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Lesson 9

We will finish the unit by engaging in a whole-class discussion about 1984. We will also discuss the writing process for the Culminating Task and identify possible pathways to explore for the Application Unit.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I think about and evaluate personal development?

  • Can I actively focus my attention in a whole-class discussion?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss

We will engage in a whole-class discussion to share our understanding of 1984 and consider questions we might further explore. This will help us express our understanding of the themes of the text and prepare for the Application Unit.

Review the Central Question for this unit:

How can stories send messages to societies?

Discuss the following questions:

  1. Why do you think a novel published in 1949 still resonates with readers today?

  2. What was the process of writing a narrative story like compared to an informative or argumentative piece? Which was easier? Why?

Activity 2: Discuss

We will examine and discuss possible connections among the unit, other units from the year, and the research we might choose to do in the final Application Unit.

Follow along as your teacher overviews the Application Unit and the collaborative and independent research project you will be doing to complete the year’s learning. Ask questions about what will be expected of you and what options you will have for completing the culminating project.

Individually, reflect on what interested you during this unit and what you might want to explore further. Capture these reflections on the Application Unit Potential Topics Tool. Use the following questions to help guide your reflection:

  1. Were there any particular topics or texts that captured your attention? Why?

  2. What about each text or topic do you still want to study? What questions do you still have? Write these down in the Questions or Subtopics to Explore column.

  3. How would you begin to research each text or topic?

As a class or in groups, have a final discussion about what engaged you in this unit as well as what and how you might want to study further for the final Application Unit.