George Orwell
"Language [is] an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought."
- George Orwell
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Introduction:
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All animals are equal. Allegory: "An allegory is a work with two levels of meaning - a literal one and a symbolic one. In such a work, most of the characters, objects, settings, and events represent abstract qualities. Personification is often used in traditional allegories. As in a fable or a parable, the purpose of an allegory may be to convey truths about life, to teach religious or moral lessons, or to criticize social institutions." (Collections Text, Grade 10) Fable: "A fable is a brief tale told to illustrate a moral or teach a lesson. Often the moral of a fable appears in a distinct and memorable statement near the tale's beginning or end." (Collections Text, Grade 10) |
Reading Assignments:As you read Animal Farm, I expect you to annotate and keep academic notes on NOTEBOOK PAPER using the strategies from Harvard's "Interrogating Texts" handout and the specific advice I gave you on the handout entitled Annotating Animal Farm & 1984 by George Orwell.
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Class Discussion:Examine the notes you have brought with you to class.
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Chapters 1-4:
- Read and ANNOTATE the chapters using the strategies from Harvard's "Interrogating Texts" handout.
- Annotating Animal Farm & 1984 - Harvard strategies adapted for our study of Orwell's novels (Refer to Google Classroom)
- Read and ANNOTATE the chapters. Focus on the following question: What is Orwell’s message about the importance of language and its connection to thought and power? What does he have to say thought and communication? (Be mindful of times with the narrator or characters use language to convey hidden agendas or ironic meanings. -> He/she says this, but means this...
- Read and ANNOTATE the chapters. Why is Animal Farm an important story? What is Orwell's message, and how does he convey that message?
Related Reading
The Freedom of the Press by George Orwell
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As you consider Animal Farm, discuss this question with your peers:
- Allegories: Why bother? What do allegories allow? Why would an author choose to tell a story or convey a message allegorically?
1984 by George OrwellIntroductionPower and Control: Creating a Totalitarian Society (from The Center for Learning)
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- "Totalitarianism is a form of government which enforces total or complete control over its citizens. There are no opposing parties or groups. Individual rights protecting the members of this society against the government are not permitted" (Hogue).
Creating a Totalitarian Society (Use the handouts in Google Classroom)
- 4 minutes: Individually, read the handout entitled "Utopias and Anti-Utopias."
- 6 minutes: Individually, read the handout entitled "Power & Control" and silently indicate/mark TEN items that you think would be important to the success of your group's dictatorship on a separate sheet of paper.
- 15 minutes: As a group, discuss each member's individual choices. As a group, come to a consensus on FIVE items (note this is different from what the handout states. As you do this, one person in the group should be completing the Google Form in Google Classroom associated with this activity. You will need to state a reason for why each of the five items is important for your dictatorship's total and successful control.
- 10 minutes: General class discussion - Totalitarianism, utopias, dystopias
Reading Assignments for 1984
You will be working in groups to analyze 1984 by George Orwell, and you will record your observations on a group Google Document. You will have a core group that you are responsible for “teaching” throughout the entirety of this novel study. Prior to teaching and discussing within your core group, however, you will have an opportunity to work with the members from other groups who are assigned your like topic to ensure you have all of the information you need to be able to effectively teach your core group members.
In our Google Classroom, you will find the document we will use as we study the novel. One member of your group needs to open the document and then share it with the other members of the group and the instructors. Group assignments are included in the Google Classroom instructions for this assignment.
Once you have shared your document, you need to decide on individual tasks for the literary terms and book 1. Refer to the class calendar for reading due dates.
In our Google Classroom, you will find the document we will use as we study the novel. One member of your group needs to open the document and then share it with the other members of the group and the instructors. Group assignments are included in the Google Classroom instructions for this assignment.
Once you have shared your document, you need to decide on individual tasks for the literary terms and book 1. Refer to the class calendar for reading due dates.
Class Discussion
Related Reading
"Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell
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- Little Brother is Watching You: The New York Times
- "You probably didn’t read the most telling part of Orwell’s 1984 —the appendix" by Laura Frost
Is it 1984? Final Discussion Board Forum
Read and annotate the following article and then visit the Google Classroom discussion assignment to post a position statement that addresses the question, "Are we living in an Orwellian society?" In your answer, cite evidence from one or both of the articles. Keep your response BRIEF. Aim to cap your response at seven sentences. Be ready to address comments made by at least two of your classmates next class in a discussion.
Read and annotate the following article and then visit the Google Classroom discussion assignment to post a position statement that addresses the question, "Are we living in an Orwellian society?" In your answer, cite evidence from one or both of the articles. Keep your response BRIEF. Aim to cap your response at seven sentences. Be ready to address comments made by at least two of your classmates next class in a discussion.
- "So, Are We Living in 1984?" by Ian Crouch
From George Orwell to Frederick Douglass: Language, Thought, & Power
- Learning to Read and Write: An Excerpt from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass