Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton returns to jail

Hilton Hotel heiress Paris Hilton, 26, was ordered to return to jail on June 9th, just two days after an LA sheriff changed her punishment to house arrest. She had served five days of a 45-day sentence but was released and ordered to stay at home because of undisclosed “medical” reasons. Her jail term is for violating probation in a reckless driving case in which she was drunk. The topsy-turvy case is now the talk of America. Her fans are distraught at seeing their heroine returned to jail. She was ordered back to court, wearing handcuffs, to hear that her house arrest had been overturned and she would have to serve the rest of her term behind bars. This is a life far removed from the usual glitz and glamour she enjoys as a multi-millionaire. As she was lead from the courthouse, she looked anything but the perfectly turned out model and singer fans are used to seeing. She looked exhausted and was red-eyed through crying.

The media circus that is now following her toing and froing from jail has polarized the American public. Many are outraged at the fact that the sheriff put her under house arrest. They believed this to be yet another case of “celebrity justice” in the States – one very lenient law for the rich and famous, and strict laws that Jo Public must adhere to. Recent events support a quote from Hilton’s autobiography “Confessions of an Heiress”, in which she said: "There is no sin in life worse than being boring." Her prison ordeal is a different part of a privileged life that could definitely not be described as boring. She is a model, actor and singer, has her own perfume range and has walked hundreds of red carpets. She compares herself to Princess Diana and was voted as second worst celebrity role model for 2006.

WARM-UPS

1. HOTELS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about hotels. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

Hilton Hotel / Paris / jail / being arrested / drunk driving / glamour / exhaustion / media / circuses / justice / autobiographies / being boring / role models

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. HEIR: With your partner(s), decide which of these things you would like to inherit and why. Change partners and share your findings.

Hilton Hotel chain
Apple computers
a casino group
Manchester United soccer club

Starbucks
a Russian gas company
Disney
other ___________________

4. JUST JUSTICE: Agree with your partners on what sentences each of these people should receive for driving while drunk:

Paris Hilton
George W. Bush
a father driving his pregnant wife to the baby hospital
you
a 15-year old girl
a 99-year-old with severe memory loss

5. JAIL VS. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Brainstorm reasons why jail is better than community service and why community service is better than jail. Discuss the reasons why. Change partners and share your opinions.

6. JAIL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with jail/prison. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

7. QUICK DEBATE: Students A strongly believe famous people should get shorter sentences than the rest of us; Students B think famous people should get longer sentences than the rest of us. Change partners often. When you have finished, share your findings.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	A US celebrity has been ordered to stay in Paris’ Hilton Hotel.	T / F
b.	The celebrity ignored a traffic offence and drove again while drunk.	T / F
c.	The story of this celebrity has gripped the American public.	T / F
d.	Fans saw their star coming out of court looking a million dollars.	T / F
e.	The celebrity ordered a circus to come to Paris to cheer her up.	T / F
f.	Americans believe there are different laws for those with money.	T / F
g.	The celebrity wrote a book about her life as an heiress.	T / F
h.	The celebrity is soon to play Princess Diana in an upcoming movie.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	punishment	elected
b.	undisclosed	messy
c.	violating	divided
d.	topsy-turvy	secret
e.	turned out	easy
f.	polarized	presented
g.	lenient	penalty
h.	adhere	advantaged
i.	privileged	stick
j.	voted	disobeying

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.	an LA sheriff changed her punishment	not be described as boring
b.	violating probation in a	turned out model
c.	a life far removed from the usual	circus that is now following her
d.	she looked anything but the perfectly	law for the rich and famous
e.	She looked exhausted and was	glitz and glamour
f.	The media	worse than being boring
g.	one very lenient	to house arrest
h.	There is no sin in life	red-eyed through crying
i.	a privileged life that could definitely	celebrity role model for 2006
j.	voted as second worst	reckless driving case

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Paris Hilton returns to jail

Hilton Hotel ________ Paris Hilton, 26, was ordered to return to jail on June 9th, just two days after an LA sheriff changed her ________ to house arrest. She had served five days of a 45-day sentence but was released and ordered to stay at home because of ________ “medical” reasons. Her jail term is for violating probation in a reckless driving case in which she was drunk. The topsy-turvy case is now the ________ of America. Her fans are distraught at seeing their heroine returned to jail. She was ordered back to court, wearing handcuffs, to hear that her house arrest had been ________ and she would have to serve the rest of her term behind ________. This is a life far removed from the usual ________ and glamour she enjoys as a multi-millionaire. As she was lead from the courthouse, she looked anything but the perfectly turned out model and singer fans are used to seeing. She looked ________ and was red-eyed through crying.

