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Lesson 8

We will participate in a Socratic Seminar. We will use the evidence from the novel as well as other supporting texts we have read to pose new questions, support our responses to our classmates’ questions, and develop a more critical understanding of the themes and ideas found in 1984. Finally, we will write short, personal reflections about the seminar and our participation in the seminar.

Lesson Goals

Reading and Knowledge

  • Question: How well do I formulate and use questions to establish and deepen my understanding of 1984?
  • Determine Meaning and Purpose: How well do I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about Orwell’s perspective, purpose, and meaning in 1984?

Speaking and Listening

  • Listen: How well do I pay attention to and acknowledge others while thoughtfully considering their ideas?
  • Generate Ideas: How well do I generate and develop ideas about the text?
  • Remain Open: How well do I change my ideas or perspective based on new, credible information and experiences?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss – Listen

We will engage in a Socratic Seminar.

Utilize evidence from 1984 and any other texts you have read during the unit, as well as the following question, to guide the Socratic Seminar:

  1. How can storytelling be a powerful medium for sending messages to society?

Continue the seminar by asking one of your open-ended questions to the group. Anyone can respond and start a discussion. Remember, this is a discussion, not a question-and-answer session.

Activity 2: Read – Write

We will reflect on our discussion in our Learning Logs.

Respond to the following questions in your Learning Logs:

  1. How did the seminar deepen my understanding of the topic?

  2. What new questions emerged for me during the seminar?

  3. What else do I need to investigate or research in order to be successful on the Culminating Task?

Activity 3: Read – Write

For homework, we will assess how prepared we are for the Culminating Task.

For homework, think about all you have learned and done during this unit. Evaluate your skills and knowledge on the Culminating Task Progress Tracker.

  1. How prepared are you to succeed on the Culminating Task?

  2. What do you need to know and learn to do to succeed?