Dystopian Unit Essay Assessment

By now, you should have come to understand that freedom of choice and individuality is what creates a society that is fair for all. Complying with conformity and loss of power will only disrupt peace and conflict with citizens’ rights to freedom, which leads to an inevitable uprising. When faced with oppression and control, violence and hatred become likely. In dystopian societies, war typically tears it down even more unless the people can find freedom.

In an essay of at least four paragraphs (including complete introduction and conclusion paragraphs), answer the following questions:

1. What do authors of dystopian novels say about government, society, and/or human behavior? (Body Paragraph One)
2. How does dystopian fiction connect to the current real world? (Body Paragraph 2)

In each body paragraph, you must cite (using MLA format) directly from at least one of the short stories we read in class. The stories are “Harrison Bergeron,” “We Ate the Children Last,” and “2BR02B.”

The introduction must include:

• An interesting hook
• Establishment of the topic of dystopia (multiple sentences)
• Introduction of the story/stories that you will be citing in the essay
• A thesis statement that establishes what you believe to be the most important commentary that dystopian authors make.

Body paragraph one must include:

• A claim that connects your thesis to this topic: What do authors of dystopian novels say about government, society, and/or human behavior?
• Two pieces of evidence from at least one story that we read in class, cited in MLA format. Include analysis and reasoning that ties it all together.

Body paragraph two must include:

• A claim that connects your thesis to this topic: How does dystopian fiction connect to the current real world?
• Two pieces of evidence from at least one story that we read in class, cited in MLA format. Include analysis and reasoning that ties it all together.

Your conclusion paragraph must include: Your final thoughts on the most important commentary that is made by dystopian authors, and a satisfying final thought that definitively ends the paper.

You must have a Works Cited page Works Cited centered at the top of the last page Includes all works that are used in the essay in alphabetical order

Vonnegut, Kurt. “Harrison Bergeron,” Mercury Press, New York, 1961. Vonnegut, Kurt. “2 B R 0 2 B.” If: Worlds of Science Fiction, Jan. 1962. Martel, Yann. “We Ate the Children Last.” The Guardian, 16 July 2004.