Title: Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA Surveillance Reports
Date: 11 Jun. 2013
Grade: 9 - 12
Subject: Current Events/
English Literature
URL: http://www.newsy.com/videos/sales-of-orwell-s-1984-surge-amid-nsa-surveillance-reports/
Teacher Information: This Newsy video can
serve as a springboard to discussions on privacy
issues as described/forecasted in George
Orwell’s novel 1984 and how these predictions
may or may not be relevant in today’s world.
Students can also explore other themes of the
novel including propaganda and totalitarianism.
Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA
Surveillance Reports
June 11, 2013
This lesson can be completed in one 50-minute
class period.
by A.J. Feather
Phase
Preparation
Watch
Re-watch
and answer
Group Work
Discussion
Task(s)
Time
Write on the board before students enter the room: “Amid reports of NSA surveillance
of Verizon cell phone records, many are drawing comparisons to George Orwell’s
dystopian novel 1984 written in 1949.” Brainstorm the following terms to review:
“Dystopian”, “Big Brother”, “Omnipresent Government”, “Perpetual War”, “Freedom”,
“Surveillance”, “Privacy”, “Social Control”, and “Individualism vs. the State”.
As a class watch the Newsy.com video: Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA
Surveillance Reports
Re-watch in pairs and have students answer the questions on the worksheet provided
at the end of the lesson plan.
Have students form into groups of four or five and discuss the following questions:
 How is Orwell’s world in 1984 similar or different from modern-day America?
 Are the major themes of the book still relevant today? Why or why not?
 How have our freedoms and privacy been limited by government and other
entities since the advent of the “War on Terror” and the enactment of laws
such as the Patriot Act? How are these similar or dissimilar to the issues which
Orwell was concerned with in his book?
 Do you think that the concessions that we as a people have made are justified
considering the current state of the world (that is, is the NSA spy program
really a big deal after all)? Why or why not?
 How do you think that the original writers of the Constitution would chime in
on the issue of privacy in modern times? Support your answer.
Full class discussion on the topic and share ideas with the rest of the class.
Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA Surveillance Reports
5 min
2:28 min
12 min
20 min
10 min
Title: Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA Surveillance Reports
Extended Learning Activities – Optional
Parent Involvement
Reflection
Research
Report
Have students share the ideas discussed in class with
their parents. How do their parents feel about the right
to privacy and the recent events with the NSA as they
relate to Orwell’s book 1984? Students share their
parents’ ideas with the rest of the class.
Students can write a journal entry on how they feel
about privacy issues vs. government “protection” of its
citizens and why they feel this way. If they choose,
students can share their entries with the class and enter
into a dialogue with other students who disagree with
their position.
Students can research privacy issues and freedoms in
other countries and compare them to the United States
and Orwell’s world.
Students can create a PowerPoint presentation using the
information they have researched, and compare and
contrast freedom and privacy around the world.
Considering the freedoms granted by the Constitution,
current events and laws, and the situations of citizens of
other countries, determine whether or not the ends
justify the means as far as privacy is concerned. Is it too
late to turn back the clock?
varies
varies
varies
varies
Looking for related resources? Check out…
United States Department of Justice
This site presents the highlights of the USA Patriot Act including how the law helps prevent terrorism, drug
trafficking, and organized crime through a variety of surveillance methods.
http://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/highlights.htm
American Civil Liberties Union
Learn about how the ACLU is challenging the National Security Agency and the Patriot Act through the courts. This
site includes links to other issues regarding the protection of Constitutional rights.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security-technology-and-liberty/aclu-files-lawsuit-challenging-nsas-patriot-actphone
Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA Surveillance Reports
ThinkQuest
This student-created site offers a brief introduction to the totalitarian system of government. Includes a quiz and
information on the origins of the system, pros and cons, features, and impacts on society.
http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00540/totalitarianism.html
Privacy Law in the USA
This site provides a breakdown of United States laws regarding privacy. NOTE: The site has not been updated in
some time, but it provides a general picture of pre-Patriot Act privacy laws.
http://www.rbs2.com/privacy.htm
CNN
The author of this article supports the viewpoint that while in modern times we lack privacy, it is still not the same
thing that Orwell predicted in the novel 1984.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/23/tech/social-media/web-1984-orwell-cashmore
Historic Documents: U.S. Constitution | eThemes | eMINTS (grades 3 – 12)
These sites cover the history of the Constitution of the United States. Includes information about the Constitution’s
signers and the Articles of Confederation, a document that some consider the original constitution. Classroom
activity ideas are included. There are links to eThemes Resources on the branches of government and the Bill of . . .
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/871
Literature: “1984” by George Orwell | eThemes | eMINTS (grades 9 – 12)
These sites are about the book "1984" written by George Orwell. Includes a teacher's guide, a student guide,
lesson plan ideas, a biography of the author, a video summary, quizzes, discussion questions, and activities.
Includes information about the right to privacy, totalitarianism, and propaganda. Also includes a link to the . . .
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/2139
Sales of Orwell's '1984' Surge Amid NSA Surveillance Reports