Dystopia ISP assignment (07)

ENG3UI --  Mar/Apr 2007 -- Ms Rice

Unit 3 – Literature and the “Real World"

Dystopia ISP

In his preface to his 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman argued that aspects of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World were more prevalent in our modern society than those of George Orwell’s 1984.

You have independently read one of the following dystopic novels (or an approved alternative):

Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake             Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale     Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451                     Maguire, Gregory. Wicked

Now it is your turn to judge to what extent your novel reflects or comments on the current state of affairs in the modern world.

In a well-composed essay of approximately 1000-1200 words (2-3 pages), argue that your novel, while an exaggeration, reflects, criticizes, or comments on significant elements of the world today.

Your first body paragraph will be a concession – that is, you will concede (admit) that the novel is not a perfectly accurate depiction of our current world, and you will explain why this is.

The remainder of your essay will identify at least one significant dystopic element that the author is using to reflect or comment on an aspect of today’s society, using evidence you have drawn from current or recent events to support your observations about the novel.

Your thesis will reflect both the concession and your main argument(s) about what aspects of our society are reflected in the novel and why or how.

Before you begin your essay, please read Dystopian Literature Primer. You are expected to make cited reference to this website in your paper. This is the only website you are permitted to use for this assignment. (Online versions of newspapers, periodicals, or database articles are not considered websites.)

Final products to be submitted:

• • Two to three articles from a newspaper, magazine, or similar periodical that you will use to support your argument

  • Your essay, properly formatted and including appropriate citations to the novel, the articles, and the website for support

  • A correct Works Cited list that includes all your sources

Evaluation

Your essay will be evaluated based on the following general criteria (see rubric below for more details):

Knowledge/Understanding:

Essay shows a detailed, comprehensive, and sophisticated independent understanding of the novel through range and relevance of evidence

Thinking/Inquiry:

Concession addresses difference between fictional world and reality

Synthesis of novel, articles, and website demonstrates appropriate selection of supplementary materials and ability to connect them significantly and convincingly to the novel

Arguments are supported by thorough logic, reasoning, and evidence

Communication:

Ideas progress forcefully in an organized way

Writing employs a voice appropriate to purpose

Application:

Diction is rich, varied, mature, and accurate

Bibliographic format and citation style are correct

Evaluation: