3/29 Artem Yatsenko

Aim: How does Orwell use symbols and imagery to demonstrate protest in 1984?

Do Now: Creatively describe the most foul-tasting concoction you can imagine (while remaining appropriate) (Hide this from your team!)

After thinking of a recipe, the next step of the do now was to pair up and tell each other their favorite food. After this, we would take the neighbor's favorite food and see what it was taste like after combining it with the foul-tasting recipe from the first step.

Imagery appeals to at least one of your senses, stimulating your memory in that area. The do now activity represented the steps taken to eradicate the flavor of food by the party in 1984, as the flavors might bring back dangerous memories and ideas. This explains Winston's description of ration chocolate in Chapter 2, where he characterized it as having a taste similar to "the smell of burning rubbish".

Winston's memory of chocolate is an example of a Constructed Symbol, representing the steps taken by the party to tighten their indirect control over people's memories and thoughts. Universal Symbols embody universally recognizable meanings wherever used, and Constructed Symbols are given symbolic meaning by the war an author uses them in a literary work. Motifs are any recurring symbols. While Universal symbols can be used in any work and usually picked up by most readers, Constructed Symbols are created to be used later on in the book.

Winston's dream in chapter 2 uses Constructed Symbols, such as the scarlet sash from the Junior Anti-Sex league, which is intended to represent the young, brainwashed party members in Winston's mind. In his dream, the girl ripping off the sash represents rebellious thoughts and the rejection of the party value of chastity.

Allusions are indirect references to outside events. An example of an allusion is Emmanuel Goldstein, who is used as a scapegoat by the party, and is the main target of the two minutes' hate. This alludes to the antagonizing of Jewish people in Nazi Germany.

At the end of the lesson, we were asked to find ways to incorporate the important symbolic messages of didactic literature into our own theme lesson projects.

3/28 Maya Abraham

Aim: How does 1984 warn its readers about the power of manipulation?

Do Now: Think Pair-Share

Today for our do now, we as a team came up with questions about the novel to share out and have other groups attempt to answer our question. 

We had a thorough discussion on the topic of “ThoughtCrime” because someone asked the question of “How do the Thought Police know what you’re thinking?”, and some people thought that its just used as a scare tactic, where as some people actually feel that the Thought Police actually know what people are thinking. 

After the discussion, we had to do a “write now”, which required us to write about our Monday morning. The class including myself had obvious difficulties while trying to write this out. We discussed why it was so difficult and it’s interesting to see how easily we forget things, even if it was just a few days ago. And this forgetfulness leaves us to be very vulnerable. 

Then Mrs. Fusaro introduced us to a new mini project where we have to use examples from 1984 as well as historical information and personal reflection to create a lesson about our specific theme that we need to teach to other groups. 

Richard Chin Blogger #31 3/27/19

Aim: How can we analyze the symbolism in Winston Smith’s name?

Do Now: Write a diary entry that describes your morning in explicitly detail. When you have completed it, give the diary entry to Ms. Fusaro.

After the do-now, our class as a whole began to investigate the meaning and reference behind the fictional protagonist’s name, Winston Smith, in the book 1984. As a start, we listened to Winston Churchill’s speech in order to achieve a better understanding of what kind of person Churchill was.

• Audio: https://1d4vws37vmp124vlehygoxxd-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/1938-10-16_BBC_Winston_Churchill_We_Must_Arm.mp3

Using the knowledge we obtained from Churchill’s “The Lights Are Going Out” speech, we compared Winston Churchill to Winston Smith, coming to the conclusion that George Orwell (the author of the book 1984) decided to name and model his protagonist after the famous leader and Prime Minister of Britain (Winston Churchill) for several reasons. Here are some of them:

1. Winston Churchill was seen as the “hope” of Britain, giving speeches to keep British spirits high during their struggle in World War II 
2. Churchill spent a lot of time warning his countrymen about the perils of German nationalism, acting as an idea of resistance and fighting back against an oppressive government (just like how Winston Smith was against the government under Big Brother)

Understanding more why George Orwell decided to name his character’s first name with “Winston”, our class headed on to the next part: why did he choose “Smith” as his protagonist’s last name and what is Orwell trying to tell the reader through the creation of the character Winston Smith? After discussing about these two questions above in our little groups, we came up with these solutions.

