On the Farm Journal
Responding to Animal Farm by George Orwell
Name: ______
Your journal will be submitted to Turnitin.com. You may use this document as a template to fill in. All responses must be written in complete sentences.
Chapter 3 EXTRA CREDIT – Submit to turnitin.com DUE:All world leaders have been through a journey to their political office.
» Research a world leader (past or present, but not fictional) and create a timeline of at least 8 major events of this person's journey through political life.
» Write at least a power paragraph on when he/she become interested in politics, how that person gained political prestige, what are/were his/her major political views, and whether or not he/she succeed in his/her mission.
» Include a picture of this world leader in your paper.
Chapter 4 Journal: National Monuments and Sentiments DUE:Almost all countries dedicate monuments to their heroes or leaders. All countries have a national anthem (a song that unites the people of that country). Review the following examples of monuments and anthems and respond in the journal below.
Task/Question / ResponseChoose one monument and explain its significance to its country and people.
Choose one anthem to explore. Find two lines that you think are particularly powerful. Include the lines and explain why you find them powerful. Be sure to identify the country of your anthem.
Describe the monument the animals create at the end of chapter 4.
Do you think the monument accurately reflects the animals’ mission? Why or why not?
EXTRA CREDIT: If you were to design a different monument for the animals, what would it look like? Describe your design and explain how it would symbolize the animals’ struggle.
Chapter 5 Lesson: Propaganda Techniques (in-class notes) DUE:
We encounter propaganda on a daily basis in advertisements, commercials, political speeches, and other areas. Propaganda:
· is the deliberate spreading of information/rumors to further one person’s or group’s cause
· is used for positive and negative causes
· may use both language and images to convey its messages
· uses emotional manipulation, rather than rational argumentation, to influence
· may be revealed (obvious) or concealed (hidden).
Common propaganda techniques include:
name-calling: linking negative words or phrases with an opposing person, group, or cause to persuade an audience to reject something, based on emotional response to words rather than on careful consideration of facts
glittering generalities: linking positive, general, and commonly accepted words (“love,” “family,” “democracy”) with a person, group, or cause to make an audience approve without careful consideration
euphemisms: substituting words or phrases with softer, more palatable ones to generate a more positive response or to mislead intentionally (“senior citizen” for “old person,” “collateral damage” for “civilian casualties”) (Note: euphemisms are looked at more closely in Lesson Nine.)
transfer: connecting the authority or prestige of certain images or symbols (the American flag, the cross, science, medicine) with a person or product
testimonial: using well-known personalities to endorse a person, group, or cause whether experts on the subject or not
plain folks: trying to convince an audience that someone is “one of them”—a common, ordinary, hard-working, all-American citizen instead of a wealthy politician, for example
bandwagon: claiming that an audience should do something because “everybody else is doing it”
fear: warning an audience that something horrible will happen to them if they don’t take certain action
Chapter 6 Journal: Napoleon’s Transformation DUEYou will be writing a power paragraph in class on the following prompt:
In chapter 6, Napoleon begins to reintroduce humans and human behavior to the farm. To justify the pigs’ actions, one of the Commandments is altered. As a leader, Napoleon has become more and more unethical and distrustful. Using examples from chapters 5-6, explore the evidence that Napoleon is quickly turning into a tyrant over Animal Farm. Use at least two direct quotes to respond in a power paragraph.
To prepare for your in-class writing, respond to the questions about chapters 5-6.
Task/Question / ResponseCompare and contrast Snowball and Napoleon (their names, strengths and weaknesses, uses of language, goals for the farm, leadership practices). Which would you say is the more effective leader? Why? Include a quote that supports your analysis.
What types of leaders do Snowball and Napoleon each represent? Name some actual leaders whose practices are similar to each of theirs and support your response.
Comment on Squealer’s name, his position on the farm, and the way he uses language in chapters 5-6. Include a quote that supports your analysis.
EXTRA CREDIT: Give real life examples of leaders or organizations using language in the way Squealer does.
Chapters 7-8 Journal: Dialectical Responses DUE:
In a dialectical journal, you simply write down passages that make you think or interest you and write about your thoughts. A passage should be at least one complete sentence; it may be longer than that. You must include two entries per chapter. Your passages must be in the form of integrated quotes. Use the following templates:
· ___(character)______states, “(quotation)” (#).
· ___(author)______writes that “(quotation)” (#).
Dialectical Journal Hints:
· Select passages that YOU WANT to write about.
· Write a detailed response to the passage you have chosen.
· Simply read, think, and write as much as you can.
· Always be sincere about what you are saying in your writing.
· If you get stuck, use the following list to help you get started.
· WRITE ABOUT: what you like, what you dislike, what seems confusing, what seems unusual, what you think something means, what personal connections you make, what predictions you can pose. Possible sentence lead-ins might begin like:
o I really don't understand this because. . .
o I really like/dislike this idea because. . .
o This idea/event seems to be important because. . .
o I think the author is trying to say that . . .
o This passage reminds me of a time in my life when . . .
o If I were (name of character), at this point I would . . .
o This part doesn't make sense because . . .
o This character reminds me of (name of person) because . . .
Passage & Page Number / ResponseExample: Squealer says, “Bravery is not enough . . . Loyalty and obedience are more important” (55). / Example: I like this quote because it sounds like it makes sense on the surface. After all, loyalty and obedience are important traits. But when you think about it, sometimes loyalty can be a bad thing. Bad things have happened in history when people followed political leaders blindly.
Example: Orwell writes that the cows had been lowing for a long time because “they had not been milked for twenty-four hours, and their udders were almost bursting” (25). / Example: This reminds me of being on my uncle’s farm. Also, I am wondering why the cows haven’t been milked. Maybe this is foreshadowing that something bad might happen. The animals are neglecting them because it’s usually a human’s job to milk cows.
Chapters 9-10 Activity: Rights & Responsibilities (in-class)
Laws and rules are a part of everyone's life. Some are obeyed, some are not, and some are just outright ignored. Some rules are "bent" to help an individual or a group when they are caught disobeying them.
» View the rules on pages 24-27 of the Liberty High School student planner.
» Select 3 sections from the "Student Conduct" section and 2 from the "Rights & Responsibilities" section that you think are frequently changed to benefit one student or a group of students.
» Rewrite these rules (just as Squealer did) to make exceptions for certain people or groups. Place your rewritten rules on a one-pager that is well designed and easily readable.
Chapters 9-10 Journal: Animal Farm as a SatireWrite a power paragraph analyzing the success of Animal Farm as a satire. How does Orwell use allegory to portray a power struggle?