Syllabus for February 4 - 8
YOUR ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER FOR 1984 will explore how a theme in the novel connects to a newsworthy event or issue that’s been reported in The New York Times. This week we will work on the research using the NYT database, writing an annotated bibliography, and drafting your paper. Students should also obtain their copy of Charles Dickens’s novel, Great Expectations (edition pictured below)
Monday
Discussion over themes in the novel 1984. What themes are MOST interesting to you? We will start with unrequieted love, and then brainstorm a list of issues. Students should post your own most interesting theme on our class blog. After enrolling a free, New York Times account, students will begin researching how their theme has emerged in the news. Collecting annotations after students complete a self-assessment.
HW: Begin researching your theme in the NYT database.
This is the edition you will need for our reading of Great Expectations, the Penguin Classics edition.
Tuesday
Returning graded annotations. Creating key-word databases using visual thesaurus and the articles you find on the NYT database. Beginning to gather resources, and reading articles to find out more about a selected news event or issue.
HW: Read at least two articles, annotating them ON PAPER: how do they connect to the novel? Skim through the novel, searching for quotes on your theme as well.
Wednesday
Writing an annotated bibliography. How is this different from notes in the margins of your novel?
HW: Write two annotations for two articles. Locate three additional articles for the library tomorrow.
Thursday
In library, working on annotated bibliography to a 2-3 page paper on the novel and your event / issue from the NYT.
HW: Finish gathering sources, writing annotated bib as you go.
Friday
Second and final day in library. Students will finish writing the annotated bibliography and begin writing the first draft of essay.
HW: Essay on 1984 due Monday. Have your copy of GE in class on Monday as well.