Real-Life Utopias
INFORMATIONAL ESSAY
ASSIGNMENT
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR WRITING AN EXCELLENT PAPER
Introductions: The Inverted Pyramid Style
The base represents the attention grabbing opening
sentence. This sentence should be a general or broad idea
that is related to your essay topic.
The center of the pyramid contains more specific
information: defining key terms, brief overview of
the novel or subject.
As the pyramid narrows, lead into the thesis
statement with a solid transitional sentence.
The point of the
pyramid represents
the last sentence in
your intro. the thesis
statement.
Writing
a Hook:
“I never know how to
start an intro. How do I
write an attention
grabber?”
“I’m so bad at writing
attention grabbers!”
“My 8th grade teacher
told me to start my
essays with a definition
from Webster's
dictionary.”
“I’m just going to
Google a random quote.”
There are a number of ways to begin
a introduction. Opening sentence
should be constructed in such a
way that relates to the overall essay
topic.
A personal story or anecdote
Descriptive language and imagery
A metaphor, analogy or unexpected
comparison
A dilemma or unexpected revelation
Thought provoking statement
 State an important theme from class
Address an essential question
 Perfection is a basic human desire that is sought
Avoid Clichéd
Hooks:
“Imagine a place that’s
perfect…”
“Perfection does not
exist, therefore perfect
societies do not exist.”
“Everyone’s definition
of perfection is
different…”
“A utopia is defined
as….. (dictionary.com)”
“Brave New World is a
utopia that is really a
dystopia.”
after on a regular basis. This desire for perfection is
what leads to the creation of utopian communities.
 Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human; to forgive,
divine,” in his 1711 poem, “An Essay on
Criticism”(Pope) . Criticism is the one thing that
prevents and advances humanity’s quest for utopia.
 Cracks in a fortress are always present; however,
they are more than just a blunder in the creation.
These cracks ultimately lead to the destruction of the
fortress. Similarly, a utopia is…
 To strive for perfection is to strive for failure. While
one's idea of perfection may include happiness from
having multiple sexual partners—as depicted in
Huxley’s Brave New World—another person might
believe perfection is abstinence—just as the Shakers
believed.
Some Suggested Hook Topics
 Illusion of utopia
 Familiarity, what aspects does our society share with
your examples
 Popularity of the dystopian genre
 Dystopian author's purpose. Warning to the reader
about an aspect in society.
Writing a Thesis Statement
Lead into Thesis with a Transition Sentence
• The illusion of a perfect society is represented in the World
State and (Real Life Utopia).
• The World State and (Real Life Utopia) are illusions of perfect
utopian worlds.
Arguments will be different for everyone depending on the
dystopian traits you select…
• The illusion of utopia is destroyed since (dystopian trait for the
World State), and (dystopian trait for real life utopia)
• The utopia evolves into dystopia because (dystopian trait for
the World State), and(dystopian trait for real life utopia)
Outlining Body Paragraphs
The World State
Real Life Utopia
 Body Paragraph One:
 Body Paragraph Three:
 Body Paragraph Two:
 Body Paragraph Four:
How are the citizens of
the World State
convinced that they live
in a utopia?
What dystopian
characteristic does the
World State exhibit?
How does the leader of
a real life utopia
convince members that
they live in a utopia?
What dystopian
characteristic does the
real life utopia exhibit?
Body Paragraphs Should Include…
Topic sentence that relates to argument in thesis
State the example from the story, or research
Build a sentences around quoted material
Follow-up analysis that proves thesis (2 sentences for
every one sentences devoted to summary)
Transition sentence
Follow-Up Analysis Example
Thesis: The illusion of a perfect society is destroyed since the citizens must conform
to uniform expectations and worship a corrupt leader.
Topic Sentence: George and Hazel Bergeron believe they live in a utopia since
conformity has made everyone equal in the year 2081.
Quoted Material: 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).
Analysis proves thesis: 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.
Transition: 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.
Follow-Up Analysis Example
Thesis: The illusion of a perfect society is destroyed since the citizens must conform to
uniform expectations and worship a corrupt leader.
Topic Sentence: 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.
Quoted Material: 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”). Analysis proves thesis: 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.
Quoted Material: The opportunity for change is lost when Harrison Bergeron says “Even as I
stand here… watch me become what I can become!”(Vonnegut) After he sheds his handicaps
Harrison is killed by the Handicapper General. Analysis proves thesis: 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.
Transition: If the Handicapper General succeeds because the citizens believe they live in a
utopia, there must also be examples in reality of people living in similar ignorance.
Use Interesting Sentence Starters
TRY THIS
AVOID
When you begin your follow-up
analysis, avoid repetitive and
boring sentence starters.
X This quote proves…
X As you can see…
X In this situation, it proves …
X “Harrison Bergeron” tells
how...
X This quote from Brave New
World says...
X I picked this quote because…
Refer to the actions, statements,
and feelings of the characters.
 Bernard’s actions are






significant because…
Huxley’s warning shows that...
This situation proves...
The critic believes that...
In other words, the poet is...
The author warns us that…
The character’s actions show…
Concluding Your Essay: The Base
The point represents the first sentence
of the conclusion, and should remind
reader of your thesis statement.
Review your main points, without
repeat everything you wrote.
Refer back to the hook you used in
your introduction.
Lead into your final thoughts
regarding the topic.
The base represents the last sentence of your essay
that should leave an impact on the reader.
Why do we
Neglect
Conclusions?
When procrastinating,
the writer is racing
to finish the essay
and does the bare
minimum in
terms of ending
the writing piece.
The reader, in this case
the teacher, wants
to finish reading
quickly in order to
assign a grade and
move on; therefore
ignores the
conclusion.
That's all folks... the essay stops here!
 Conclusion should leave the reader with a clear
understanding of the importance of your topic.
 Review your main points, but don't summarize
everything you wrote.
 Take a more personal approach and discuss how
this process changed your thinking.
 Reveal to the reader the significance of studying
dystopian literature.
Why do we
Neglect
Conclusions?
Someone told you to
restate the thesis
and introduction, so
there is nothing new
in the conclusion
anyway.
In the publishing world
of journalism, the
final paragraphs are
often cut off
completely, to make
room for more
advertising space.
 Why should the reader care about your topic?
 What is the most important thing the reader
should take away from your essay?
 End with a cliffhanger; now that you've
explored this topic, what do you want to further
investigate.
 Take a risk, this is the LAST thing I will read, so
make it memorable—what sort of grade do you
want? End the paper with A+ quality writing.