1. With “Smith” being a very common last name in the English language (the family name), it allows the readers to see Winston Smith as an ordinary man who finds the strength to attempt in making his circumstances better (as “Smith” represents the common person).
2. By creating Winston Smith this way, Orwell is telling the reader that individuality and the ability to take action are characteristics that every person should be able to have (“Question the world around you”).

Blogger #7-30 3/26/19

Aim: How does Orwell explicate connotation, denotation, and paradox through double think
     Do Now: For the images below create 2 columns. One column for "what is seen" and another for "what does it mean.

Definitions:
> Connotations - the emotional association surrounding a word
> Denotation - the strict dictionary meaning of a word (ex. HOUSE, BUG, CAR)

~Note -- think of "denote" as the "dictionary" and "connote" as "feel" 

> Paradox - a statement that seems to contradict itself

ex. Pinocchio - "My nose will grow"

-If Pinocchio is lying his nose will grow, but that means his statement is true, and his nose won't grow. But, since his nose won't grow, that means he is lying.... etc.


We then watched an clip from an old movie with an example of a paradox:
"One will always tell the truth, and one will always lie" -- unknown movie



Group Work: Each group will be given a specific task in the allotted 10 minutes. Groups are responsible to complete and present their tasks to the other groups. Audience groups, please follow good etiquette guild lines when reflection on your classmates.
(Using double speak and your knowledge of diction, to create your responses)

~Task A: You are an employer looking to hire someone to clean port-o-potties at construction sites. You have tried advertising before, but have not received any applications.
-"Come work for us and you'll be the king of the throne!"

~Task B: You are a girlfriend who has fallen out of love with her boyfriend of five years. You care deeply for this person, but just not in the way you use to.
-" Chad, I love you, but I don't love you in that way.
    I am happy, but I'm not happy with you.
    I am comfortable with you, but being with you makes me uncomfortable.
    I care about you, but I just don't care enough about you."

~Task C: You were a successful stock broker, until recently. you have lost $750,000 of your top client's investment. Your quarterly meeting where you report your activity is coming up very soon.
-"There wasn't much profit, but it's fine, just leave everything to me."

~Task D: You were given a beautiful antique peace of jewelry by your grandmother when you were a child. Now, that you have grown, she has recently asked to see you wear the piece of jewelry. When you head to your jewelry box, you realize that was the piece you sold when you brought your new laptop a few years ago. 
-" I love it very much, but I feel unworthy of wearing it as it's so beautiful."

~Task E: You were recently hired b a children's birthday party hall to bringing new clients. You learn that the recent downturn of clientele is because the clown (who is the owner) scares the children miserably.
-" Bring your children here, and they'll have a scary good time. They will be up all night talking               about it."

~Task F: You recently borrowed your friend's car to head to an interview. While driving home, you spilled your burrito all over the backseat. While you were able to clean most of it up, there are obvious stains and a stink that won't quit. 
-" Purposely a brown spotted pattern, as it's highly fashionable. It reminds you of your childhood, of      much happier times"

Would Orwell think we are wasting time by discussion "double think" so in depth? Why or Why not?
No, because double think is everywhere, and it manipulates people by not telling the whole truth.
It's used in advertisements, propaganda, the government, and it's important for us to understand how words can be manipulated to control others.

Prince Zhang 3/25/19

Aim: How does Winston’s time in the prole district elucidate the theme of “the importance of having knowledge about the past in order to understand the future”?

Do Now: Part 1 Quiz

Do Now: Think-Pair-Share: 

We talked about the First Thanksgiving, discussing the lie that we have been taught in grade school when we were younger, and then reflecting on the horrible truths of what atrocities really occurred back then.

We also talked about how history can be manipulated to make it seem happier, more appealing, and brighter. In Wonston’s case, the people of Oceania were manipulated to believe that 2+2=5 becaus ehteir minds are so vulnerable to being brainwashed. This goes back to George Orwell’s writing style and purpose, which is to question the world around you.

We later talked about how there is hope in the people who are old enough to no be brainwashed by the government and that there needs to be a group of these people to overcome the governments twisted system. Otherwise, once the new generation comes, there will be no hope in being able to rebel against the government because there won’t be any thinkers left in the world.

