Name: _______________________________________________________
Sophomore English, Ms. Doolittle
period: ______
due date: ____
Animal Farm Journal Rubric
Due Date
Chapters
(NOTE: unless
otherwise stated on
calendar, assignments
are due at the
beginning of class)
All components
completely done on
time
(10 points)
Meets all format and
content requirements
(20 points)
Chapter 1&2
Chapter 3&4
Chapter 5&6
Chapter 7&8
Chapter 9&10
Totals in each
category
_________ / 50
professionalism
points (cannot be
earned back late)
_________ / 100
reading points
My best journal entry was for Chapters _____ & _____.
(5 pts) This is my best journal entry because…_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
CONTENT: The student remembered to…
FORMAT: The student remembered to…
 5 – Writes in complete sentences.
 1 – Fills out and attaches this rubric.
 5 – Restates the question(s) in your response.
 2 - Does his/her entries on notebook paper
or computer.
 10 – Answers all questions completely and
accurately to show comprehension and
 5 - Puts first name, last name, and class
critical thought.
period on the paper.
 5 – Uses quotes from the book as evidence
 4 - Gives the journal entry a centered title,
(remembering quote marks around the
with book title underlined only: “Animal
quote, and putting page number citations in
Farm journal: chapters 1 and 2.”
parentheses afterwards).
 3 - Numbers responses.
 5 – Gives the amount of evidence requested,
plus one extra piece for each question.
Animal Farm Entry Grade:
_________ / 50 reading points
_________ %
1
Animal Farm Response Journal:
Instructions/Prompts
Content Guidelines:
Write in complete sentences.
Restate the question(s) in your response.
Answer all questions completely and accurately
to show comprehension and critical thought.
Use quotes from the book as evidence
(remembering quote marks around the quote, and
put page number citations in parentheses
afterwards).
Give the amount of evidence requested, plus one
spare piece of evidence for each question.
Format Guidelines:
Do your entries on notebook paper
and/or computer.
Put your first name, last name, and
class period on each piece of
notebook paper.
Give each journal entry a centered
title (with book title underlined only):
“Animal Farm journal: chapters 1 and
2.”
Number your responses.
Chapters 1&2
Level One/Comprehension Questions: answer all three, supporting each with one piece of evidence.
1) In what ways do the animals in the novel act like humans? In what ways do they retain their
identities as animals?
2) What is the central message in Old Major’s speech in the barn?
3) According to Old Major’s speech, under what principles should the farm operate?
Level Two/Inferential Questions: answer two of the three.
1) What does Snowball mean when he says to Mollie, “Those ribbons that you are devoted to are
the badge of slavery?” Support your answer with at least one piece of evidence from the text.
2) What do you think happened to the milk that is missing at the end of Chapter Two? Support
your inference with at least one piece of evidence from the text.
3) Why do you think the other animals are so easily led by the pigs? Would you have been so
willing to follow another leader after you had freed yourself of oppression? Explain your answer,
using at least two examples from the book.
“The Pig Leaders” Similarities and Differences: Venn Diagram
A Venn Diagram helps us categorize similarities and differences. In the circles below, compare
the two lead pigs, Snowball and Napoleon. (Check pg. 7 of your text for some good
information!)
Snowball
Napoleon
2
Chapters 3&4
Don’t forget to follow the content and formatting guidelines! (You can find them on page 2 of the
packet.)
Level One/Comprehension Questions: answer all seven, supporting each with one piece of
evidence.
1) In what ways are the animals of Animal Farm building a new society?
2) Describe the flag that Snowball designs for the farm. What is the significance of the color of
the flag and the symbols on it?
3) What clues show that Napoleon and Snowball are beginning to fight for power? Give one
quote from the text as evidence.
4) What maxim (saying) does Snowball use to simplify the Seven Commandments? Why is this
maxim a good way to control the other animals?
5) In what ways do the pigs set themselves up as the elite members of Animal Farm?
6) What part does Squealer play in the brainwashing of the animals? Give one quote from the
text as evidence.
7) What awards do Snowball and Boxer get after the battle? How does each animal feel about
his success? (Hint: does Boxer feel guilty about anything?)
Level Two/Inferential Question: answer the one question, using one piece of evidence from the
text to support your prediction. Charts may be completed in the packet itself.
