1. Politics and the English Language(PEL)–Tomorrow, be prepared to thoroughly explore how Orwell develops his thesis. I expect to see you illustrate control of Orwell’s argument. There will be no small-group preparation; we will begin and end in whole group discussion. I cannot stress enough…you must keep in the fore of your mind the historical context from which PEL and 1984 were born. In many ways, both texts serve as a response to the socio-economic-political situation of WWII Europe–a situation wherein people by the millions were disenfranchised, impoverished, and killed. Accordingly, Orwell is considered to be one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century because of his response(s) to that situation. Further, as stated in class, it is critical that we UNDERSTAND Orwell’s position. So, read not to contradict and confute, but to weigh and consider.
Tonight, you must find a source illustrating one of Orwell’s points in PEL. The source might be a newspaper article, a political speech, etc. Then, in your binder, discuss the piece (At least one fully developed paragraph) and how it illustrates Orwell’s argument. Do not “wing” this…I expect to see an organized, thoughtful discussion of your source as you identify how it reflects Orwell’s issue(s) with political writing. Most importantly perhaps, I want you to understand that Orwell’s message with respect to Politics and Language is relevant today.
