Real-Life Utopia/Dystopia Informational Essay
Objectives:
Ø Conduct research in order to define a utopia and dystopia
Ø Apply what you know about dystopian literature and make connections between an established utopia
Ø Cite evidence to support your argument
Ø Practice informational writing skills
The Task: Dystopian literature presents a world of oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society. This is achieved by various means, such as:
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Ø Society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world
Ø Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
Ø Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
Ø A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.
Ø Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
Ø Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
Ø Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
Ø The natural world is banished and distrusted.
Ø Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
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For this assignment, you will investigate the possibility of real-life dystopias. The World State succeeds because the citizens believe they live in a utopia, could we be victims of the same ignorance? Is it possible for a real-life utopia to exist, without it becoming a dystopia?
First, conduct research in order to define utopia and dystopia. Using Brave New World as your example, explain how the Controllers convince the citizens that they live in a utopia, while operating a dystopian society. Then, you will apply what you’ve learned from literature to a real-life example of an attempted utopia. Find non-fiction source that depicts a seemingly utopian society—a society that is really no different than a dystopia.
The Process:
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1. Study the characteristics of dystopias and examples found in literature: Brave New World.
2. Use a graphic organizer to brainstorm essay ideas.
3. Conduct research in order to define utopia/dystopia, and find an example of an attempted real-life utopia.
4. Keep track of your sources and create a works cited page.
5. Organize your research, quoted material, analysis into a typed outline.
6. Develop your outline into detailed body paragraphs.
7. Write an interesting introduction and thought provoking conclusion.
8. Make an appointment with the LRC for an editing session.
9. Bring a typed first draft for a peer editing session.
10. Revise your final draft, print it, upload to www.turnitin.com.
Save document as: Period, Last name, First name.
Example 1 Hersker, Jackie
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Essay Requirements:
Ø Intro includes research-based definitions of utopia and dystopia, and student’s original interpretation of how a utopia changes into a dystopia.
Ø Body paragraph one: Prove how the Controllers convince the citizens they live in a utopia.
Ø Body paragraph two: In what ways is the World State really a dystopia, based on the traits studied in class.
Ø Body paragraph three: Research a real life utopian community. How do members define their personal utopia.
Ø Body paragraph four: Show how the vision of a real-life utopia evolves into a dystopia based on dystopian traits.
Ø Conclusion should be thought provoking, and relate to themes we have studied this semester.
Name: English III--ELA
Due Date: Informational Essay Assignment College Prep
Essay Topic: / 5—4.5 / 4—3.5 / 3—2.5 / 2—1.5 / 1—0Focus: The text focuses on a topic to inform a reader with ideas, concepts, and information that creates a unified whole.
Development: The text presents facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, examples, and original analysis.
The text provides an introduction and conclusion that support the topic and examine the implications and significance of the topic.
Audience: The text anticipates the audience’s background knowledge of the topic. The text includes useful information to aiding comprehension.
Cohesion: The text explains the relationship between ideas and concepts. The text includes appropriate and varied transitions and syntax.
Language and Style: The text presents a formal style and objective tone and uses language, vocabulary, and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the topic.
Conventions: The text demonstrates standard English conventions of usage and mechanics while attending to the norms of the discipline in which they are writing (MLA, APA, etc.).
Comments: Score:____ /30 = ____ %
Real-Life Utopia/Dystopia Informational Essay Graphic OrganizerResearch Based Definition of Utopia/Dystopia—
Reasons why Utopias Become Dystopia—
Illusion of Utopia / What makes it a Dystopia
Brave New World—
“Everyone belongs to everyone else” / Brave New World—
Dehumanization: There are no meaningful relationships between people.
Real Life Utopia— / Real Life Utopia—
Real-Life Utopia/Dystopia Informational Essay Outline
Introduction: Attention grabbing hook, opening sentence
Research based definition of utopia / dystopia.
