1984 - A Novel Study | Small Online Class for Ages 13-17

1984 - A Novel Study

In this 8-week novel study, students will read 1984 by George Orwell while participating in Socratic Seminar discussions of literary analysis and comprehension by connecting to historical and current events with a final writing component.

705 total reviews for this teacher

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40 minutes

per class

Once per week

over 8 weeks

13-17

year olds

1-6

learners per class

per learner - per class

How does a “Multi-Day” course work?

Meets multiple times at scheduled times

Live video chats, recorded and monitored for safety and quality

Discussions via classroom forum and private messages with the teacher

Great for engaging projects and interacting with diverse classmates from other states and countries

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Description

Class Experience

"War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. And Big Brother is Always Watching.

"George Orwell's classic novel 1984, is the story of one man's nightmare odyssey through a world ruled by warring states and a power structure that controls not only information, but also individual thought and memory. A minor functionary named Winston Smith joins a covert brotherhood and pursues a forbidden love affair against the cold, gray backdrop of the Republic of Oceania - only to become a hunted enemy of the...

This class is taught in English.

Students will be able to:
     - Read 1984
     - Explain the Foreshadowed History
     - Discuss the Connections in Socratic Seminars
     - Develop Mini-Writing Prompts 
     - Construct a Final Response 
     - Analyze the Novel, Its Characters, Its Events, and Its Messages
     - Introduce Themselves to the Class
     - Introduce the Novel and the Author
     - Introduce and Define the Dystopian Genre
     - Connect to World War II, the Soviet Union, and The Cold War
     - Introduce Oceania and The Party
     - Introduce to Winston Smith
     - Answer Who is Goldstein and Big Brother?
     - Explain the Party Slogans and Define Paradoxes
     - Explain the Significance of "Down with Big Brother"
     - Connect to Modern Day
     - Define Terms of the Newspeak Language
     - Differentiate The Party, the Proles, and the Brotherhood
     - Identify Elements of the Two Minutes of Hate
     - Analyze the Propaganda in The Party
     - Introduce O'Brien and "The Dark-Haired Girl"
     - Connect to the KGB and the Hitler Youth
     - Identify Julia's Rebellion
     - Debate the "I love you"
     - Identify the Inconsistencies within The Party
     - Define Symbolism
     - Examine the Singing Birds and Proles, the Shop, the Paperweight
     - Explain Hate Week
     - Identify Dreams and their Symbols
     - Read "The Book" and Connect It to the Brotherhood
     - Connect to the Cold War
     - Explain the Purpose of "We are the dead"
     - Define and Locate Examples of Cliffhangers and Suspense
     -  Identify and Analyze Elements of the Dystopian Novel
     - Differentiate Fact vs. Fiction and the 2 + 2 = 5 Importance
     - Analyze Characters' Changing Mindsets
     - Connect to History and Modern-Day
     - Connect Symbolism and Connecting Themes
     - Examine Character Development
     - Define the Climax and Resolution
     - Analyze Cover Art 
     - Choose a Writing Prompt
     - Use Evidence to Support an Argument
     - Look at Feedback and Editing
     - Argue about Final Themes and Messages

I have taught this novel in schools before as whole-class readings and as independent book studies. I also teach this novel in a classic literature class on Outschool. It is the most popular novel that students choose in this class (chosen by both upper middle school and high school). In addition, I teach Animal Farm which is also by George Orwell. Both of these classes can be found at the links below. Feel free to read through the courses and the reviews for those classes to gain an understanding of the stories!
     - Classic Literature: https://outschool.com/classes/classic-literature-novel-study-V9NC71b3?usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
     - Animal Farm: https://outschool.com/classes/animal-farm-a-novel-study-HY8tLz2T?usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

Students will need to read the novel outside of class as we will not have time in class. Students will also need to work on some writing prompts outside of class if they are unable to complete them in class. If you have questions, please let me know!

40 minutes per week in class, and maybe some time outside of class.

1984 is a controversial novel with many intense topics including violence, physical intimacy, language, drugs, and drinking. We will discuss these in class by addressing the topics and recognizing them as issues within the novel. The novel is dystopian so it is set up to draw attention to these issues by showing the reader why they are a problem, the effects that they can have on humanity and society, and by helping the reader recognize that these issues need to change. We will focus on these aspects of the message.

Attached is a CommonSenseMedia Parental Guide for the novel. Please read through the topics and reach out if you have any questions or concerns!
     - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/1984

Teacher

Kaitlyn Fischer: Close-Reading Specialist

High School and Middle School English

705 total reviews

417 completed classes

About Me

Hello!

My name is Kaitlyn Fischer and I have taught high school and middle school English and have also taught middle school math. I have worked in both Missouri and in Colorado. I have taught all of the following classes: AP Language and...