Informational Essay Assignment
Assignment Objectives
Conduct research in order to define a
utopia and dystopia
 Apply what you know about dystopian
literature and make connections
between an established utopia
 Cite evidence to support your argument
 Practice informational writing skills

Dystopian Literature
As we’ve learned dystopian literature presents a
world of oppressive societal control and the
illusion of a perfect society.
This is achieved by various means. Consult
dystopian characteristics chart for more ideas.

Review examples from Brave New World
The Task
Now that we’ve read about a dystopia, is it
possible for one to exist in real life?
The World State succeeds because the
citizens believe they live in a utopia, could
we be victims of the same ignorance?
Do real life utopias exist, and are they truly
dystopias?
The Process

We will begin the second step, outlining
examples of how the characters in BNW
define their utopia, and what makes it
dystopian.
Essay Requirements

Introduction:
 Research-based definition of utopia and dystopia.
 Thesis proves why a utopia changes into a dystopia.

Body paragraph one:
 Prove how the Controllers convinces the citizens of
the World State that they live in a utopia.
 Need quoted passages of support and analysis.

Body paragraph two:
 In what ways is the World State really a dystopia,
based on the traits studied in class.
 Need quoted passages of support and analysis.
Essay Requirements

Body paragraph three:
 Research a real life utopian community. How do they
define their personal utopia.
 Include quoted passages of support and analysis.

Body paragraph four:
 Show how the vision of a real life utopia evolves into a
dystopia based on dystopian traits.
 Include quoted passages of support and analysis.

Conclusion should be thought provoking, and
relate to themes we have studied this semester.
Writing a Thesis Statement

Everyone will begin the thesis in a
similar way:
 The illusion of a perfect society is
represented in the World State and ____.
 The World State and ____ are illusions of
perfect utopian worlds.
Writing a Thesis Statement

The arguments will be different for everyone
depending on the dystopian traits you select…
○ The illusion of utopia is destroyed since the
citizens live a dehumanized life and worship a
corrupt leader.
○ The utopia evolves into dystopia because the
citizens must conform to uniform expectations,
and the outside world is distrusted.

Your arguments can change after you do some
research! It’s ok! 
Outlining Body Paragraph One:
 Topic
Sentence should remind reader of
thesis statement and answer this question:
 How do the World Controllers convince citizens
of the World State that they live in a utopia?
 Find
a quote to support this idea. Write
down, include the citation.
 Explain to the reader, in 4 sentences how
the quote relates to the idea of illusion of
utopia.
Outlining Body Paragraph Two:
 Topic
Sentence should remind reader of the
argument used in the thesis statement and
answer this question:
 In what way is the World State really a
dystopia?
 Find a second quote to support this idea,
write it down and cite it.
 Explain to the reader, in 4 sentences how
the quote relates to the argument used in
thesis about dystopia.
Important Dates


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Mon 10/21: Library for research
Tues 10/22: Library for research
and writing
Wed 10/23: F-217 for writing
○ (2nd period laptop cart)



Tues 10/29: Library for writing
Wed 10/30: Peer editing in class
Thurs 10/31: Final Draft is due
Back Yard Utopias
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Owl House & Camel Yard - South Africa
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Helen Martins (1898–1976)
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Bottle Village - Simi Valley, California
Eddie Owens Martin (1908–1986)
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Tressa "Grandma" Prisbrey (1896–1988)
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The Forevertron - Baraboo, Wisconsin
Palais Ideál - Hauterives, France
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Paradise Garden - Summerville, Georgia,
Howard Finster, 1916–2001
Rock Garden - Chandigarh, India
Nek Chand, born 1924
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Ferdinand Cheval, 1836–1924
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Salvation Mountain - Slab City, California
Leonard Knight, born 1931
Dr. Evermor, born 1938
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Pasaquan - Columbus, Georgia
Watts Towers - Los Angles, California,
Simon Rodia (1879–1965)

Windmill Park - Lucama, North Carolina
Vollis Simpson, born 1919
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/offthemap/html/travelogue_menu.htm
American Utopias
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Ephrata Cloister,
Pennsylvania
New Harmony, Indiana
Brook Farm,
Massachusetts
The Oneida Community,
New York
The Amana Colonies, Iowa
Lomaland, California
The Llano del Rio
Cooperative Colony,
California
Drop City, Colorado
Twin Oaks, Virginia
Jonestown, Guyana
http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/10/history-american-utopia-oped-utopia08-cx_ml_0410america_slide.html
Eight Modern Utopias
Arcosanti, Arizona
 Crystal Waters, Australia
 The EcoVillage,N.Y.
 The Farm, Tennesse
 Findhorn Foundation And
Community, Scotland
 Twin Oaks Community,
Virginia
 Toyosato, A Yamagishi
Village, Japan
 ZEGG, Belzig, Germany
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http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/10/enviromental-utopias-communities-oped-utopia08-cx_ee_0410ecotopia_slide.html
Other Topics…
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E-Book: Utopias in American History
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“Bio Credits Charles Manson's Terrible Rise To Right
Place And Time”
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http://www.npr.org/2013/10/15/227807022/silicon-valley-trailer-park-residents-fight-to-stay
“The Dark Side of Dubai, United Arab Emirates”
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http://www.npr.org/2013/09/18/223463616/bio-credits-mansons-terrible-rise-to-right-place-and-time
“Silicon Valley Trailer Park Residents Fight To Stay”
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http://ebooks.abc-clio.com/reader.aspx?isbn=9781598840537&id=UTAMHI1E.1 You’ll need H-H library applications log-on info if using from home
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
“Tomorrow's cities: Just how smart is Songdo? South
Korea?”
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23757738