Animal Farm Essay Test
Read the following essay options. Answer the questions thoroughly with support from the text. In a well organized essay of roughly one page answer 2 questions total. You should include a bare minimum of four rich supporting details to provide the answer, evidence and commentary.
Choose two (2) of the following.
Explain how Animal Farm is an allegory and the message that Orwell is trying to convey. Cite specific characters and actions to support your answer.
Compare and contrast Napoleon and Snowball. What propaganda techniques do the both use in their struggle for power?
Discuss Boxer. What role does he play on the farm? Why does Napoleon seemed threatened by him? In what ways in the betrayal of Boxer seen as an alternative climax to the novel (if we consider Napoleon chasing off Snowball as the climax)
Orwell felt that revolutions fail in that they result only in a change of tyrants. Use specific examples to trace Napoleon’s rise to power and show how he is an example of Orwell’s philosophy.
Consider the beginning and the ending of Animal Farm; describe the process of how the pigs become more human-like and discuss what Orwell believes about human nature.
This is due _________________________________________________________
Scoring Guides on the back.
If you wish for feedback I will be checking email a few times over break. However, I will not be responding to emails sent on January 2. If you want feedback, please send drafts before December 30.
Scoring Rubric
1
2
3
4
5
Introduction
No attempt at an introduction or “I am going to tell you…like it is first grade show and tell 6
Thesis is implied but not on the papers…..Has thesis, but no purpose
Offers reasons, may loosely be related to text, with some textual references. Proves reading but doesn’t prove understanding. Commentary is weak, generic/may not fit the evidence provided
42
Clear reasoning, some valid support, some textual references, attempt quote integration
Leaves gaps in essay leaving the reader with questions. Evidence has some commentary, but leaves the reader questioning the evidence.
50
Clear reasoning, valid support, including quotes and direct, specific references; quotes are integrated into the paragraphs includes sophistication and high level thinking Evidence has commentary
55
Generic summary offering no reflection or evaluation of essay. A restatement if ideas that essential becomes a waste of time for the reader because you are just repeating yourself.
6
Ties ideas together and loosely relates to thesis but could use a bit more polish
8
Ties ideas together in an effective manner that relates with the thesis includes sophistication and high level thinking
Generic transitions, many errors confusing to the reader
13
Generic transitions, some errors make it confusing to the reader. Audience is not appropriate for the type of writing, writing has little sophistication
15
Well-written, some errors, generic transitions. Errors do not interfere with understanding. Some sophisticated tone and audience awareness but lacks sophistication
17
Well-written, effective transitions with few errors. Sophisticated tone, eloquence awareness of audience
20
Sample: Pre-writing, mapping out if ideas sample.
Prompt: In Animal Farm, who is the “good guy” and who is the “bad guy”? Choose two characters and explain how their actions, desires and values define them as good or bad. Describe how each character has an impact on the outcome of the story.
*Obviously when I write my paper, I will develop more sophisticated language (Boxer is good is not a high school thesis) and my evidence will be thoroughly supported. This is a just a graphic organizer to layout my ideas.
Answer
Boxer is good*
Mollie is bad*
Evidence 1 + Commentary
He works hard building and rebuilding the windmill. He gets up earlier and when prompted by Napoleon vow to work harder!
Boxers vow to work harder also encouraged the other animals to work harder. Their respect for him made him a good character and an asset to the farm.
Mollie is selfish. After the first Rebellion, Mollie was very concerned about whether or not or why she couldn’t wear hair ribbons and have treats.
Mollie liked the clothes and the “badges of slavery” set up by the humans and Mr. Jones. She felt no need to change the farm.
Evidence 2 + commentary
Boxer may question authority, but is loyal to the cause because he knows that Comrade Napoleon is always right! When Napoleon’s dogs tried to attack him, he was strong enough to withstand their attack, but not without questioning some of the judgments made.
Boxer knows that things might not be great on Animal Farm, but he know they are better than when Mr. Jones was in charge. Boxer is loyal to the cause even when the pigs wronged the animals.
While all the other animals were at work, Mollie would sleep late. During the battle of the Cowshed, she hid, instead of fighting. Mollie running away did not impact the spirit or the work on the farm, but the animals never talking about her again, speaks that the animals were comrades to those who supported the rebellion.
Outcome: the actions of Boxer and Mollie are both needed to convey Orwell’s message. Boxer’s goodness illustrates the many loyal animals devoted to the cause despite the tyranny of their leader. While Mollie displays those who were unaffected, happy and contented living under the leadership of the humans. Although there are other good and bad animals in the novel, Boxer and Mollie juxtaposed show both good and bad in their actions and their role in rebellion.