Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Nature Versus Nurture Debate”

Conduct a classroom debate as to whether nature or nurture is the stronger influence on human behavior as suggested by the actions of characters in Good Omens.

The premise of the novel provides ample opportunity for reflecting on what influences human behavior. Based on events and character reactions in the text, decide whether nature or nurture is the stronger influence on human actions.

• Choose your own position on the topic or work with a small group or a partner and come to a consensus.
• Support your point using examples and information from Good Omens and paired texts such as the article from The Onion.
• List your ideas and formulate your argument.

Be sure to connect your ideas to the text, citing by chapter and incorporating events, reactions, and direct quotations.

As peers deliver their positions, note their points and respectfully offer refutation.

Teaching Suggestion: The class might conduct a mock trial or jury deliberation, or individuals might write and/or orally deliver a closing argument for either the defense or prosecution of a character’s actions. Once students have had a chance to speak and argue their positions, you might assign a position at random or instruct students to make the strongest case possible for the counterargument of their original position.

Differentiation Suggestion: Advanced learners or those who would benefit from a tangential analysis might examine Adam Young, considering whether he is good or evil and whether it is his nature or his nurture that influences his final decision. Students’ conclusions might depend upon whether they determine Adam is human or inhuman.