Assignments for next week

I will make these due on Tuesday to give you a chance to work together if you need to.

Below are a list of topics.  Please choose a topic and prepare a lesson to present to the class.  Remember this course is in part about literature in context, so it is important to understand a bit of history when reading a text. The topics will be presented in the order they are given.  Please provide either handouts or a visual aid to help the class understand what you are presenting.  Everyone in the class is responsible for all the information presented. I will post a rubric before the end of the weekend.

In the comment box below, tell me which topic you will present.

1. Individual  Biography of George Orwell (focus on elements of his life that may have motivated him to write either 1984 or the two essays you had to read over the summer).

2. Individual Historical influences during Orwell’s life.  What major events were occurring during his time? Explain how each might have affected his writing.

3. Partners Do a close reading of “Shooting an Elephant”.  Focus on the BIG 5 + context: 1) Audience/ Purpose, 2) Content/Theme, 3) Tone/Mood, 4) Stylistic Devices, 5) Structure.

4. Partners Do a close reading of “Politics and the English Language”. Focus on the BIG 5 + context: 1) Audience/ Purpose, 2) Content/Theme, 3) Tone/Mood, 4) Stylistic Devices, 5) Structure.

5. Individual. Dystopia.  What is it and how does it relate to 1984?

6. Individual. Propaganda.  What is it and how does it relate to 1984?

7. Individual. Patriot Act (not the movie). What is it and how does it relate to 1984?

8. Individual. Google and Facebook have been getting a lot of grief because they use people’s private info for other purposes. Talk about this in more detail and explain how this relates to 1984.

9. Why was 1984 banned in Russia and almost banned in the US and the UK?

10. Partners. Explain the differences between communism, socialism, and totalitarianism. How do these relate to 1984?

11. Individual. Which elements of 1984 exist today and which elements do you see happening in the future?  How could 1984 be used as a warning to the readers?