Writing a Synthesis-Response

Mr. Wilson – English 506

What are we going to do? We are going to compare George Orwell’s

novel 1984 to the movie V for Vendetta. What are you looking for?

SimilaritiesInspirationAllusionsCharactersThemes

What is a Synthesis-Response? Synthesizing is the action of “putting your

ideas together.” THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS A FORMAL

ESSAY. A Synthesis-Response has more to do with

getting your ideas down onto paper in a semi-unstructured way.

It does not need an intro-conclusion, but it does need to be organized into paragraphs and to answer a general question.

Main Themes or Ideas? (write this down…)

What are some of the main themes we keep discussing from George Orwell’s 1984?

Totalitarian Regimes Controlling the media Propaganda The great Revolution! Fear = control Love Memory

Main Themes or Ideas? (Write this down…)

What are some of the themes from V for Vendetta?

Totalitarian regime Propaganda Controlling the media Love Religion Vengeance / revenge Memory

Things to focus on… Metaphors? Symbols?

What appears in the movie and the book as a

metaphor or a symbol? Allusions?

What are some of the major allusions in the book? Do they appear in the movie as well?

Characterization? Do specific characters have specific roles to

play? What are they and why are they significant?

Your Response Your response can be as long as it has to be. Each paragraph should be at least 4 to 5 full

sentences, with references to the movie and the book.

You can use the first person, but not too much. It is fairly unstructured, but your ideas should be

organized into each paragraph.

Lastly – Make sure you answer the question!!!

Main Question

Imagine yourself as Winston Smith at the beginning of 1984. What would you do to undermine The Party? After watching the movie, how would you extricate yourself from the fate that awaits you?

MLA Formatting Standard MLA Formatting

In text Author-Page citations If the author’s name appears in the

sentence, then just the page number is necessary.

But if it is just the quote, then you need to specify the author and the page number.

Full bibliographical reference will appear in your Works Cited page at the end of your essay.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

Examples Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry

was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

Works CitedWordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads.

London: Oxford U.P., 1967. Print.

“The Impact of Global Warming in North America.” GLOBAL WARMING: Early Signs. 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 2009. <http://www.globalwarming.com>

The Usual Suspects. Dir. Bryan Singer. Polygram, 1995. Film.

Now start organizing your

thoughts!

(And start writing…)