During the break, I went out and obtained a copy of Island and a copy of Brave New World, both by Aldous Huxley. I've begun reading Brave New World, which is all about a dystopian society. This week, I plan on reading and annotating Brave New World and brainstorming possible ways of connecting it with dystopian texts that I've read in the past such as 1984 and A Clockwork Orange. Using these connections, I'll begin my research paper. I already have three book sources. I still need a couple more. I'll probably find a criticism or two to support my essay.

This week:

-Continue reading Brave New World

-Brainstorm ideas for the research paper

-Find criticisms to support these ideas

-If I'm far enough into Brave New World, I will begin writing the paper. If not, next week I will be.

4th Marking Period Project: Utopian and Dystopian Fiction

I've pretty much decided that I'm going to create a unit based solely on utopian and dystopian fiction. Since I've already read 1984 and A Clockwork Orange, both classic novels about dystopian society, the unit will probably focus more on Utopias. In total, it marking period will comprise of two or three well-known novels in either field, relevant criticisms, poems, or any other applicable pieces of literature. This project is intended to provide a flexible, yet appropriate method of exploring and analyzing social and political structures within both genres of society. Though not yet set in stone, a final project will probably entail comparing and contrasting utopias and dystopia using the literature and external research/world history.

That's a basic prototype for the entire marking period. Along the way, ideas will be added and changed.

But for this week I plan to:

-Find an interesting novel to read that depicts a Utopia. With the help of a list that I found on wikipedia, this shouldn't be too hard.

-Scanning the internet for external sources and criticisms that could help bring about ideas for a research paper.

-Brainstorming historical governments and events that might be relevant to the content I'm studying.

-Immediately begin reading the book that I decide on.

Questions I have yet to answer:

-What percentage of the total work should be focused on the already studied dystopian fiction?

-What should be the first novel I start with?