exhausted
undisclosed
bars
heiress
overturned
punishment
glitz
talk

The media circus that is now following her toing and ________ from jail has ________ the American public. Many are outraged at the fact that the sheriff put her under house arrest. They believed this to be yet another case of “celebrity justice” in the States – one very ________ law for the rich and famous, and strict laws that Jo Public must ________ to. Recent events support a ________ from Hilton’s autobiography “Confessions of an Heiress”, in which she said: "There is no sin in life worse than being boring." Her prison ________ is a different part of a privileged life that could ________ not be described as boring. She is a model, actor and singer, has her own perfume range and has walked hundreds of red carpets. She compares herself to Princess Diana and was voted as second ________ celebrity role model for 2006.

definitely
quote
polarized
adhere
froing
lenient
worst
ordeal

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Paris Hilton returns to jail

Hilton Hotel __________ Paris Hilton, 26, was ordered to return to jail on June 9th, just two days after an LA sheriff changed her punishment _________________. She had served five days of a 45-day sentence but was released and ordered to stay at home because of __________________ reasons. Her jail term is for violating probation in a reckless driving case in which she was drunk. The __________________ now the talk of America. Her fans are __________________ their heroine returned to jail. She was ordered back to court, wearing handcuffs, to hear that her house arrest had been overturned and she would have to serve the rest of her term behind bars. This is __________________ from the __________________ she enjoys as a multi-millionaire. As she was lead from the courthouse, she looked anything but the perfectly turned out model and singer fans are used to seeing. She looked exhausted and was __________________.

The media circus that is now following _____________________ jail has polarized the American public. Many are __________________ that the sheriff put her under house arrest. They believed this to be yet another case of “celebrity justice” in the States – __________________ for the rich and famous, and strict laws that __________________ to. Recent events support a quote from Hilton’s autobiography “Confessions of an Heiress”, in which she said: "There __________________ than being boring." Her prison ordeal is a different part of a privileged life that could definitely not be described as boring. She is a model, actor and singer, has her own perfume range and has __________________ carpets. She compares herself to Princess Diana and was voted as second worst celebrity role model for 2006.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘celebrity’ and ‘justice’.

celebrity

justice

Share your findings with your partners.
Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:

ordered
served
undisclosed
topsy
glitz
turned out

circus
case
public
sin
range
worst

STUDENT CELEBRITY JUSTICE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about CELEBRITY JUSTICE 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 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

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.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What do you think about rich heiresses who don’t follow the law?
Do you think celebrities have a duty to model correct behaviour to society?
What do you think it would be like to be born into money?
Should Paris Hilton spend time in jail or under house arrest?
Do you think celebrities have a harder time in jail?
Do you think 45 days is the right sentence for drunk driving?
Why do you think her sentence was overturned twice?
Do you feel sorry for Paris Hilton?
If your hero had to go to jail for driving under the influence of alcohol, would you be upset?

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

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article?
Why are there always media circuses surrounding cases such as these?
Do you think there are different kinds of justice for different people in America?
Do the rich and famous get lighter sentences in your country?
Should celebrities be treated in the courts just like Jo Public?
What do you think of Hilton’s idea that being boring is a sin?
What would you call your autobiography and why?
In what way have you had a privileged life?
What kind of a role model is Paris Hilton?
Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

What was the most interesting thing you heard?
Was there a question you didn’t like?
Was there something you totally disagreed with?
What did you like talking about?
Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

HILTON JAIL:

Talk about the differences between Paris Hilton’s Hollywood lifestyle and her life in prison. Use the table to help you.

Differences	Hollywood	Jail
Clothes
Bath
Breakfast
Friends
Exercise
Entertainment

Change partners and share your ideas.
Whose ideas have the biggest difference?

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Paris Hilton returns to jail

Hilton Hotel (1) ____ Paris Hilton, 26, was ordered to return to jail on June 9th, just two days after an LA sheriff changed her punishment to house arrest. She had (2) ____ five days of a 45-day sentence but was released and ordered to stay at home because of undisclosed “medical” reasons. Her jail term is for violating probation in a (3) ____ driving case in which she was drunk. The topsy-turvy case is now the (4) ____ of America. Her fans are distraught at seeing their heroine returned to jail. She was ordered back to court, wearing handcuffs, to hear that her house arrest had been overturned and she would have to serve the rest of her term behind bars. This is a life far (5) ____ from the usual glitz and glamour she enjoys as a multi-millionaire. As she was lead from the courthouse, she looked anything
(6) ____ the perfectly turned out model and singer fans are used to seeing. She looked exhausted and was red-eyed through crying.

