Today's In-Class 1A Assignment: You Will Be Asked To Present
For Todays In Class 1as Assignment You Will Be Asked To Present Evid
For today's in-class 1AS assignment, you will be asked to present evidence of research you've done on 1984 and its modern-day connections. Today's discussion board post focuses on the concept of surveillance (as it pertains to both 1984 and the modern world), but you are also welcome to explore other themes during class time -- just make sure that your discussion board post meets the requirements as assigned. By the end of today's class, I would like you to submit "proof" that you have been utilizing both the traditional search engines and our campus's academic databases to acquire new information about the connections between 1984 and the present day. This should include the following: A minimum of three separate paragraphs/entries that provide a one-paragraph summary of each source you've found (do not copy/paste summaries or abstracts from the web!), as well as a brief explanation of how this content relates to Orwell's novel and one of the themes therein. An MLA citation for each source you discuss. Your summary paragraphs should be at least 50 words each, amounting to 150+ words in total (not counting the MLA citations that you include).
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment requires students to conduct research on George Orwell’s novel 1984 and its contemporary relevance, focusing primarily on the theme of surveillance but allowing exploration of other themes. Students are expected to produce a written discussion post comprising at least three entries. Each entry should include a concise, original summary of a scholarly or credible source discovered through academic databases or search engines, emphasizing understanding without copying abstracts. Additionally, students must articulate how each source connects to Orwell's themes, particularly surveillance, control, or individual freedom. The submission should include MLA citations for all sources and demonstrate thorough research efforts.
This task emphasizes critical engagement with both primary and secondary sources, encouraging students to analyze and synthesize information about Orwell’s dystopian vision and its reflection in the modern world. By summarizing three distinct sources, students develop skills in paraphrasing, contextual analysis, and citation, while also deepening their understanding of surveillance as a core theme. The multidimensional nature of the assignment promotes an analytical perspective on government power, technological control, and personal privacy, fostering an understanding of how Orwell’s concepts resonate today.
Research should incorporate a variety of credible sources, including academic journal articles, books, and reputable online reports that discuss modern surveillance practices, government transparency, privacy concerns, and technological advancements. Analyzing these sources allows students to draw connections between Orwell’s fictional totalitarian regime and real-world instances such as mass data collection by governments and corporations. This exercise aims to cultivate an informed perspective on the persistence of Orwellian themes and their implications for civil liberties in contemporary society.
In completing this assignment, students must demonstrate their ability to locate relevant information, synthesize diverse viewpoints, and critically relate modern issues to Orwell’s themes. The process involves evaluating the credibility of sources, summarizing key arguments, and applying theoretical insights to contemporary contexts. Ultimately, this research will enable students to appreciate the enduring significance of 1984’s warnings and the importance of safeguarding individual freedoms amid pervasive surveillance and technological intrusion.
References
1. Lyon, David. Surveillance Society: Monitoring Everyday Life. Open University Press, 2007.
2. Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books, 1995.
3. Zuboff, Shoshana. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power. PublicAffairs, 2019.
4. Greenwald, Glenn. No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State. Metropolitan Books, 2014.
5. Bauman, Zygmunt. Liquid Surveillance: A Biennial Lecture. Polity, 2013.
6. Rose, Neil. The Politics of Life Itself. Princeton University Press, 2007.
7. Solove, Daniel J. Understanding Privacy. Harvard University Press, 2008.
8. Marx, Gary T. “The Surveillance Society.” European Journal of Communication, vol. 28, no. 2, 2013, pp. 121–133.
9. Kevin D. Haggerty, Richard V. Ericson. “The Surveillant Assemblage.” British Journal of Sociology, vol. 51, no. 4, 2000, pp. 605–622.
10. Kluver, Randolph. “Surveillance and Privacy: New Risks, Regulations, and Responsibilities.” Information & Communications Technology Law, vol. 22, no. 2, 2013, pp. 207–223.