I have attached the file below
First, select two dystopian works from the list of texts we’ve studied this semester. Then, locate one theme that these two works have in common and formulate your thesis statement from this common theme. Make sure your thesis statement is as specific as possible and is not simply answering the question “what is the dystopia in ____?”. You are required to utilize at least one outside source from the Wilson College Library Database. The paper should be five pages in length.
Themes to Consider for the Seminar Paper:
Fahrenheit 451
Freedom of Thought vs. Censorship
The Dark Side of Technology
Obedience and Rebellion
The Subjectivity of History
Memory and the Past
The Minority Report
The Dangers of Technology
Crime and Punishment
Corporate Greed
Memory and the Past
“To Serve the Master”
Android vs Human Rights
The Meaning of “Human”ness (or “what makes a human human?”)
Social and Class Hierarchy
Westworld
The meaning of “human”ness
Android vs Human Rights
Agency and Free Will
The Dangers of Technology (virtual reality)
1984
Totalitarianism
Censorship
Propaganda
The Subjectivity of History
Memory and the Past
The Nature of Reality
Repression and Loss of Identity
Political Loyalty
Social and Class Hierarchy
The Dangers of Technology
The Power of Language
“The Chromium Fence”
Repression and Loss of Identity
Political Loyalty
The Dangers of Technology
Conformity
“Amaryllis”
Agency and Free Will
Memory and the Past
Repression and Loss of Identity
Social and Class Hierarchy
Loss of Identity
Crime and Punishment
Individualism and Collectivism
Obedience and Rebellion
The Human Spirit
Discrimination
“The Lottery”
Tradition and Conformity
Memory and the Past
Repression and Loss of Identity
Social and Class Hierarchy
Loss of Identity
Obedience and Rebellion
Agency and Free Will
Animal Farm
The Power of Language
Totalitarianism
Revolution and Corruption
Obedience and Rebellion
Social and Class Hierarchy
Memory and the Past
Individualism and Collectivism
Agency and Free Will
Political Loyalty
Censorship
Propaganda
The Subjectivity of History
Of course, the themes of “loss of individuality” and “conformity” apply to ALL these works. There are other themes to explore as well. If you think of any others that you want to utilize, please email me first for approval.
Structuring your paper:
I. The Intro
a. Some background on the two texts and why they are related
b. Background on the theme you selected and how they apply to these two texts
c. A thesis statement: “I will demonstrate that the theme of__ is seen in both of these texts by analyzing __.” or something like that
II. The First Text
a. Analyze your chosen theme in the first text only.
b. Don’t focus on the entire work, just select scenes. Dive deeply into a few scenes.
c. Beef up your analysis with at least one direct quote per paragraph (and a citation)
III. The Second Text
a. Make a smooth transition, building off the previous section, into the analysis of your second text. Of course, you will be analyzing the same theme.
b. Don’t focus on the entire work, just select scenes. Dive deeply into a few scenes.
c. Beef up your analysis with at least one direct quote per paragraph (and a citation)
IV. The Synthesis
a. This section will focus on the direct connections and parallels between the two texts.
b. Don’t rehash sections II and III, but make connections on a broader, thematic level.
c. You should still strive for direct quotes and citations in this section. This is where an outside source would come in handy.
V. The Conclusion
a. Recap and rephrase all the main points of evidence for your thesis.
VI. The Works Cited Page (does not count as one of your six pages)
a. Works Cited heading is centered and placed after the page break.