Stanley Yu Blogger #28 3/22/19

Aim: How does the setting of 1984 contribute to the mood and tone of the novel?

At the beginning of today’s class, students reviewed an exam about the book, Animal Farm and asked questions about any misunderstandings we had to Ms. Fusaro.

Students were paired up and asked to share their own description of Oceania with their partner. Some descriptions shared with the class was that Oceania would be very quiet and peaceful because tourists wouldnt be able to speak about ideas in their mind due to the government. Also, safety is guaranteed. The government in Oceania is always watching you, and they are always taking care of problems for you. 

We then discussed how setting is important in a book. The setting is important to the mood of the story, how it effects the motifs of the characters in the book. For example, in 1984, since the government is always watching people, it creates a dark and dreary mood. 

Next, we had an elaborate conversation on palimpsest. We discussed how rewriting history in order to keep it up to date, will change the past and the government will have complete control of the future. Since there is no definitive answer, people’s minds can by influenced easily. An example of an event that people can change was 9/11. Age influences the existence of an event. Since the students in the class were all borin in 2003, we weren’t able to experience or see the attack on the twin towers. Human flaw of sharing and interpreting an event creates a misunderstanding. Memory is malleable. 

Then, the class discussed a character named Syme in the book 1984. His job is to destroy words, which elimates thought crime. Words that can be eliminated was the word love, freedom, revenge, ad anger. Syme has a passion and is eager to destroy words. He is irony. The thoughts he is excited about would be erased after he finishes his job. He describes the destruction of words as being beautiful. 

Finally towards the end of the class, we watched a clip from 1984. We observed how people were acting and reacting towards Goldstein, their main enemy. Everyone in the crowd was yelling and screaming over him, not listening to what he was saying. These people were brainwashed. The sudden relieve in the crowd after Goldstein leaving the screen shows how brainwashed they are.  Also after one of the members in the crowd does their pledge, everyone follows along. We then discussed how Winston feels toward the dark haired girl. We believe that he is suspicious of her, thinking that she is a spy, and how he has very dark thoughts of what he is going to do to her.  

Jackie Xue’s Blog 3/21/19

At the beginning of the class, we had to take a vocab quiz. After that, we had a DO NOW which was to silently stare at 3 different classmates and write down what we thought they were thinking. Most of the people that shared their thoughts got their points deducted, but the people that said
something related to the government received points. This was because in Soviet Russia, everybody had thoughts on the corrupt government.

After the DO NOW, we had a class discussion on the topic of “thought crime.”  Thought crime is an instance of unorthodox thinking and is considered as socially unacceptable.

Group work: Analyze the party’s mottos: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
Create three mottos for Staten Island, some mottos - potholes are smooth, crowded is empty, peace is chaos, unity is isolation, Hylan boulevard is safe

Elizabeth Vesialou Blogger #26 3/19/19

Aim: How does language construct thought?

Do Now: Write a 6 line poem about falling in love - in Russian. You are not permitted to use any type of translation device (this includes native speakers!). If you are a native Russian speaker write the poem in Spanish or Italian).

The poems above were some of the better ones earning team points. After reading a few poems aloud, Ms. Fusaro had us discuss why these poems were so difficult to write. We agreed that it was due to our limited vocabulary or grammar in the languages. 

We then proceeded to play the game Taboo. In this game somebody gets a word and has to think of five words that are associated with the given word. Then they proceed to explain the given word to a partner working their way around using the five associated words until the partner guesses the given word. 

We played our own games of Taboo with tangible objects as our given word. After playing them, we realized that it wasn't too difficult and Ms. Fusaro explained that tangible objects are easier to explain than ideas. Can you guess what we did next??? Yep! We played Taboo with ideas. We each got an envelope with four ideas we had to write five associated words for. Then we switched between groups to watch them play Taboo using our given and associated words. 

We ended the class by discussing the aim within groups but didn't get to discuss as a class because the bell rang. Our group talked about how the more language you have, the better you can express your thoughts because your thoughts aren't tangible and aren't easy to understand. So, it would require more vocabulary and effort for others to understand them. 

