Animal Farm Research Project Presentation

  • George Orwell, author of Animal Farm, uses the characters and plot to symbolize the real life events of the Russian Communist Revolution. Almost all of the characters and places in the novel can be directly tied back to an actual person or place in history.
  • Your group will research a topic concerning the real life events pertaining to Animal Farm and create a presentation discussing those events. Your presentation must be at least 5 minutes and no more than 7 minutes.
  • EVERY member is responsible for sifting through all research and finding the most relevant details to inform the audience during the presentation. Each member is also responsible for presenting the information. When you research, be sure to answer the following questions:
  • Who? Who was involved? Who was impacted?
  • What? What are major components of your topic? What are the most important facts? If you have a person, focus on what he believed, what he started, etc.
  • Where? Where does your topic take place? Are there multiple places?
  • When? When was your topic popular? If it is a person, when did he play a role in society?
  • Why? Why was this topic important to society?
  • All sources must be cited on a “Works Cited” Slide. The slide must have a minimum of four different sources. (One source per group member)
  • Members one and two will compile all information into a visually appealing powerpoint.
  • Each slide should have 3-4 concise bullet points at the most and avoid lengthy sentences/paragraphs. However, you cannot just read the slide; you must verbally expand on the bullet points (Use note cards if necessary.)
  • Include at least four images/graphics relating to your topic.
  • Member three is responsible for creating “powernotes” for the class to fill in as your group presents the powerpoint. If you have a group of five, two people can take on this task.
  • Member four is responsible for creating a “Works Cited Slide” for the end of powerpoint and a “Quiz” slide that is feasible for the class to take after your presentation. The Works Cited slide must include four sources and the quiz slide(s) must include five various types of questions (multiple choice, short answer, and true/false).

Each group will inform the class on the historical aspects ONLY of the following topics. Do not make connections to the novel in your presentation, as we will have this discussion after the book is read.

Group #1: Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov (Nicholas II) and Communism in Russia

Group #2: Russian Revolution and Leon Trotsky

Group #3: Josef Stalin and Blood purges of 1936-38

Group #4: Karl Marx, Marxism and Marx Communist Manifesto

Group #5: Propaganda in the Russian Revolution (What is propaganda and how was it used?)

Group #6: Police/KGB and Russian Civil War

Group #7: Russia’s working class and Russia’s upper class during Russian Revolution

PowerPoint Rubric: Each student will receive an individual grade

Excellent
10 points / Adequate
7 points / Needed Improvement
5 points
Information /
  • All parts of the research questions are answered thoroughly
  • Resources used are valid, credible, and reliable
  • Works Cited slide follows MLA format
  • Quiz and easy to fill in powernotes are provided
/
  • Most parts of the research questions are thoroughly answered
  • Resources used are valid, credible, and reliable
  • Works Cited slide mostly follows MLA format with a few errors
  • Quiz/powernotes are mostly easy to follow.
/
  • Some information may be missing or all parts of the research question are not answered
  • Resources used may not be valid, credible, and reliable
  • Works Cited slide does not follow MLA format
  • Quiz/powernotes are not included or not easy to follow.

Presentation /
  • PowerPoint slides are easy to read and follow
  • No errors in spelling or grammar
/
  • PowerPoint slides are mostly easy to read and follow
  • Very few errors in spelling or grammar
/
  • PowerPoint slides are difficult to read and follow (font may be too small, colors are distracting)
  • Errors in spelling or grammar

Delivery /
  • Student speaks confidently and knowledgably about topic
  • Speaker uses notes but does not read directly from slide or notes
  • Student speaks at a normal pace and volume
  • Presentation is at least 5 minutes, no more than 7 minutes.
/
  • Student speaks somewhat confidently and knowledgably about topic
  • Speaker may rely too heavily on notes or text on the slide
  • Student speaks at times too fast or too slow, or might be difficult to hear sometimes
  • Presentation is somewhat under 5 minutes or over 7 minutes.
/
  • Student speaks confidently and knowledgably about topic
  • Speaker reads directly from notes or slide at times
  • Student is difficult to hear or speaks too quickly
  • The presentation is substantially under five minutes or over seven minutes.

Total: ______/ 30