Obtain a copy of 1984 by George Orwell. As we will only be reading a short portion of the novel, it is not necessary to purchase the book (although it is well worth reading in its entirety!)

1984 tells the story of Winston Smith, a man living in a futuristic society in which the government controls every aspect of life. Smith works at the Ministry of Truth, where he is responsible for rewriting old news reports to eliminate any appearance of government error. The novel is about Smith's attempts to defy the all-powerful, all-knowing government, known simply as Big Brother.

Read: Book 1 - Chapters 4 & 7

Type or print a short (2-3 pages), double-spaced essay discussing Orwell’s vision of history and the process by which we arrive at history. In your essay you should address the following questions, making reference to the events, characters, and ideas of 1984! You are not simply writing about the fictional world of 1984 - rather, you should use the novel to write about the current meaning and purpose of history.

Your grade will be based upon the following criteria:

1 – Organization - Does your essay have an introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs?

2 – Comprehension of 1984 - How well have you demonstrated your grasp of Orwell's tale?

3 – Discussion of History's Meaning & Problems - Have you thoroughly answered the four questions above?

4 – Use of Specific Evidence - Back up your general points with examples from 1984!

5 – Grammar & Spelling - Spell check, proofread, have Aunt Gertrude proofread, etc.

Read the first 15 chapters of Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder (through the chapter entitled "The Middle Ages"). Although the work is a novel, the author has embedded the ideas of the world’s most important philosophers into the storyline. During the course of the year we will be read the complete book, so it is strongly recommended that you purchase a copy. Copies will be available at Borders in Central Park.

PART A: As you read Sophie’s World, pay attention to and TAKE NOTES on the ideas of the great thinkers (or groups of thinkers) listed in the chart below and consider the following questions:

What questions did they set out to answer? What answers did they arrive at?

How did each philosopher’s views differ from those of their contemporaries and predecessors?

What original contributions did each make to human thought?

Some thinkers (e.g. Plato) will require much more space in your notes than others (e.g. Parmenides). Your notes will allow us to assess your note-taking abilities - they will be checked for their accuracy, thoroughness, organization, and legibility.

PART B: Type or print a double-spaced short fictional dialogue (2-3 pages) between any five of the philosophers above (or members of a philosophical school – a Stoic, for instance) in bold text containing both:

1. A consideration of what philosophy is and the role of philosophers
2. A discussion of the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Your group might consider questions such as who was responsible, how the massacre might have been prevented, and what the event reveals about human nature. Contributions to the "conversation" should reflect the main ideas and concerns of each participating thinker.

There is no need to do any additional reading. Your dialogue will be graded based upon: thoroughness (have you included the ideas of all 5 philosophers?); accuracy; creativity; and grammar & spelling. Life is short – make us laugh as you reveal your astounding grasp of these early philosophers!

Study a map (or maps) of contemporary Europe and the Mediterranean basin and learn the locations of the following countries, cities, landforms, and bodies of water. It might seem overwhelming at first glance, but you are likely already familiar with most of these. Be prepared for a geography quiz on our second class meeting.

Summer 1999 Task Summary

• Orwell Essay
• Sophie's World Notes
• 5 Philosopher Dialogue
• Prepare for Geography Quiz (sometime during first week TBA - not on September 7) J