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Nineteen Eighty-Four Essay Topics

 

You must write a literary essay about George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four based on one of the topics below. Your typed essay should be at least 1000 words, each body paragraph should feature a minimum of two quotes from the novel.

 

1. Offer a critical analysis of Julia. Is she a troubling female stereotype? Is she a revolutionary hero?

 

2. Offering an in-depth analysis, explain why Winston’s revolutionary ambitions failed. Might it relate to his fatalistic streak? Was it simply a matter of poor planning or sloppy execution?

 

3. What is the theme or message of this novel? Is Orwell offering a commentary on human nature? Has Orwell written a cautionary tale about the dangers of politics, or human ignorance, or perhaps the dangers of not resisting tyrannical authority?

 

4. Identify and analyze the tactics used by the Party to gain and preserve power. Consider the use of the use of torture, the harsh laws and penalties, the spies, the omnipresent propaganda, and so forth.

 

5. Argue that the novel is a satire. In your essay you will precisely identify what Orwell was satirizing when he wrote this novel. This topic will necessitate that you offer research about the historical events that inspired the novel.

 

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How to write a Literary Essay

 

Introductions:

 

Every essay begins with an introduction. A properly written introduction first states the title of the text being analyzed followed by the author’s name.

 

Next, a brief summary of the text is provided in which the basic plot is related in a way that will link the plot to your thesis. The summary should be no more than 2-3 sentences.

 

The next step is formulating a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a direct and concise statement that you will support and argue in favor of in the rest of your essay. Generally a thesis statement takes a firm stand on an issue or topic.

 

Once your thesis statement has been made, you must next state the 3 points your essay will raise to prove/ support the claim of your thesis. Just like your thesis, these points should be bluntly stated and should span no more than one sentence each.

 

*A helpful point to keep in mind: Your introduction should provide your reader with an overview of everything that will be discussed in your essay. A rule to follow; if it wasn’t stated in your intro, you’re not allowed to say it in your body paragraphs. See it as being the Blue Print of your essay.

 

Body Paragraphs:

 

All body paragraphs begin with a Topic Sentence. In the case of the Literary Essay, you open by re-stating the point that you will spend the rest of this paragraph supporting and analyzing. This way your reader will know precisely what will be discussed in the remainder of the paragraph.

 

You may next provide a brief (2-3 sentences) summary if it relates to the point that you are trying to make. It is here that you also elaborate on the main point and begin to offer insight.

 

Next, once you have adequately explained and provided relevant summary, you extract a quotation from one of the texts that will serve as evidence of the claim being made in this paragraph.

 

A quote, however, isn’t enough. You must next explain in detail how the quotation that you have selected supports the claim/ argument of this paragraph. Analysis is an explanation of what the evidence should mean to your reader.

 

* A helpful point to keep in mind: Express your ideas without doubt and as though they are an undeniable universal truth. You are telling your reader what and how to think, so don’t give them any openings to develop their own personal opinions, especially if they might differ from the point that you’re arguing.

 

Conclusions:

 

A conclusion begins by re-stating the thesis of your essay followed by the supporting points. Essentially, a conclusion takes all of your essay’s main ideas and re-states them in a concise manner; it’s basically a mini version of your entire essay, a detailed summary/summation if you will. Summarize each body paragraph in 2-3 sentences EACH.

 

If an idea/ point did not arise in one of your body paragraphs, then you are not allowed to discuss it in the conclusion.

 

Suggestion for the Opening Sentences of a Conclusion:

• In closing, it should now be clear to the reader that…

  

* A helpful point to keep in mind: Envision the reader of your conclusion as a person who was too lazy to read your essay. Thus, what would you state here that would give them a clear understanding of the ideas expressed in the rest of your essay?

 

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Essay Rubric

                                       

Introduction        /20

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0-8= The intro is altogether absent, the intro lacks many essential elements such as; Definition/Background of Topic, Thesis, Supporting Arguments, intro is too brief

9-12=  The intro provides a vague overview, but lacks integral aspects, which likely means the thesis or 3 main points were not stated

13-16= The intro more or less states the essential information, but lacks detail and could be more strongly phrased

17-20= The intro is masterfully written, it features all of the essential elements

 

Body Paragraph 1        /20

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0-8= The body paragraph is altogether absent, it is too brief, fails to use quotes, fails to provide analysis or in any way support the thesis

9-12= The body paragraph is poorly stated, vague, provides a non-substantive or incomplete analysis

13-16= The body paragraph though it has a solid foundation, fails to fully pursue the analysis and does not use quotations to their full potential in relation to supporting/ proving the thesis

17-20= The body paragraph supports the thesis masterfully, seamlessly weaving the quotations into the structure. The critical analysis is insightful and reveals thoughtful consideration.

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Body Paragraph 2        /20

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0-8= The body paragraph is altogether absent, it is too brief, fails to use quotes, fails to provide analysis or in any way support the thesis

9-12= The body paragraph is poorly stated, vague, provides a non-substantive or incomplete analysis

13-16= The body paragraph though it has a solid foundation, fails to fully pursue the analysis and does not use quotations to their full potential in relation to supporting/ proving the thesis

17-20= The body paragraph supports the thesis masterfully, seamlessly weaving the quotations into the structure. The critical analysis is insightful and reveals thoughtful consideration.

 

Body Paragraph 3        /20

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0-8= The body paragraph is altogether absent, it is too brief, fails to use quotes, fails to provide analysis or in any way support the thesis

9-12= The body paragraph is poorly stated, vague, provides a non-substantive or incomplete analysis

13-16= The body paragraph though it has a solid foundation, fails to fully pursue the analysis and does not use quotations to their full potential in relation to supporting/ proving the thesis

17-20= The body paragraph supports the thesis masterfully, seamlessly weaving the quotations into the structure. The critical analysis is insightful and reveals thoughtful consideration.

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Conclusion        /20

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0-8= The conclusion is altogether absent, it is too brief, it fails to conclude the essay in regard to re-stating the thesis, its supporting points, may be non-existent, etc

9-12= The conclusion is vague and lacks the detail essential to adequately closing an essay

13-16= Though the thesis and main points are re-stated, the conclusion is nearly identical to the introduction. It has some of the essential elements.

17-20= The essay is masterfully concluded; the main points and thesis are not only re-stated, but the student manages to encapsulate the entire essay in this paragraph, ultimately conveying the thesis and its related points compellingly to the reader

 

Total:          /100

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