The media circus that is now following her toing and (7) ____ from jail has polarized the American public. Many are outraged at the fact that the sheriff put her (8) ____ house arrest. They believed this to be (9) ____ another case of “celebrity justice” in the States – one very lenient law for the rich and famous, and strict laws that Jo Public must adhere to. (10) ____ events support a quote from Hilton’s autobiography “Confessions of an Heiress”, in which she said: "There is no sin in life worse than being boring." Her prison ordeal is a different part of a privileged life that could (11) ____ not be described as boring. She is a model, actor and singer, has her own perfume range and has walked hundreds of red carpets. She compares herself to Princess Diana and was voted as (12) ____ worst celebrity role model for 2006.

1.	(a)	airless	(b)	air	(c)	hairless	(d)	heiress
2.	(a)	served	(b)	serviced	(c)	severed	(d)	servant
3.	(a)	shipwrecked	(b)	wrecked	(c)	reckless	(d)	freckles
4.	(a)	speech	(b)	talk	(c)	shout	(d)	whisper
5.	(a)	remote	(b)	removal	(c)	removed	(d)	moving
6.	(a)	but	(b)	so	(c)	because	(d)	however
7.	(a)	far	(b)	froing	(c)	hoping	(d)	hopping
8.	(a)	outside	(b)	over	(c)	inside	(d)	under
9.	(a)	far	(b)	ever	(c)	so	(d)	yet
10.	(a)	lately	(b)	recount	(c)	recent	(d)	recently
11.	(a)	definitely	(b)	defined	(c)	definition	(d)	definite
12.	(a)	first	(b)	second	(c)	last	(d)	best

WRITING:

Write about celebrity justice for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_______________________________________________________________________

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: Search the Internet and find more information about the Paris Hilton saga. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CELEBRITY JUSTICE POSTER: Make a poster about the celebrities you know of who escaped justice because they were rich and famous. Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about celebrity justice. Discuss the merits of celebrities being given more lenient or stricter sentences than the rest of us.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the LA sheriff who sentenced Paris Hilton. Ask him three questions about his decision. Give him three pieces of advice about how to sentence celebrities. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. T

c. T

d. F

e. F

f. T

g. T

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	punishment	penalty
b.	undisclosed	secret
c.	violating	disobeying
d.	topsy-turvy	messy
e.	turned out	presented
f.	polarized	divided
g.	lenient	easy
h.	adhere	stick
i.	privileged	advantaged
j.	voted	elected

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	an LA sheriff changed her punishment	to house arrest
b.	violating probation in a	reckless driving case
c.	a life far removed from the usual	glitz and glamour
d.	she looked anything but the perfectly	turned out model
e.	She looked exhausted and was	red-eyed through crying
f.	The media	circus that is now following her
g.	one very lenient	law for the rich and famous
h.	There is no sin in life	worse than being boring
i.	a privileged life that could definitely	not be described as boring
j.	voted as second worst	celebrity role model for 2006

GAP FILL:

Paris Hilton returns to jail

Hilton Hotel heiress Paris Hilton, 26, was ordered to return to jail on June 9th, just two days after an LA sheriff changed her punishment to house arrest. She had served five days of a 45-day sentence but was released and ordered to stay at home because of undisclosed “medical” reasons. Her jail term is for violating probation in a reckless driving case in which she was drunk. The topsy-turvy case is now the talk of America. Her fans are distraught at seeing their heroine returned to jail. She was ordered back to court, wearing handcuffs, to hear that her house arrest had been overturned and she would have to serve the rest of her term behind bars. This is a life far removed from the usual glitz and glamour she enjoys as a multi-millionaire. As she was lead from the courthouse, she looked anything but the perfectly turned out model and singer fans are used to seeing. She looked exhausted and was red-eyed through crying.

The media circus that is now following her toing and froing from jail has polarized the American public. Many are outraged at the fact that the sheriff put her under house arrest. They believed this to be yet another case of “celebrity justice” in the States – one very lenient law for the rich and famous, and strict laws that Jo Public must adhere to. Recent events support a quote from Hilton’s autobiography “Confessions of an Heiress”, in which she said: "There is no sin in life worse than being boring." Her prison ordeal is a different part of a privileged life that could definitely not be described as boring. She is a model, actor and singer, has her own perfume range and has walked hundreds of red carpets. She compares herself to Princess Diana and was voted as second worst celebrity role model for 2006.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - c

2 - a

3 - d

4 -b

5 - a

6 -d

7 - c

8 -b

9 -b

10 -d

11 -a

12 - c

Breaking News English

THE ARTICLE

Paris Hilton returns to jail

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

WHILE READING / LISTENING

Paris Hilton returns to jail

LISTENING

Paris Hilton returns to jail

AFTER READING / LISTENING

STUDENT CELEBRITY JUSTICE SURVEY

DISCUSSION

SPEAKING

LANGUAGE

Paris Hilton returns to jail

WRITING:

HOMEWORK

ANSWERS

Paris Hilton returns to jail

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