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Lesson 1

We will draft a paragraph that determines a central idea in 1984, explains how it is developed, and supports the explanation with evidence. We will find three quotations to support our analyses, and we will use the Section 1 Diagnostic Model Response to organize our paragraphs.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I attend to details in 1984 to make inferences about the novel?

  • Can I determine the central idea of the novel 1984?

  • Can I develop and clearly communicate a meaningful and defensible claim about the central idea that represents an evidence-based analysis?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • 1984, George Orwell, Signet Classics, 1949

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will determine a central idea from chapter 3 of 1984.

Reread pages 33-37, beginning with the paragraph that starts, "Since about that time."

Use the following questions to guide your annotations:

  1. What does Winston find frightening?

  2. Which sentences from the passage best illustrate the significance of Winston’s fear?

  3. What central idea is Orwell developing in this passage? What textual evidence supports your conclusion?

Activity 2: Read – Write

We will use our annotations and any notes from our Thematic and Central Ideas Note-Taking Tool to draft a paragraph that determines a central idea from the novel and explains how it is developed by specific details from the text.

Reread the Section 1 Diagnostic Model Response. Use its structure as a template to draft your own claim about this section of 1984.

  • State the central idea.

  • Provide relevant background information and context from the novel.

  • Provide well-chosen textual evidence that supports the central idea.

  • Connect the evidence to the stated central idea.

Use the Connecting Ideas Reference Guide for a list of possible transition words and phrases to use in your paragraph.