Utopian Society - Is it the Answer?
Before you do anything else, read this ENTIRE PAGE
before starting to write/type the assignment out...
| Introduction | |
| The book The Giver shows a society that is very different from ours. Jonas’s (the main character) world is perfect. There is no war, fear, or pain. Everything is controlled, the everyday decisions we make are not available. They do not get to decide what they wear, eat or even where they work. Every person is assigned a role in the Community based upon their talents. Would living in such a society make things easier? We wouldn’t have crime or poverty. Is it worth giving up our choices for a perfect world? |
Assignment
Your assignment is to learn more about Utopian societies, and decide if we should strive for a utopian society of peace and harmony even if it means giving up variety, choice, love, etc.. Why or why not? You will be writing a persuasive letter to a government official to persuade him/her to either push a movement toward or away from a utopian society.
Process
- What is Utopia? Using the resources provided, learn about Utopia and the Utopian society. What are the benefits of this society, what are the pitfalls of this society? On a blank sheet of paper, make a chart showing the benefits and the pitfalls. (This can be just a list of pros and cons)
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Definition of Utopia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia
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Utopian Philosophy - http://users.erols.com/jonwill/
- Here are some examples of Utopian societies that actually exist in our world today.
- Acorn Community http://www.ic.org/acorn/
- The Farm http://www.thefarm.org/index.html
- Twin Oaks http://www.twinoaks.org/
- Victory City http://www.victorycities.com/
- Utopian States http://www.utopianstates.com/US1/index.html
- Utopian World http://www.utopianworld.org/
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What freedoms or choices would you miss most of all? Think about the possibility for a utopian society. Are you willing to give these freedoms/choices away?
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You are now well-informed about Utopian societies and have considered the costs and benefits. Using the knowledge you have gained, write a persuasive letter to a government official. Persuade him/her to either push a movement toward or away from a utopian society.
Conclusion
You have learned more about Utopian societies and have made a decision if we should support a move toward or away from a Utopian society. While there was no right or wrong answer, it is important that you DEFEND your idea with valid points to persuade the government official to side with you...
HINTS:
Basically you are to research the topic of utopia (not the novel) and write a letter to a government official. On another sheet of paper, you will also have a list of pros and cons to a utopian society, based upon your findings at the websites listed above...
You will need to hand in these 2 sheets of paper before you leave today...
Also, you will need to create a new web page on your synthasite website (title it "The Giver") and link the letter to it...(we'll be having more web pages added to The Giver website as we get into the book.)
FINALLY, you are to read the first chapter of the book before class starts tomorrow...be ready for a quiz on it.
