Animal Farm Chapter 4: The Battle of the Cowshed Satirical Comic Strip Group Project

Satire What is a satire? Give some examples of: Exaggeration Reversal Parody Incongruity

Answer Satire uses various comedic techniques in order to make a comment or criticism about the subject or issue.

Think Back to… #Hashtag or iPhone 5 Videos What about pop culture was discussed? How did each video poke fun at pop culture?

NOW, Think About War What are traditional elements of war? Battle? Tactics and strategy? Orwell has painted his readers a picture of the animals in battle against the humans. How can you take it a step further to truly satirize the situation?

The Battle of the Cowshed Rumors circulated that the animals________________________. Mr. Jones & ________________ decided to _____________________________. However, the animals had _________ this and ___________________________.

1st The pigeons flew overhead, then the geese pecked at the men. 2nd Muriel, Benjamin, and the sheep butted the men. Men were able to overpower and animals retreated. 3rd 3 horses, 3 cows, the rest of the pigs were waiting in ambush (Cowshed)

4th Boxer took a blow at the farmer The men began to run in fear. -All the animals began to attack The men left. -Boxer kills one of the boys (he didn’t mean to) -Snowball says, “No sentimentality, comrade!”

5th The animals celebrate their victory with Beasts of England song and a flag raising ceremony.

Directions: You will work in your reading groups (Remember, this is a group grade!) You will have until the end of the hour on Friday to complete a FULL SCALE COMIC STRIP satirizing the “Battle of the Cowshed.”

Requirements: Minimum of 8 boxes/ stills. Fully colored illustrations. Dialogue or captions for each box.

You Should… Find some ways to take the sequence of events and use a technique with them… exaggeration for example. You may use all techniques or some.

SAMPLE A drawing and a caption

Multiple boxes in a sequence.

DROP OFF BEFORE YOU LEAVE…. A sheet with your group NAMES on it and HOUR. You may NOT take your work home!

GRADING 8 boxes/ 3pts. /24pts. Color /4pts. Creativity /4pts. Elements of Satire /10pts. Total: /42 summative points

Presentation of the Comic In front of the class, “front and center.” 1 or 2 group members should read the comic still by still. As the audience or “reader,” you are responsible for assessing the work.

-On loose leaf paper, MLA format. -Due AS you leave. Each of you are expected to complete the following during presentations… -On loose leaf paper, MLA format. -Due AS you leave. This is your EXIT TICKET!

Group Presentation #1 -Explain, in a few sentences, how the comic has used 1 technique of satire. (Be sure to identify the technique.) Group Presentation #2 -Create a Bridge Map that identifies the relationship between “The Battle of the Cowshed” in Animal Farm and the battle satirized by this group’s comic strip. ( _________ shows __________ as __________ shows ________.)

Group Presentation #3 Using the 6 + 1 rubric for Presentation, assess the group’s work from 1-6. Provide a 1-2 sentence explanation of why this grade was fair. Group Presentation #4 - Explain what you found to be problematic or what could be done more effectively in this comic strip. Why?

Group Presentation #5 What was particularly good in this comic strip? How did it help you to understand satire? Group Presentation #6 Create a Double Bubble comparing your own comic with that of this group.