Unit 1- The Impact of Words
Big Idea: Words are Powerful
Essential Question: How do authors use language to affect an audience?
Materials: 1984 novel
Gold Literature text
Assignment 1- Read 1984 Book 1, Chapters 1-8
Answer study questions in resources, or take Cornell notes
Assignment 2- Shakespeare sonnets p. 106-113 in text
Answer questions for sections
 Understand the Selection
 Think about Rhyme
 Develop Your Vocabulary
Assignment 3- Work on two PowerPoint slides to be a part of the end of the semester project.
These slides will focus on the elements of poetry definitions and examples.
Assignment 4- The main character of 1984, Winston Smith, starts to keep a diary, which in itself
is a political act of rebellion. Write 5 diary entries in which you exercise your freedom of
expression and show understanding of how Winston’s process of self-awakening begins.
Assignment 5- Short cycle assessment test in class.
Unit 2-Learning from the Past
Big Idea: Historical Relevance
Essential Question: How do we use history to make decisions about today?
Materials: 1984 novel
Gold Literature text
Assignment 1- Read 1984 Book 2, Chapters 1-10
Answer study questions in resources, or take Cornell notes
Assignment 2- Beowulf p. 4-11 in text
Answer questions for sections
 Understand the Selection
 Think about Character
 Develop Your Vocabulary
Assignment 3-Work on two PowerPoint slides to be a part of the end of the semester project.
These slides will focus on the figures of speech and examples.
Assignment 4- Write a 5 paragraph narrative referencing Beowulf. Directions on pg. 10 of the
text, Write about the Selection.
Assignment 5- Short cycle assessment test in class.
Unit 3-Rights and Responsibilities
Big Idea: We have rights and responsibilities in society.
Essential Question: How do we responsibly exercise our rights?
Materials: 1984 novel
Gold Literature text
Assignment 1- Read 1984 Book 3, Chapters 1-6
Answer study questions in resources, or take Cornell notes
Assignment 2- Canterbury Tales, pg. 12-19 in text
Answer questions for sections
 Understand the Selection
 Think about Theme
 Develop Your Vocabulary
Assignment 3-Work on two PowerPoint slides to be a part of the end of the semester project.
These slides will focus on the elements of an argumentative essay and examples.
Assignment 4-Write a 5 paragraph argumentative essay to answer the essential question-How
do we responsibly exercise our rights?
Assignment 5- Short cycle assessment test in class.
Unit 4-Media and the Message
Big Idea: The power of the media
Essential Question: How does the media shape our view of the world and ourselves?
Materials: 1984 novel
Gold Literature text
Assignment 1- Most students in American classrooms know the words to the U.S. Pledge of
Allegiance. The words are a kind of automatic language. We say them easily—perhaps every
day, but we may not think in detail about what we are saying. Explore this rote learning and your
own right to freedom of speech by examining the Pledge of Allegiance from a historical and
personal perspective (research it) and in relationship to fictional situations in novel 1984. Think
about pledges that you are willing to make and how you express your freedom of speech. Use
Winston Smith as an example to write a pledge he might make. Use the resources found on the
Haiku page. Post it on Haiku under the discussion table and comment on someone else’s
pledge.
Assignment 2- “Shooting An Elephant” p. 450-461 in text
Answer questions for sections
 Understand the Selection
 Think about Narration
 Develop Your Vocabulary
Assignment 3-Work on two PowerPoint slides to be a part of the end of the semester project.
These slides will focus on the elements of a research paper and examples of MLA and APA
style.
Assignment 4-Write an informational summary with directions from the text, pg. 460, Write about
the Selection.
Assignment 5- Short cycle assessment test in class.
Credit 5-End project
1-Present PowerPoint slides in a presentation to your teacher
2- With an essay or project, answer the questions: What is the role of government and how
does it affect you? How do you influence it?