Quoted material (citation):
Explanation of how utopias evolve into dystopias
Quoted material (citation):
Thesis: Why utopias become dystopias
Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence
Explain how characters from literature define their utopia
Quoted material (citation):
Analysis to support thesis:
Transition sentence:
Body Paragraph 2: Topic sentence
Explain how the utopia in literature becomes a dystopia
Quoted material (citation):
Analysis to support thesis:
Transition sentence:
Body Paragraph 3: Topic sentence
Explain how members define their real life utopia
Quoted material (citation):
Analysis to support thesis:
Transition sentence:
Body Paragraph 4: Topic sentence
How this real life utopia evolves into dystopia
Quoted material (citation):
Analysis to support thesis:
Transition sentence:
Conclusion: Topic Sentence
Make a connection to the essential questions: consequences of pursuing perfection, do words matter, information that should or should not be known. Relate to themes from reading. Warning to readers or people who seek utopia or perfection. End with a thought provoking closing statement, or idea that relates to attn. grabber in introduction.
Works Cited Page
"Dystopias: Definition and Characteristics." Read Write Think. 2006. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. <http://www. readwritethink .org>.
Sample Essay:This example illustrates how to organize ideas, integrate quotes, and analyze examples from literature. Be advised, this is for the short story “Harrison Bergeron;” you will be writing about Brave New World, and a real-life example.
Thesis: The illusion of a perfect society is destroyed since the citizens must conform to uniform expectations and worship a corrupt leader.
Body Paragraph One: Since conformity has made everyone equal in the year 2081, George and Hazel Bergeron believe they live in a utopia. Equality is achieved through the “unceasing vigilance of the agents of the United States Handicapper General” (Vonnegut). People like George and Harrison Bergeron wear complex handicaps to prevent them from “taking an unfair advantage of their brains” (Vonnegut). While a handicap is generally viewed as something negative, the citizens accept this as the only way to ensure fairness and equality. In the year 2081, perfection is achieved through mediocrity. Being average makes everyone feel content with his or her place in society. With a population of citizens who are physically and mentally limited, the leaders have the freedom to rule as they see fit, without the threat of gifted individuals challenging the system. As long as people like George and Hazel conform to uniform expectation and believe the illusion of utopia, they will never see that the world they live in is actually a dystopia.
Body Paragraph Two: Through a complex system of conformity, the Handicapper Generals succeed in convincing people like the Bergeron's that the dystopia they are living in is truly utopia. One of the distinguishing characteristics of dystopian literature is that the “citizens must conform to uniform expectations” and that individuality is seen as a threat (“Dystopias: Definitions and Characteristics”). With such aggressive means of handicapping citizens, diversity and uniqueness has been abolished. One cannot hope for a better future since no one has the ability to see beyond the present state of averageness. The opportunity for change is lost when Harrison Bergeron says “Even as I stand here… watch me become what I can become!”(Vonnegut) The moment he sheds his handicaps, Harrison is killed by the Handicapper General. The threat to the stability of the society has been eradicated, and the viewers are too distracted to remember what they’ve seen. Life continues for the Bergerons, even as their gifted son is executed on T.V. If the Handicapper General can find success in this dystopia, it is because the citizens believe they live in a utopia. One has to wonder if there must also be examples in reality of people living in similar ignorance.
Forbes.com Utopia By Marc Hodak 04.10.08
“The Seeds Of Their Own Destruction”
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Paradise once existed, so we're told, in Eden, Arcadia or Shambhala. Paradise will again be ours in the afterlife if we reach Heaven, Valhalla or the Happy Hunting Grounds. Unfortunately, paradise in the present has always been elusive. Not for lack of trying. Utopian experiments have been attempted at every step in the march of civilization. Why haven't any of them succeeded?
For one thing, the bar is constantly being raised. Life in a modest American town today would have been the envy of the Middle Ages. But such a community, with its technology, infrastructure or freedoms, could never have come into being in the Middle Ages; and if it somehow magically appeared, it would have promptly been sacked. For most of history, this raised a significant obstacle to utopia. Any land of milk and honey automatically attracted swords and muskets.
