1. Set Focus
Pose this essential question: What factors contribute to the collapse of a society?
2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence:.
- In the opening section, the author lists many of the crises the people of Haiti are facing. Pick one of the crises. How might it affect people in their daily lives? (Students’ responses will vary, but students should draw logical inferences about the effects of the crisis they pick. For example, those who discuss the effects of the power vacuum might point out that a lack of government likely makes citizens concerned for their safety and disrupts essential services.)
- How does fuel play a role in how gangs have taken control of Haiti? (Gangs control access to much of Haiti’s fuel supply, which is critical because electricity is unreliable, so fuel is needed to keep hospitals and other services running. This helps create chaos in the country, furthering the gangs’ ability to intimidate people and control the country.)