DYSTOPIAN DINNER
Your assessment on Unit 4 is a dinner menu. ALL your responses must be written on separate paper. Follow the directions in each section. Your completed work is due no later than the beginning of class on Wednesday, December 17 (to ensure that it is graded in time to be included in your final average).
BEVERAGE – CHOOSE FOUR TO EARN UP TO 20 POINTS (OUT OF 5 POINTS EACH)
Drink up some simple questions that might even help you prepare for your final exam.
1) Use the image to complete the following analogy:
Utopia is to Dystopia as _______ is/are to _________.
a. Evil is to Good
b. Trees are to Plants
c. Heaven is to Hell
d. Death is to Life
2) Which of the following would best help you determine or clarify the meaning of the word “dystopia”?
a. The prefix “dys” and other word parts
b. Context clues
c. A picture
d. An encyclopedia
3) Which of the following would not indicate a dystopia?
a. technology
b. apocalypse
c. farms
d. dictator
4) Use the image to choose the best statement about the citizens and protagonist of a dystopia:
a. In a dystopia, the government completely brainwashes and contols all citizens.
b. In a dystopia, citizens control authority like a puppet on strings.
c. In a dystopia, the government brainwashes and controls the citizens, except for one person who questions society and tries to escape.
d. In a dystopia, the main authority breaks free from the rest of the government.
5) Which of the following would be the best indicator of a dystopia with corporate control?
a. A world filled with military personnel.
b. A world filled with propaganda and advertisements.
c. A world filled with robots and scientific experiments.
d. A world filled with lots of shopping and sales.
APPETIZERS – CHOOSE FIVE TO EARN UP TO 30 POINTS (OUT OF 6 POINTS EACH)
Nothing to get the juices flowing like a little vocabulary! Briefly define/explain the following terms as they relate to the unit. Explain why they are IMPORTANT, not just what the words mean.
Utopia Handicap
Dystopia Protagonist
Conformity Population Control
Oppression Illusion
ENTRÉE – CHOOSE TEN TO EARN UP TO 100 POINTS (OUT OF 10 POINTS EACH)
To show your mastery of the texts we have read or viewed, as well as the characteristics of a dystopia, you will complete a chart very similar to the ones we have worked on again and again. Choose the ONE TEXT that best represents each characteristic of dystopia; name the text, and explain how you saw that characteristic. The more details, the better – and textual evidence would make a perfect response! You may choose two texts to repeat but you may not use them for more than two characteristics.
*Note: You may make a chart, or you may write in sentences/short paragraph form. Up to you.*
Dystopian Characteristic Name of Text (+author) Explanation + Details
1) Propaganda is used to control the citizens.
2) Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
3) A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens.
4) Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
5) Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
6) Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
7) The natural world is banished and distrusted.
8) Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
9) The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
10) It is set in the future; the world as we know it now was changed, damaged, or destroyed by some catastrophic event (war, disease, apocalypse, etc.)
11) The dystopian protagonist is someone who feels trapped, is struggling to escape, questions the way society is, and helps the audience understand more about the world.
12) It is typically a worst-case scenario critique or warning of some current societal trend, and what might happen in the future if the trend continues.
SIDES – CHOOSE FIVE TO EARN UP TO 50 POINTS (OUT OF 10 POINTS EACH)
Prove that you can write about the various themes and texts we have discussed during this unit. Make sure your responses are one short paragraph (4-6 sentences each) and include plenty of specific details and support.
1) What happens to identity in a dystopia? Support your answer with specific examples from at least three texts.
2) Of all the texts we have looked at, which one is the overall best example of a dystopia? Make sure you give plenty of evidence to support your choice.
3) Imagine you are the Handicapper General in “Harrison Bergeron.” How would you hinder the talents of the following individuals? (Choose three of these people to write about, and be sure to offer justification for your responses): Albert Einstein, Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Barack Obama.
4) What is population control? In the story “2BR02B,” what is the method of population control? What is your personal opinion on population control? Is it necessary? Will it be necessary in the future? Do you think Americans would ever support the methods of population control in China or India?
5) Compare and contrast the dystopian protagonists in “The Giver” and “Divergent.” Which character is the best example of a dystopian protagonist? Make sure you give examples of how your choice shows each characteristic that these protagonists must have.
6) How is school a dystopia? Make sure you provide plenty of supporting details for your argument. Include text-to-self connections.
