(Summer Assignment SJU English) 1984: Fact, Fiction, Warning This summer, you will be reading George Orwell s 1984, arguably one of the most important and frightening pieces of literature ever written. Though there are several goals in reading any piece of literature, part of these goals for this unit is to choose particular aspects of 1984 which you feel are related most closely to the world in which you live. Ultimately, we are asking if Orwell s nightmare (his novel) is already in fact occurring, though not in the same manifestations as his Oceania. The key here is to look at the actions of the characters, their thoughts, and why they stand for the abhorrent conditions in which they live. In the end, it comes down to another variation of what causes people to act the way they do, why, and if that can be manipulated without them realizing it. To that end: Complete the novel its entirety and create a collection of dialogic notes to the text (no summary) by Tuesday, September 8, 2014. Each day the journal is late is a 10 point penalty including each of the weekend days. Otherwise, I will require a doctor s note for the absence on that day and an excuse for the non submission of the journal. No computer printer, or late registration excuses acceptable! Each year, a copy of the dialogic notes is kept. In your journal: Ø Responses should be distributed somewhat evenly throughout the novel. Ø Note specific pages responded to (even if it s over several pages) Ø You may want to read several pages and then reflect back instead of interrupting your reading. Ø Try to maintain some ( if not all) focus on the similarities, differences or other observation you notice between our 1984 and your (United States) society today. Ø Note your own observations about what you see around you each day. Though some parts may be longer than others, the responses should endeavor to include the entire novel. Ø You may also include research in your notes which relate to particular parts. Ø Take the opportunity to focus on areas you might find using in the essay discussed on the last page of this document. This journal should be a total 20 to 25 pages (12 point font) and typed using the template provided in the sample. Make sure to space the pages properly, so that you have a somewhat evenly distributed journal. THE EXPECTATIONS ARE COLLEGE LEVEL, NOT HIGH SCHOOL. Careless errors or frivolous entries will result in lower assessment. There will also be a 30 question multiple choice reading check on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. This will be worth 30 points of your unit grade. The journal will be worth the
other 70 points. The combined score of the journal and reading check will be worth the first exam grade. If you are absent on this date, a medical note will be required. Journal rubric: ü Include clearly labeled pages so that the reader of your journal can find to what you are responding easily. ü The response covers the entire novel, not just the beginning or middle or end. ü Avoids simple summary of the characters or plot ü Contains information which expands the novel content or connects it areas outside 1984. ü Elaborates on responses, not just simple one or two liners like I agree with this; we have the same thing or Winston is so smart ü Contains at least proper amount typed pages ü Format is consistent with dialogic template(s) provided ü Statements about novel are accurate ü Responses are logical or, if personal, relevant to material taken from the novel
Dialogic Note- Taking Dialogic notes can be any combination of responses to a particular line, character, events, conflicts, etc. You note the page(s) on which the novel content can be found and then include observations you want to make about them. The observations can be related to you or the world around you, offer opinions about the novel or its relation to you, commentary about novel, or even be something you want to research or have researched already. SAMPLE DIALOGIC NOTES (pages not necessarily accurate and mentioned for illustration only) 7-8 Ministries of truth, love, peace, plenty Ironic how each one of these seems to be the opposite of what their name implies, especially the ministry of love which is in charge of justice and is the most frightening of the buildings. I m not sure how the ministry of love is concerned with justice unless it s because the government loves its citizen and wants to make sure that everyone is safe. I m not sure that I would take my own police or military departments as seriously if they had this name, though the building architecture might freak me out. 11 18 the two minute hate session This oddly reminds me of having to say the pledge of allegiance each day. Certainly it s not as violent, but I do pledge my loyalty to the flag and the republic for which it stands. I ask myself what it does stand for. Why is O Brien such a big deal and why is Winston so infatuated with the dark- haired girl? Also, it mentions that Winston hates most women and girls; he seems to dislike purity. It s hard to know whether I like him or not. One last note about the hate session there seems to be many parts which brainwash citizens; I don t think the pledge does this. No one seems to pay much attention anyway, but there are times when some of the waristic scenes, paranoia and patriotism do relate in other ways like on the news or other media.
43 Comrade Ogilvy, unimagined an hour ago, was now a fact who had never existed in the present, now existed in the past, and when once the act of forgery was forgotten, he would exist just as authentically, and upon the same evidence, as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar. This is crazy because it is so true, especially with the internet having so many versions of everything, though in the novel it doesn t mention the internet. I remember being in junior high school and learning that the American Civil War was fought in large part because the North want to abolish slavery. Now, it s taught differently, that slavery was an issue but largely due to the economic impracticality in industrial society. I don t trust a lot of what is printed to begin with, especially the statistics or newspapers which tell us one thing and then contradict themselves. For example, in Newsday, two days ago, the paper wrote about how travelers were rebelling against the new laws for traveling, but the next day, it wrote about how people don t seem to care about it. The problem here is that media can manipulate and we can be manipulated. One day Hussein and Bin Laden are our buddies, the next, archenemy #1. It s hard to tell students these days to accept facts if the facts can be manipulated. It would be interesting to see if and how much media or the government is caught manipulating. Possible research PS Winston is a hypocrite for doing this! 45 - It s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words The less words we know, the harder it is to think, because we think and express ourselves in words. Words also have so many meanings. Words are dangerous. What words? In what situations? Searches on the Internet? I ve heard all sorts of things about this and am actually worried about typing in some of them for fear of trouble? What trouble? Being tagged by the government? Does it do this? Where do I even get this idea from? The government in an article IK read in Global a few years ago said it doesn t and that the Internet is free of this, but I remember reading Time magazine which covered stories about citizens who got in trouble for typing dangerous words like bomb and justification for terrorism. I even worry about typing these up now. I really want to know if this can be done and where we get our ideas from.
Also, we do seem to learn fewer words each year, but the dictionary keeps growing. However, if we don t learn the words, what good are they. In 1984 destroying words isn t voluntary; we seem to be more willing to avoid learning more vocabulary altogether, sort of destroying words before they are even born. Winston says Syme will be vaporized too. Are smart people dangerous? 67 - Winston s journal about his mother and sister Winston is a jerk if this happened. He is also filled with guilt. Still, he was a child, though that wouldn t matter to his starving little sister and mother. No wonder he s confessing in his journal. This relates to his dream about them being on a sinking ship and he couldn t save them. He didn t sink the ship but his stealing food from them and then their disappearing leaves him feeling helpless. I wonder what happened after. Who raised him? Would he be worse off or better? I remember when I was younger worrying about every little everything I said or did because I was worried it would be the last thing I d be remembered by or that the lst thing I said or did couldn t be taken back. So I try to be kind, but I let a lot go which I shouldn t have. I guess I can only live for today, responsibly. Where do we go from here? From there, you will be writing a five page research paper in which you explore one aspect of the novel you feel had the strongest relation to your own society and provide suggestions about how we can help avoid it or why it is simply not possible to avoid it. The essay is not part of the summer assignment. You are not writing the essay over the summer.