Animal Farm Background Research

George Orwell’s novella Animal Farm, according to some critics, relates the history of Soviet Communism in the form of an allegory or fable. The word “allegory” comes from the Greek words allos which means “other” and the Greek word agoreuein which means “to speak.” An allegory then is “a speaking of other” or a story or tale that uses its characters, setting, and events to represent morals or values. An allegory is usually instructive. A fable is a tale that uses animals to teach a moral lesson. Other critics think that Orwell created a “fairy story” to relate his message. Regardless of the form, all critics agree that Orwell’s novella uses animals to represent actual figures influential in the rise to power of the Communist Party in Soviet Russia.

To understand Orwell’s message then, readers must have some knowledge of Soviet history, beginning with the Russian Revolution of 1917. For each of us to gain this knowledge in a short period of time could be challenging. Therefore, we are going to “divide and conquer”! Each person in the class will research an assigned topic and report findings back to the class. The presentation of this material will be done in a “round table” fashion. Each student will be charged with the important task of “teaching” or “educating” his peers about what he has learned.

Doing your part and doing it well is crucial to our understanding of the novella and to scoring well on a test that will follow the presentations. The following guidelines will help you do your best:

1. Remember YOU are the teacher. YOU must deliver your information clearly and succinctly. Your classmates will be taking notes on your findings, so make sure YOU understand the material and that you are organized and ready on presentation day.

2. Present the BASICS and include relevant details. You will only have three or four minutes to present, so prepare accordingly. Follow the five tenets of good reporting: who, what, where, when, and why. Repeatedly ask yourself WHY or HOW this information is important. The answers will help you choose the material needed to educate your audience.

3. You may include visuals, handouts, or charts. If you need a class set of a specific handout, I will make these for you if they are given to me at least one day in advance.

Grading: I will be grading you on how organized, complete, and appropriate your presentation is. Furthermore, you will receive a presentation grade and another major grade (for the research process and products) at the culmination of the entire project.

Test: There will be a test! You are responsible for taking notes during presentations. You will be able to use your handwritten notes on the test day; if you lose them, you will have to take the test without this support. Keep yourself organized!

PRESENTATIONS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, APRIL 25

Rubric for Animal Farm Presentations

Name: _________________________ Topic:__________________________________

Presenter used time wisely. (If redirection or correction is needed, the maximum score allowed will be 2 on the scoring guide below.)

1 2 3 4 5

Presenter is prepared. (Have your information organized and in a form that is easy for you to use. Don’t fumble around with misplaced notes. AVOID saying “like,” “uh,” or “you know.” Be ready!)

1 2 3 4 5

Presented information is complete. (Make sure you are giving all of the information needed to understand your topic. Be sure to connect your topic to the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Communist Party. Some dates are important, but don’t overrun your audience with needless dates.) Remember, you are the teacher!

1 2 3 4 5

Information is delivered clearly. (Know your material and know why it is important. Speak loud enough to be heard and pace yourself so the other students can take notes. Don’t be silly or try to amuse your audience. This is serious business.)

1 2 3 4 5

_____________Total X 5= ________________Final Score