8) Why do you think Napoleon decided to educate the young puppies in seclusion? What
purpose might this isolation serve? Predict what the outcome of the puppies’ education
might be. What will they grow up to be like?
“The Battles” Similarities and Differences: Venn Diagram
A Venn Diagram helps us categorize similarities and differences. In the circles below,
compare the two battles from the novel, the Battle of the Cowshed and the Rebellion. How
are the battles similar? Those traits should go in the overlapping section of the circles. How
are the battles different? Those traits should be written where the circles are separate.
Rebellion
(Ch. 2)
Battle of the
Cowshed
3
Chapters 5 & 6
Don’t forget to follow the content and formatting guidelines! (You can find them on page 2.) If you
want, you can complete the chart in this packet. You may also work in groups on the chart.
Level One/Comprehension Questions: answer all five using at least one piece of evidence from
the text.
1) Why does Mollie leave the farm? How do the other animals react to her leaving?
2) How does Napoleon overthrow Snowball? Describe it, using at least one quote from the
book!
3) Because Boxer believes that “Napoleon is always right,” his personal motto becomes, “I will
work harder.” What does this reveal about Boxer’s character?
4) In what ways does Napoleon bend the rules and commandments of Animal Farm to benefit
himself? Use at least one quote from the book!
5) How does Napoleon use Snowball as a scapegoat when the windmill is blown down?
“The Blame Game” Chart Review: Go back and find animals/quotes to answer the following
question (which will eventually be your final essay prompt question)
Who is to blame for the problems of Animal Farm?
Chapter
Person/Animal/
Animal Group
Quote & page number
How this creates problems
1
2
3
4
5
6
4
Chapters 7&8
Don’t forget to follow the content and formatting guidelines! (You can find them on page 2.)
Level One/Comprehension Questions: answer all five using at least one piece of evidence from
the text.
1) What techniques does Napoleon use to make it appear to the outside world that everything
is going well at Animal Farm, even though the economy of the farm is about to collapse?
2) What happens to the hens when they threaten Napoleon’s power?
3) How does Napoleon use the memory of the absent Snowball to keep the animals in line?
4) What evidence at the beginning of Chapter Eight points to the fact that Napoleon is
systematically lying to the other animals?
5) What clues are there in Chapter Eight to suggest that Napoleon is becoming more and more
like a human?
Level Two/Inferential Questions: answer both questions using at least one piece of evidence
from the text.
6) Why does Clover sing “Beasts of England” after the rash of executions? What does this
reveal about Clover’s character?
7) What do you think will happen to the animals on the farm in the future? Think about all that
has occurred so far. Consider what you know about political revolutions that have occurred
in recent history. Based on clues from the story and your own knowledge, write a brief
summary describing how the novel might end.
Chapters 9&10
Don’t forget to follow the content and formatting guidelines! (You can find them on page 2.)
Level One/Comprehension Questions: answer all seven using at least one piece of evidence from
the text.
1) In what ways has Squealer become a master at explaining the shifts in Napoleon’s policies?
2) What purpose does Napoleon cite as the reason for the weekly Spontaneous
Demonstrations? What is their real purpose?
3) Why do the animals on the farm admire Boxer? What are the details of Boxer’s downfall?
4) How has Napoleon become indistinguishable from Mr. Jones? Use a piece of evidence from
the text.
Level Two/Inferential Questions: answer both questions using at least one piece of evidence
from the text.
5) Describe the scene at the end of the book when the transformation from pig to human is
complete. What does this mean on a deeper level? (Hint: it’s a metaphor. Orwell’s not saying,
“Hey, look! Pigs can become people if they try hard enough.” What is he REALLY saying?)
6) Elitism is leadership by a socially superior minority group. In what ways is elitism fostered
among the pigs of Animal Farm? Do you think they are justified in the belief that they are
superior animals?
5
“The Blame Game” Chart Continuation: Go back and finish your chart for the remaining
chapters. This time, find 2 quotes from each chapter. Again, you may make a chart on a separate
sheet of paper, or staple this chart to your packet of journal entries/evidence. You may work alone,
in pairs, or in groups.
Who is to blame for the failure of Animal Farm?
Chapter
Person/Animal/
Animal Group
Quote & page number
How this contributes to
failure
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
6
7