The New World changed that. Small groups could organize civilized communities based on any peculiar theory, with little concern for conquering hordes. All they had to do was be economically and socially viable. This new opportunity spawned a flood of utopian experiments, beginning with the first colonists.
Most schoolchildren know that the Mayflower pilgrims came to America to escape the persecution they encountered in Europe. A more obscure fact was that the Plymouth Colony was originally organized as a communal society, with an equal sharing of the fruits of everyone's labor. At least, that was the plan. Their governor, William Bradford, documented how this degenerated over the next two years into "injustice," "indignity" and "a kind of slavery." Productivity was shot, and the community starved. Bradford wisely placed the blame not on the flaws of his people, but on the system their society had chosen. They abandoned communal ownership and, lo and behold, the fields sprouted with life. As Bradford writes:
"They had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn. ... By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plenty, and the faces of things were changed, to the rejoicing of the hearts of many."
Hundreds of utopian experiments followed Plymouth--religious and secular, communist and individualistic, radical and moderate. But all had to make impossible sacrifices in the service of their ideals. The Shakers and Harmonists were very successful economically, and bound tightly in a common spirituality. However, their way of keeping a lid on worldly desires was to practice celibacy. Now, anyone who has raised children knows what a resource drain they can be, and would not be surprised that communities without offspring could get ahead financially. Nevertheless, the celibate life had only so much appeal, and these sects eventually died off.
Many religious societies declined or disbanded after the loss of their founder. Others, such as the Perfectionists of Oneida who practiced group marriage, or the entrepreneurial Inspirationists at Amana, eventually gave up communal living, spun off their commercial interests and began assimilating into the surrounding communities.
Secular societies fared even worse, many of them repeating the lessons of Plymouth. Josiah Warren, a member of the celebrated New Harmony commune that collapsed under collectivist strains, went on to found societies based on a decidedly more individualistic premise, including utopia in Ohio and Modern Times on Long Island. While economically successful, boundaries between the true believers and their neighbors dissolved over time. Today, the hamlet of Brentwood, N.Y., where Modern Times used to be, looks like the rest of its Long Island surroundings--pleasant enough, but no utopia.
The long series of failed experiments yields some interesting lessons. The first is that internal power grabs are even more poisonous to utopian dreams than external threats. The gold standard of utopian leadership, the benevolent prince or philosopher king, is inherently unstable. Solomon, Marcus Aurelius and Suleiman the Magnificent failed utterly to provide successors with anything like their talents.
The competition for succession invariably favors not the wise, but the ruthless. This is especially dangerous in communistic societies. Where selfishness is a sin or a crime, everyone is guilty; you don't want your antagonists gaining the authority to sit in judgment. Democracy provides a more stable succession mechanism, but it is inherently factionalist. Even in Mormon Utah, a utopian experiment that fared better than most, there are factions out of power who are unhappy with things.
A second lesson is that ideals are constraints, and the more constraints one tries to impose, the less viable the community will be. It's hard enough for a private company--an organization focused exclusively on economic success--to survive intact for multiple generations. Add to that special utopian claims on the firm by the employees and you can see how tough the odds are. The best bet is to run utopia as a business, which is exactly what many communities concluded.
Finally, if you're going to suppress your members' worldly desires, you need a mechanism for self-selection. Several religious sects, like the Old Order Amish, have successfully stifled material interests over multiple generations. Their people are happy because they don't require much stuff. But they know that everyone can't be kept in the fold. Anabaptist communities who believe that only adults can be meaningfully baptized provide this safety valve. The 10% of Amish who don't stay allow the other 90% to maintain their culture.
While many people believe that utopias are doomed to failure because of human nature, it's much more useful to approach utopia as the ultimate governance challenge. The U.S., itself, was a far more successful experiment because of that approach, expressed in James Madison's view that, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary."