Animal Farm

Essential Question: How do historical and political movements inspire and influence writers?

You will soon begin reading the novel Animal Farm in Language Arts class.

The novel is an allegory which can be read as an entertaining story about animals or, on a deeper level, as a criticism of the misuse of political power. 

British author George Orwell wrote Animal Farm at the end of World War II to make a political statement criticizing certain social and political systems, particularly those of the former Soviet Union, a country formed as a result of the Russian Revolution. You will need to develop your background knowledge about some social and political systems, historical events, and world leaders in order to understand the underlying meaning of Orwell's story.

Research, Task, and Product

 You will use the Slam Dunk Research Model George Orwell's Animal Farm  to gather information.

1. Select the link above to open the PowerPoint.
2. Read through the entire Slam Dunk before beginning your task.
3. Choose ONE of the research topics on slide 3 of the Slam Dunk to focus your research on.
4. Then use the resources on slide 2 to gather notes about your research topic. Use the Cornell Notes sheets provided by your teacher.
5. When you have gathered enough information on your topic, follow the directions on slide 4 to create a Discovery Education Board as a way to present your knowledge to your classmates.
6. When everyone has completed and shared their Discovery Education Boards, respond to this essential question in a brief journal response: How do historical and political movements inspire and influence writers?

1. Self-Evaluate your own Board:

• Try this: Read all text aloud to make sure the writing "sounds right," you used the right words, put commas and periods in the right place, etc.
• Use the Rubric to evaluate your board.
• Revise and edit as needed, then click Save.

2. Peer-Evaluate some classmates' Glogs:

• Your classmates will bring up their saved and finished boards on their devices. 
• pair up to peer evaluate one other classmates board. 
• PQP:
• Praise - Tell what you liked about the board and why.
• Question - Ask a question about anything related to the topic which was unclear or not fully explained.
• Polish - Make a suggestion for how the author might improve the board. 

Final Grade: You will be graded according to the criteria on this rubric. You will also be graded on the accuracy of your research information.