Final Blog Post

We have now completed our novel study on Animal Farm by George Orwell. You might now be asking the question "So what?" Take some time to reflect on the novel and consider it in a contemporary context. What does this book have to say to us today? What lessons can we learn from this book that apply to the world today?

Write a paragraph in response to this prompt. Include any connections you can make between the book and the world we live in today. When you have finished writing your response, read and comment on at least two of your classmates' posts. Your comments should include your reactions, thoughts, feelings, and any questions you may have from reading the post.

Manipulation in Animal Farm Assignment

After you complete your post, you are to read and respond to at least two of your classmates' blog posts. Respond as follows:

1. Write about what stood out to you in the post and word cloud as important, interesting, surprising, disturbing, etc.
2. Gently critique the post for conventions.

Manipulation in Animal Farm Example

In chapter three of Animal Farm the mystery of the missing milk was cleared up, as well as the order for all the windfall apples to be brought to the harness room for the use of the pigs. Several of the animals were upset about this, as it seemed to go against the Seven Commandments. Squealer was sent by Napoleon and Snowball to explain this to the other animals. He basically said that the pigs were not doing this to be selfish or privileged but that they did this out of necessity for their health. He stated that the pigs were brainworkers and the running of the farm depended on them. He insisted in a most persuasive way that they ate the milk and apples for the sake of the other animals, for if they failed in their duty, then Mr. Jones would come back.

Squealer was using techniques of persuasion and/or propaganda to convince the other animals that allowing the pigs to have the extra milk and apples was for their own good. Thus, he manipulated them into believing what the pigs wanted them to believe. Obviously, he used the either/or technique when he said that if the pigs failed in their duty, Mr. Jones would come back. He also used glittering generalities, or loaded words, when he said "Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us." What Squealer's speech really means is that the pigs deserve to have extra food because they have the sole responsibility of looking out for the other animals' best interests and the running of the farm.

Several things stand out to me in my Tagxedo word cloud as being related to Squealer's manipulation of the animals in this passage. Of course, the words milk and apple are very large because that is the topic of that particular passage. The word "comrade" stands out, as it is used several times. This is significant because the word means companion or friend, which implies equality. Squealer uses this word to emphasize that the animals are all still equal. The word "pig" stands out, emphasizing how the pigs are "more equal" than the other animals, thus deserving of extra food. It was interesting that the word "Jones" is prominent, indicating the animals' fear of Mr. Jones coming back to take over the farm. "Dislike" and "selfishness" are somewhat prominent; Squealer used these words to underline the fact that the pigs were not being selfish, because many of them did not even like apples, but they ate them in order to do their duty for the farm and the other animals.

Philosophical Chairs Blog Post

Post a blog about the Philosopher's Chair activity and respond to the following:
1. What did you like about this activity?
2. What did you dislike?
3. What could we do to make it better?
4. Would you like to participate in this type of activity again? Why or why not?

Animal Farm Discussion/Study Guide

Link to Online Book - Animal Farm

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/o/orwell/george/o79a/index.html

Pre-Reading Blog Post

Before you begin reading Animal Farm, read the questions below and write a short answer to each in a blog. Use complete sentences for your answers! After you finish answering the questions, read and respond to at least two posts from your classmates. Your comments must be thoughtful and show insight about the blog post!

1. What freedoms do we take for granted in the United States?
2. Do you think we have too much freedom?
3. What freedoms do you think we don't need in the United States? Which ones would you be willing to give up if you had to?

Biography Graphic Organizers

Embed the Google presentation you created for the biography graphic organizers in a post on your Animal Farm blog.

Literary Vocabulary

Take notes on the following terms in a post on your Animal Farm blog: allegory, irony, satire, and fable.

Animal Farm Introduction