Student Page: Dystopias
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Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions.
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Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are
maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an
exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.
Characteristics of a Dystopian Society
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*check the characteristics that you find in your novel*
Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.
Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
The natural world is banished and distrusted.
Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
Types of Dystopian Controls
Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are
maintained through one or more of the following types of controls:
 Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media.
 Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless
regulations, and incompetent government officials.
 Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means.
 Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a
dictatorship or theocratic government.
Which type of dystopian control is evident in your novel? Support your answer with text evidence. ____________________
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The Dystopian Protagonist
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*Check the situations that apply to the main character in your novel *
often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.
questions the existing social and political systems.
believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives.
helps the audience recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson926/DefinitionCharacteristics.pdf
Novel: _______________________________________
Author: ______________________________________
Group Members: _______________________________
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Book Discussion Norms
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Bring your book, notes and graffiti journal to every discussion.
Come ready to discuss with journal and completed/sticky notes in book.
NO EXCUSES! YOU MUST SUPPORT YOUR GROUP BY READING!
Make the commitment to reflect/review prior to your meeting.
Move to your group quietly.
Remember to maintain eye contact.
Listen and be prepared to question the speaker.
When speaker is done, ask for elaboration, clarification, or support from the text where necessary.
Engage in rich, academic conversation.
Build-on or challenge speaker’s ideas in a friendly demeanor.
Do not engage in sidebar conversations—one speaker only at all times.
Everyone discusses, but no one monopolizes conversation.
Do not change the subject until it is thoroughly discussed (i.e. don’t just wait for another speaker to
stop so you can say what you had planned to---respond to speaker’s words first).
Respect each other’s opinions (i.e. disagree agreeably, if need be).
No SPOILERS if you have read ahead of the others or know the outcome of the book.
Keep voices loud enough to hear each other but low enough to avoid distracting other groups.
Fill out all of your paperwork and be prepared to share your group’s conclusions and questions with
the class as a whole.
 You will be graded for participation in your book talks.
 Anyone who has not read their novel will work on a separate packet and earn a 70% for the daily
grade.
Book Group Discussion #1
Dystopian Novels
Questions to consider:
1. What are the elements of dystopia that you have noticed in your novel?
2. Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the
illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of
controls: corporate, bureaucratic, technological, philosophical/religious control. What type
of dystopian society is represented in your novel?
3. Does the “quest for perfection” play a role in your novel? How?
4. What was the first clue (everyday occurrence) that made you start to question the
“utopian” society in your novel?
5. Describe the major character (protagonist) in your book. Describe his/her character
traits.
Book Group Discussion #1
Dystopian Novels
Questions to consider:
1. What are the elements of dystopia that you have noticed in your novel?
2. Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the
illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of
controls: corporate, bureaucratic, technological, philosophical/religious control. What type
of dystopian society is represented in your novel?
3. Does the “quest for perfection” play a role in your novel? How?
4. What was the first clue (everyday occurrence) that made you start to question the
“utopian” society in your novel?
5. Describe the major character (protagonist) in your book. Describe his/her character
traits.
Book Group Discussion #2
Dystopian Novels
Literary Elements
Today you will discuss the literary elements of your novel.
Characters: describe the protagonist in your novel. Identify three character traits this character
possesses.
How do the characters from the various novels compare on these traits?
Setting: How does the setting impact the plot?
Plot: What is the overall plot of your novel?
Conflict: Internal vs. External Conflicts
Internal Conflict: Individual vs. Self
External Conflict:
Individual vs. Individual/Nature/Society
Are these conflicts related to the theme of the books?
Theme: What themes have you noticed so far? How do your themes overlap (between novels)?
What literary techniques did the writer use? (e.g. foreshadowing, flashback, irony, different points of
view, present tense writing vs. past tense, figurative language, etc.) Was this effective?
How does the genre (dystopian science fiction) affect the literary elements?
Book Group Discussion #2
Dystopian Novels
Literary Elements
Today you will discuss the literary elements of your novel.
Characters: describe the protagonist in your novel. Identify three character traits this character
possesses.
How do the characters from the various novels compare on these traits?
Setting: How does the setting impact the plot?
Plot: What is the overall plot of your novel?
Conflict: Internal vs. External Conflicts
Internal Conflict: Individual vs. Self
External Conflict:
Individual vs. Individual/Nature/Society
Are these conflicts related to the theme of the books?
Theme: What themes have you noticed so far? How do your themes overlap (between novels)?
What literary techniques did the writer use? (e.g. foreshadowing, flashback, irony, different points of
view, present tense writing vs. past tense, figurative language, etc.) Was this effective?
How does the genre (dystopian science fiction) affect the literary elements?
Group
Members:_______________________________________________________________________________________
DAILY DISCUSSION CHART
Book Title:
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What We Know and What’s Important:
Chapter # _______ Pages: ___________________
Questions We Have:
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Discuss Above Points in Your Group: Elaborate, Clarify, Cite Examples in Text, Build-On or Challenge Ideas
Record Answers, Clarifications Made by Group:
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SUMMARIZE: As a group, decide upon and write two or three of the most important ideas in this
chapter:
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Be prepared to share your ideas and engage in academic conversation with the class as a whole!