7) Knowing that dystopian stories exist in order to critique some current political or social trend, discuss the three texts that you feel offer the most compelling warnings for us (the readers). For each text, identify the text, explain the issue or trend that you think is being critiqued, and then discuss whether or not you think is an issue we should worry about today.
8) There are many places and situations in the world right now that mimic the characteristics of a dystopia. Show your knowledge of historical and/or current events by making some text-to-world connections. Choose three of these real-world places and explain (with lots of supporting details) how each one is a dystopian society. Choices: Nazi Germany, USSR/Soviet Union, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, China, Detroit.
DESSERT – UP TO 8 BONUS POINTS (2 POINTS EACH)
Want a little something extra? Finish your meal with some bonus points!
Identify one text that best represents each type of dystopian control. Explain WHY for each of your choices.
- Corporate Control
- Bureaucratic Control
- Technological Control
- Philosophical/Religious Control
STILL HUNGRY? FINISHED EARLY? DO THIS.
If you finish your assessment and want something else to do, this could earn you 50 points of extra credit in writing.
Letter to Your Future Grandchild
Think about the characteristics of dystopian literature. What prompts writers to write dystopian literature? What are they trying to warn readers about? What aspects of our society do you think might become dystopian in the future?
Imagine that you could warn your future grandchild about the dystopian possibilities for our future society. Write a letter to that grandchild explaining your fears about that future and why you think dystopia is a possibility.
As you’re writing, think about the language grandparents use with their grandchildren.
Tell your imaginary grandchild about your life and our society as it exists now.
Choose one or two aspects of present society (a new technological advancement, transportation, schools, education, etc.) and explain to your grandchild why and how you think this aspect might lead to a dystopian future.
The letter should be at least one page, handwritten.
Rubric
Category
What You Should Include
Points Possible
Descriptions and Explanations
· Details about your life now
· Details about our current society
· Explanation of at least one dangerous aspect of our society
· Details about how this dangerous aspect might lead to dystopia.
25
Organization and Support
· A salutation
· A clear beginning, middle, and end
· More details and evidence to support your claims
15
Language
· Language grandparents would use with grandchildren
· Strong word choice
· Interesting and engaging voice
5
Artistry
· Imagination that stems from knowledge of both our society and dystopia.
5
Your assessment on Unit 4 is a dinner menu. ALL your responses must be written on separate paper. Follow the directions in each section. Your completed work is due no later than the beginning of class on Wednesday, December 17 (to ensure that it is graded in time to be included in your final average).
BEVERAGE – CHOOSE FOUR TO EARN UP TO 20 POINTS (OUT OF 5 POINTS EACH)
Drink up some simple questions that might even help you prepare for your final exam.
1) Use the image to complete the following analogy:
Utopia is to Dystopia as _______ is/are to _________.
a. Evil is to Good
b. Trees are to Plants
c. Heaven is to Hell
d. Death is to Life
2) Which of the following would best help you determine or clarify the meaning of the word “dystopia”?
a. The prefix “dys” and other word parts
b. Context clues
c. A picture
d. An encyclopedia
3) Which of the following would not indicate a dystopia?
a. technology
b. apocalypse
c. farms
d. dictator
4) Use the image to choose the best statement about the citizens and protagonist of a dystopia:
a. In a dystopia, the government completely brainwashes and contols all citizens.
b. In a dystopia, citizens control authority like a puppet on strings.
c. In a dystopia, the government brainwashes and controls the citizens, except for one person who questions society and tries to escape.
d. In a dystopia, the main authority breaks free from the rest of the government.
5) Which of the following would be the best indicator of a dystopia with corporate control?
a. A world filled with military personnel.
b. A world filled with propaganda and advertisements.
c. A world filled with robots and scientific experiments.
d. A world filled with lots of shopping and sales.
APPETIZERS – CHOOSE FIVE TO EARN UP TO 30 POINTS (OUT OF 6 POINTS EACH)
Nothing to get the juices flowing like a little vocabulary! Briefly define/explain the following terms as they relate to the unit. Explain why they are IMPORTANT, not just what the words mean.
Utopia Handicap
Dystopia Protagonist
Conformity Population Control
Oppression Illusion
ENTRÉE – CHOOSE TEN TO EARN UP TO 100 POINTS (OUT OF 10 POINTS EACH)
To show your mastery of the texts we have read or viewed, as well as the characteristics of a dystopia, you will complete a chart very similar to the ones we have worked on again and again. Choose the ONE TEXT that best represents each characteristic of dystopia; name the text, and explain how you saw that characteristic. The more details, the better – and textual evidence would make a perfect response! You may choose two texts to repeat but you may not use them for more than two characteristics.
