancez les arguments des autres.
• Exprimez-vous clairement : parlez distinctement et utilisez un vocabulaire précis.
• Restez respectueux : confrontez les idées, pas les personnes.

➤ Prenez une décision collective

• Comparez les propositions : identifiez les forces et faiblesses de chaque œuvre.
• Discutez des critères de sélection : pertinence, impact, originalité, qualité ou message.
• Atteignez un consensus : cherchez un accord commun ou procédez à un vote argumenté.
• Justifiez le choix final : expliquez clairement pourquoi une œuvre a été retenue ou écartée.

Write an exhibition label.
Write the exhibition panel that will be displayed next to a book in the exhibition. Summarize the book, explain the controversy, reflect on what it says about American values or fears, and make a case for why it belongs on “The Memory Shelf”.

• Select a book: Choose one book from the unit or from your own research that you want to feature. Note down the title, author, date of publication, and genre.
• Write a summary of the book's plot, main characters, setting, and themes.
• Explain the controversy: Identify why the book was challenged or banned, using evidence from your research.
• Connect to context: Mention historical, social, or cultural factors that make the book significant or controversial.
• Reflect personally: Explain why this book matters and what the controversy reveals about American values or society.