Dystopian Short Story Formal Essay. The dystopian stories we have read so far
this semester have two purposes. First, they are designed to prepare you.
Dystopian Short Story Formal Essay The dystopian stories we have read so far this semester have two purposes. First, they are designed to prepare you for some of the keys ideas you will encounter in our study of the dystopian novel, 1984 by George Orwell. Second, you will use them to demonstrate your understanding and skill with the formal essay. You have spent three years learning about and practicing the formal essay. It’s time to activate that prior knowledge and use those skills.
In this essay, you will compare two of the three stories you have read. Choose from:
!“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson ! “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut ! “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin
Since you are only comparing two stories, this essay will be four paragraphs in length (approximately 500 – 750 words). It will include an opening paragraph, two middle paragraphs and a concluding paragraph. You must include a minimum of four quotations (two in each middle paragraph), properly blended into your paragraphs. See the handouts entitled: Essay Expectation, Reminders and Common Errors, Inserting Quotations and Formatting an Essay (from the website) for essay expectations at the senior level.
Once you have selected two of the three stories, choose one of the following topics and develop an insightful thesis that is arguable, provable and worth proving. It needs to pass the “So what?” test.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
equality conformity individuality sacrifice victims responsibility for actions/choices
7. One of the “Ism” ideas from ENG 3UI. Please show it to me for approval before you write your essay. 8. A topic of your choice. Please show it to me for approval before you write your essay.
Aim for a thesis and an essay that are insightful rather than obvious.
You need to submit the final copy of this essay as well as all rough work. I strongly urge you to follow the writing process. That includes brainstorming, outlining, drafting and revising. Feel free to book a time with me if you want to conference about your essay. Should you require an outline or a graphic organizer, you may download one from my homepage.
You will need to upload the final copy to www.turnitin.com by noon on the day that the essay is due. I will only mark papers that have been submitted to this site. Please be respectful of due dates. Once I have returned your graded essays, I will no longer accept late papers. You will have to write your essay on 1984.
Draft Due Date: __________________________________________________ (typed in MLA format) Due Date: _______________________________________________________ (hard copy, all process work) * Essays are also “due” through turnitin.com by NOON on the due date.
Texts/Works Cited Information: Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Diana Gioia. 6
th
ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. 298-‐‑300. Print. Le Guin, Ursula K. "ʺThe Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas."ʺ The Wascana Anthology of Short Fiction. Eds. Ken Mitchell, Thomas Chase, and Michael Trussler. Regina: Canadian Plans Research, 1999. 273-‐‑77. Print. Vonnegut, Kurt. “Harrison Bergeron.” Elements of Literature: Third Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007. 99-‐‑106. Print.