*Note: You may make a chart, or you may write in sentences/short paragraph form. Up to you.*
Dystopian Characteristic Name of Text (+author) Explanation + Details
1) Propaganda is used to control the citizens.
2) Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
3) A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens.
4) Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
5) Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
6) Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
7) The natural world is banished and distrusted.
8) Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
9) The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
10) It is set in the future; the world as we know it now was changed, damaged, or destroyed by some catastrophic event (war, disease, apocalypse, etc.)
11) The dystopian protagonist is someone who feels trapped, is struggling to escape, questions the way society is, and helps the audience understand more about the world.
12) It is typically a worst-case scenario critique or warning of some current societal trend, and what might happen in the future if the trend continues.
SIDES – CHOOSE FIVE TO EARN UP TO 50 POINTS (OUT OF 10 POINTS EACH)
Prove that you can write about the various themes and texts we have discussed during this unit. Make sure your responses are one short paragraph (4-6 sentences each) and include plenty of specific details and support.
1) What happens to identity in a dystopia? Support your answer with specific examples from at least three texts.
2) Of all the texts we have looked at, which one is the overall best example of a dystopia? Make sure you give plenty of evidence to support your choice.
3) Imagine you are the Handicapper General in “Harrison Bergeron.” How would you hinder the talents of the following individuals? (Choose three of these people to write about, and be sure to offer justification for your responses): Albert Einstein, Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Barack Obama.
4) What is population control? In the story “2BR02B,” what is the method of population control? What is your personal opinion on population control? Is it necessary? Will it be necessary in the future? Do you think Americans would ever support the methods of population control in China or India?
5) Compare and contrast the dystopian protagonists in “The Giver” and “Divergent.” Which character is the best example of a dystopian protagonist? Make sure you give examples of how your choice shows each characteristic that these protagonists must have.
6) How is school a dystopia? Make sure you provide plenty of supporting details for your argument. Include text-to-self connections.
7) Knowing that dystopian stories exist in order to critique some current political or social trend, discuss the three texts that you feel offer the most compelling warnings for us (the readers). For each text, identify the text, explain the issue or trend that you think is being critiqued, and then discuss whether or not you think is an issue we should worry about today.
8) There are many places and situations in the world right now that mimic the characteristics of a dystopia. Show your knowledge of historical and/or current events by making some text-to-world connections. Choose three of these real-world places and explain (with lots of supporting details) how each one is a dystopian society. Choices: Nazi Germany, USSR/Soviet Union, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, China, Detroit.
DESSERT – UP TO 8 BONUS POINTS (2 POINTS EACH)
Want a little something extra? Finish your meal with some bonus points!
Identify one text that best represents each type of dystopian control. Explain WHY for each of your choices.
- Corporate Control
- Bureaucratic Control
- Technological Control
- Philosophical/Religious Control
STILL HUNGRY? FINISHED EARLY? DO THIS.
If you finish your assessment and want something else to do, this could earn you 50 points of extra credit in writing.
Letter to Your Future Grandchild
Think about the characteristics of dystopian literature. What prompts writers to write dystopian literature? What are they trying to warn readers about? What aspects of our society do you think might become dystopian in the future?
Imagine that you could warn your future grandchild about the dystopian possibilities for our future society. Write a letter to that grandchild explaining your fears about that future and why you think dystopia is a possibility.
As you’re writing, think about the language grandparents use with their grandchildren.
Tell your imaginary grandchild about your life and our society as it exists now.
Choose one or two aspects of present society (a new technological advancement, transportation, schools, education, etc.) and explain to your grandchild why and how you think this aspect might lead to a dystopian future.
The letter should be at least one page, handwritten.
Rubric
Category
What You Should Include
Points Possible
Descriptions and Explanations
· Details about your life now
· Details about our current society
· Explanation of at least one dangerous aspect of our society
· Details about how this dangerous aspect might lead to dystopia.
25
Organization and Support
· A salutation
· A clear beginning, middle, and end
· More details and evidence to support your claims
15
Language
· Language grandparents would use with grandchildren
· Strong word choice
· Interesting and engaging voice
5
Artistry
· Imagination that stems from knowledge of both our society and dystopia.
5