Gregory Sarn 7-24

Today we established the new rules that will be enforced in the classroom:

-  Nevermind it was a hoax, to show what 1984 is like, no new rules will be established.
-  After the scare we were instructed to journal for 3 minutes about the freedoms we take for granted.
-  Mrs. Fusaro tells us a story, that shows us how our culture dictates respect, like when someone’s being weird to you, you dont tell them to get away, you quietly move away.

- We then states our opinions on given statements:

- Either agree disagree or neutral

- We then discussed our choices with our group

Ramim Tarafdar Blogger #25 3/18/2019

March 18, 2019

Aim: How is man torn between the desire to conform and the desire to be an individual?

Group Discussion:

Discuss how you felt coming into the classroom and learning of the new rules. 

- “I was shocked to hear these rules coming from you considering you aren’t the type of teacher to enforce such rules in your classroom.”

- “I was genuinely confused as to what we had done to cause these drastic rule changes and also started to think of who to blame.”

Write Now:

Journal, silently, for at least 3 minutes, about the freedoms you are granted and denied in your home and community. What are the reasons for the denials? Do you accept these reasons? Share. 

- “Whenever I try to have a conversation with my mother, I’m told I have an attitude or I’m completely denied. Her reasons for denying me when I ask her for something are always ‘because I said so.’”

- “My parents are similar but strict in that I’m not allowed to go anywhere alone and I have curfews, which is understandable because I am a girl and she’s worried.”

- “I’m not allowed to do anything unless it’s arranged months in advanced. I’m not allowed to close the door to my room.”

- “I’m not allowed to go anywhere outside of Staten Island even if it is with other people.”

Haylie Payne, Blogger #23 3/11/19

Aim: How does Orwell criticize society through Boxer and Benjamin?

With a partner, discuss and write about 2 images. Consider the message, the audience, the perspective, the bias, and the persuasive technique. How should you respond as a Tech student? How should the intended audience respond? Why?

The intended audience for the first image could be unhealthy eaters or people unaware of soda’s health risks. There isn’t a bias, but is mostly informing them about the health concerns. It uses a “fear tactic” to get people to avoid drinking soda.

The Facebook ad is satirical. It plays on old war-era posters. By posting to social media, people think they are contributing to something greater and making an impact while they are not.

The PETA ad uses pathos. It plays with your emotions by telling you that eating meat will kill animals. The bias would be against meat industries.

The last one shows soldiers shows American soldiers murdering babies. This is to influence the North Korean people into being against the American government. 

We were also given a scenario and asked what we would do if we were presented with this situation.

Trent McGovern, Blogger #22 3/7/19

Trent McGovern
Mrs. Fusaro-Pizzo, Blogger #22
March 7, 2019
Sophomores, Period 7

Aim: How does Animal Farm demonstrate persuasive manipulations?

First we did a reading check quiz on chapters 4-7.

After that, we continued yesterday's lesson by going over more examples of persuasion.

Bandwagon: A statement suggesting that everyone is using a specific product. Examples of this are peer pressure and the phrase "all the cool kids are doing it".

We watched an Old Navy Commercial where a kid was asking his mom to get him the clothes that all the other kids were wearing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dQRCOEeHaY

Expert Opinion (Logos): Experts approve this product, so you should use it.
"Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum."

We then did a quick review of all the other persuasion techniques we learned:
Slogan
Repetition
Bandwagon
Testimonial (Ethos)
Emotional Appeal (Pathos)
Expert Opinion (Logos)

Audience Awareness:
-Advertisers know how to target their audiences, they use appropriate persuasive techniques.

We then watched a commercial about a former smoker from the CDC, and wrote down some persuasive techniques used in the commercial, and who the commercial appealed to.
Class Discussion:
-Appeals to smokers
-Appeals to non-smokers who are interested in smoking
-Pathos: makes you feel strongly about the negative effects of smoking
-Logos: funded by organization, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), which people trust

Who is the audience?
We then saw a McDonald's ad that was promoting the Minion toys.
This appeals to kids who are going to ask their parents to take them to McDonald's to get the toys

We then saw an ad for diet coke featuring Taylor Swift:
Class Discussion:
-Appeals to 12-25 year olds
-Ethos (celebrity)



Jimmy Choo Man poster featuring actor Kit Harrington from Game of Thrones:
Class Discussion:
-Appeals to fans of the show, as well as women who find him attractive
-sex appeal



