A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange

Monday, April 14, 2008

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?

1 comment:

That Hank said...

I'd start with Brave New World, if I were you.