Name: _____________________________________
Date: ______________
Period: _________ Prompt #: ______
George Orwell’s 1984: Final Literary Criticism Essay
As your final seminar essay, you will write on one of the following prompts, making sure that your direct focus is the
associated literary criticism. Your essay must be 4-6 pages in length, with a minimum of eight direct quotes from the text to
support and warrant your claims. You must show that you fully understand both the novel and the Psychological Literary
Criticism Lens. As always, your essay must follow MLA format, include a strong introduction and conclusion, and show
complete understanding in formatting essays, together with heading, title, page numbers, parenthetical citations, and work
cited. Your essay is due the day you take your final exam.
Psychological Literary Lens
1. Discuss the significance and nature of Winston's dreams. Deconstruct the dream wherein O'Brien claims that they "shall
meet in a place where there is no darkness" (page 25), and the dream in which Winston's mother and sister disappear
(page 29). QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: What are the underpinnings of these dreams? What deeper meanings do they
hold? Why do you think the author devotes as much time as he does to Winston's dreams?
2. A significant part of Winston's characterization revolves around his conflicting thoughts about sexuality and his desire for
a physical relationship. Examine depictions of this in the book (dark fantasies about the dark-haired girl; relationship with
his wife/encounter with the prostitute) as well as the development of the physical relationship with Julia and the possible
Oedipal implications of his relationship with his mother. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: What is the relationship between
procreation and totalitarianism? How are Winston's sexual identity and "issues" representative of larger themes?
Argumentative Writing Rubric
Criteria
Introduction
- Engages the reader without being cliché (W.11-12.1A)
- Introduces a precise argument and establishes significance (W.11-12.1A)
Thesis Statement
- Clearly addresses the prompt (W.11-12.1A)
- Previews the claims/counterclaims (W.11-12.1A)
Claims/Counterclaims
- Clearly states the claims/counterclaims of each paragraph (W.11-12.1B)
- Evidently connected to the overall argument (W.11-12.1B)
Data
- Supports claims/counterclaims with well-chosen, relevant data (W.11-12.1B)
- Integrated using signal phrases (W.11-12.1C)
Warrants
- Discusses data, clarifying relationships to argument (W.11-12.1C)
- Appropriate to audience’s knowledge, concerns, values, biases (W.11-12.1B)
Transitions
- Uses transition words and phrases within paragraphs (W.11-12.1C)
- Includes transition sentences between paragraphs (W.11-12.1C)
Conclusion
- Rephrases thesis statement and reviews claims/counterclaims (W.11-12.1E)
- Follows from and supports the argument presented (W.11-12.1E)
Style, and Tone
- Establishes a formal style and engaging, objective tone (W.11-12.1D)
- Varies syntax (W.11-12.C)
Usage and Mechanics
- Demonstrates command of grammar and usage (L.11-12.1)
- Demonstrates command of capitalization, punctuation, spelling (L.11-12.2)
MLA Format and Citation
- Formats paper following MLA guidelines (W. 11-12.1D)
- Uses correct in-text citation for all data (W. 11-12.1D)
- Includes work cited entry for each source (W. 11-12.1D)
Knowledge of Novel
- Demonstrates thorough comprehension of the novel (RL.11-12.10)
Knowledge of Critical Lens
- Demonstrates thorough understanding of critical lens (RL.11-12.9)
Score
Comments
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
10 8
6
4
2
25 20 15 10 5
25 20 15 10 5
Total Score: _____/ 150