Anthem Essay of Argument

A utopia is possible if ______.

Because ______all utopias are destined to eventually become dystopias.

Assignment: Write an essay including a clear thesis statement that you can prove using one of the starters above. You will prove this thesis using Anthem, a scholarly journal article, and either a movie or another novel. (You can NOT use Minority Report) The essay will be between 3-5 pages and include evidence from multiple sources.

Possible texts to use: 1984, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, Divergent, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Hunger Games, Unwind, Never Let Me Go and other dystopian texts

Possible movies to reference: Gattaca, A Clockwork Orange, The Running Man, Logan’s Run, Equilibrium, Death Race, Idiocracy, I Robot, Total Recall, V for Vendetta, RoboCop and other dystopian movies

Scholarly articles using infohio.org: authors and scholars discuss/analyze dystopian literature

*If trying to access www.infohio.org at home, the username is infohio and the password is power

Getting started:

· Make a list of possible dystopian novels you have read. How do these prove the topic question?

· Make a list of possible dystopian movies you have seen or will watch. How do these prove the topic question?

· Find scholarly research articles that support your findings

· Synthesize how Anthem, scholarly research and either another novel/movie answer the question.

Many of you will be required to cite scholarly journal articles for research at some point in the future. Scholarly articles have more original thought, complexity, validity and sources than popular or trade publications. Scholarly journals can be accessed in print at a library such as KSU or on a database such as EBSCO Host. This assignment is meant to familiarize you with the search process and to prepare you for the advanced complexity of the text.

Step 1: Use Infohio and EBSCO Host to find and print a scholarly article that focuses on dystopian literature. The article should be 2-5 pages in length. Look it over before you print it to make sure it is on topic and of interest.

Step 2: Read the introduction and find out the author’s main point or argument. Underline the thesis. Then read the remainder of the article carefully highlighting clear evidence to support your thesis.

Ø Attach the printed and highlighted article to your final essay

Helpful reminders:

Follow formal writing rules

Do not use “you” or “I think,” “I believe” etc.

Embed quotes

Use literary present tense

Use specific language – avoid things, got, a lot, many, very

Don’t use intensifiers

*Remember to submit to turnitin.com

Anthem Rubric: Name: ______

Each category will be graded on a 5-point scale:

5=Excellent 4=Good 3=Fair 2=Poor 1=Inadequate 0=Not Evident/No Attempt Made

1. _____ Paper begins with a formal literary attention-getting opener that effectively transitions into the

thesis.

2. _____ Paper contains a thesis statement using the chosen sources to support the dystopian or utopian

view.

3. _____ Paragraphs are organized, and include topic sentences (that introduces the evidence used in that

paragraph, relating back to the thesis), concluding sentences (tying the body paragraph back to the “so what” of the thesis) and transitions to connect ideas.

4. _____ Body paragraphs provide the best textual evidence from Anthem which aligns with the central

idea of the paper, supports the thesis, is integrated/embedded into the text, and is cited correctly (MLA format).

5. _____ Body paragraphs provide the best textual evidence from scholarly article(s) which aligns with

the central idea of the paper, supports the thesis, is integrated/embedded into the text, and is cited correctly (MLA format).

6. _____ Body paragraphs provide the best paraphrased evidence from another book, or summarized

concept(s) from a movie which aligns with the central idea of the paper, supports the thesis, and is cited correctly (MLA format).

7. _____ The conclusion refers back to the thesis idea of the paper and includes a concluding thought.

8. _____The paper contains correct usage of spelling, grammar, varied sentence structure and formal

language.

9. _____ The paper contains at least five words from your vocabulary packet which are used correctly,

highlighted or underlined, and defined (definitions provided at the end of the paper).

10. _____The paper follows the assignment requirements: Times New Roman size 12 pt. font, MLA

heading, typed, double spaced and proper MLA formatted Works Cited page. *Attach the printed and highlighted scholarly article to your final essay

Total: ______/50