Access to English: Social Studies

The Handmaid's Tale / What Happened

In 2016, Hillary Clinton was the first woman ever to run for the presidency as the candidate of one of the two major parties. In her book What Happened she gives an account of her surprising – some would say shocking – defeat by Donald Trump in the Presidential election of 2016.

In the same year, the novel The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood was made into a highly acclaimed TV series that won numerous awards. Although 30 years old, the tale it told seems to appeal to present-day audiences.

Read an excerpt from the novel on pp. 222-226 of Access to English: Social Studies and an introduction to the listening text from What Happened on p. 229. Then work with the tasks in the textbook and here on the website.

Why should you read The Handmaid's Tale?

Full lesson linked below.

Links

Textbook Tasks

Extra Tasks

Listening

Articles and Resources

Links