A summative writing task at the end of a unit based on Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell. Originally designed for English B students but could be adapted for English A.
MYP writing assessment based on Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty Four': writing a code of conduct for a dystopian society
1. MYP4 English
Final assessment task
Introduction:
Read our School’s Code of Conduct. If this document were to appear in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty
Four, how would the Inner Party or the Ministry of Truth have to change it for Big Brother’s approval?
Aims of the assessment:
1. To show that you can communicate information and ideas from this unit
2. To show that you can respond to the topic in a sophisticated manner and develop ideas
3. To demonstrate that you can use a format and structure appropriate to the task to organize the
work
4. To show that you can correctly use a range of vocabulary, grammatical structures and syntax
5. For you to write with a particular audience in mind
Assessment task:
Imagine that for reasons beyond anyone’s control, our school is going to change to a totalitarian style
school. You and a select few other students have been appointed to work for the Inner Committee at
our school. You must re-write the school Code of Conduct so that personal freedom and choice are
limited and independent thought is closely monitored. You may also modify the language to reflect
the school’s new totalitarian ethos. It is imperative that all students obey and are loyal to the new
director.
Requirements for this assessment:
300-600 words
Specify the expectations of the students, and the consequences of disobeying the code of
conduct
Create a motto for the school
You may add more expectations/rules if you feel that it is necessary
Use appropriate language for an official school document (formal register)
Formatted like an official school publication (sub-headings, bullet points and/or lists, school
motto, school logo, names of the people responsible for creating the document etc) remember
the formatting should reflect the future school ethos!
Unit question: How is information power? (1984 by George Orwell)
Area of Interaction: Community & service
Significant concepts:
Information can be powerful, information may be controlled.
