Discussion 10 - The Great 1984 Article Hunt

The purpose of this week's discussion is twofold. Firstly, you'll begin to start thinking about the world you live in, and the world Winston lives in. Secondly, you'll learn how to focus a search by using specific keywords, or combinations of keywords. Consider using combinations of words rather than asking a question or typing a sentence.

You cannot use an article that was done during the May 2006 version of this assignment.

1. Search the Internet and find a legitimate newspaper, magazine, or scholarly article that deals with the reality (social or political) portrayed in 1984. Consider articles which deal with comparing aspects of our world with that of Orwell's dystopia.
2. Once you've found an article, write a summary or response to the article. Your summary must follow the criteria set out for our class's blog.
3. Copy and paste the original article after your summary / response. Be sure to include the URL underneath your copy of the article.
4. NO DUPLICATED ARTICLES. ONE ARTICLE PER STUDENT.

Search Engines of noticeable consideration:

• Google - http://www.google.ca
• Google News - http://news.google.ca
• Google Scholar - http://scholar.google.ca

Search Engine tips:

• Read this amazing explanation http://www.google.ca/intl/en/help/basics.html#keywords
• Use keywords
• Use combinations of keywords
• Do not type sentences or questions
• Use quotations to force a word order
• Use the + sign to force a connection
• USE THE ADVANCED GOOGLE SEARCH

Keywords (I didn't think that I needed to do this, but given the responces ...)

• 1984
• George Orwell
• Orwellian

If you've read this far, you might as well look at this one page search engine guide that I put together for our class.

• Go to our course website, and on the main page, select the Search Engine Guide.

Wikipedia and sources

A quick note regarding Wikipedia, and other sources:

• Primary sources include the actual text.
• Secondary sources deal with criticisms or analysis of primary sources.
• Any encyclopedic source is considered a tertiary source.

Tertiary sources are not to be used in this course as a replacement for either primary or secondary sources. I have given you these Wikipedia links because they are quick and effective starting points.

That's all that a tertiary source can ever be.

Wikipidia, a dictionary, an encyclopedia or a textbook are to be considered as reference points only. The validity of an open contribution encyclopedia like Wikipedia cannot be easily dismissed. That is not my intention, neither is it my intention to champion it. Wikipedia is a tool like the internet itself. Part of developing your literacy is your ability to collect information from a wide variety of sources.