Advertisement for a medicine with the words "It was a year ago that I had a heart attack and died" in large text.
Class Discussion:
-pathos: showing dad with his son, appealing to families

Heinz Tomato Ketchup Ad
Class Discussion:
-This ad gives off the impression that Heinz ketchup is fresh and made with real tomatoes.
-Appeals to people who want more natural products
-Appeals to people who don't think ketchup is good for them and makes them think that it is fresh and healthy




Relevant facts (from last year):
-Advertisers spend about $200 billion a year on TV advertising.
-The average cost for Super Bowl ads is $127 million per 30 second spot
-The average American watches about 24,000 TV commercials a year

Extra facts from class discussion:
-The color red makes you hungry, which is why it is used for many fast food brands such as McDonald's or Burger King.
-Children under two are very likely to get addicted to a product with sugar in it, causing them to want more of it as they grow older

Reflection:
"Persuasion is all around you"
In addition to TV commercials, where do you see persuasion all around you? Is that persuasion influencing you or your family in any way? Explain.
Class discussion:
-Music from Ice Cream trucks is instantly recognizable
-Politicians use persuasion all the time to try to get you on their side
-All news sources are biased in some way and try to get you to agree with their ideologies.

Group Work:
-Which animals use persuasion? How? Why?
-How is understanding this important to our daily lives?
Class discussion:
-Squealer frequently tries to persuade all the other animals to get them on Napoleon's side.
-Old Major persuaded everyone to rebel against the humans using pathos, logos, and ethos.

Jade Lombardo Blogger #21 3/6/19

Aim: How does Animal Farm demonstrate persuasive manipulation?

Do Now- How would you react and feel if the rules for correct behavior kept changing? Has this happened in recent history? Is this happening in Animal Farm?

It would be hard to keep up with rules for correct behavior if they kept changing. Changes that happen over time could be good, with examples of the US being more accepting and having less discrimination. This is happening in Animal Farm, because the people who were supporting Snowball are now supporting Napoleon. This is because of they keep supporting Snowball even if he was exiled, they themselves would be exiled by Napoleon, which forces them to change their behavior. 

Whole Group Discussion- What do the relationships with neighboring farms demonstrate about Animal Farm, and more importantly, what does it say about neighboring countries?

Animal Farm had relationships with other farms like a Non-Aggression Pact. This is what happened in WWII with Hitler and Stalin. They made a pact so that they would not attack each other, but they weren’t really allies. This is the relationship Animal Farm has with other farms. 

Notes-

-Squealer in Animal Farm is propaganda 

-All persuasion can be interpreted as propaganda 

-Important to note that not all persuasion is propaganda 

-The modern world is always trying to persuade you 

What is persuasion?

A means of convincing people to buy a certain product, act a certain way, or agree with someone. 

Ways used to persuade people-

-Slogan: A catchy phrase or statement often used to sell a service or a product. (Ex: Subway-Eat Fresh)

-Repetition: The name of a product is repeated many times. (Ex: Head On Commercial, Kars for Kids Commercial)

-Testimonial: A well known person supports a product or service. (Ex: Trump Steaks)

-Emotional Appeal (Pathos): A person is made to have strong feelings about a situation or product. (Ex: All the commercials were animals are hurt, and make you cry)

Kelly Lin, Blogger #20 3/5/19

Aim: How does allegory drives the true meaning of Animal Farm?

Share Out:

Explain the allegorical purpose of Moses and Sugarcandy Mountain.

We begin to relate Sugarcandy Mountain to religion, specifically the Russian Orthodox, and how during the time of spreading of communism, people stop believing in religion when the government start taking place.

Group Work:

What really going on? Since we know Aniaml Farm  is an allegory to Russian Revolution, let’s analyze the happening on the farm and connect it to what Orwell really intended.
A. Allegory
B. Author’s Purpose

1. Milk and apples for the pig
Shows Social class gap, telling readers that communism isn’t working.
2. Napoleon taking the puppies away form Jessie & Bluebell
A leader taking the children away and re-educating them to go against their family and obey their leader.
3. Benjamin’s response: “Donkeys lives long time.”
4. The cat and Mollie skirting work, while Boxer works enough for three horses.
Some people are working more and some are working less but in the end they all end up with same benefit, showing how this is not fair.

Everyone discussed within their group