Create Utopia

Create Your Own Utopia Project - Assignment Guidelines

I want you to not only use the information you’ve learned about the idea of a Utopia in class but to use your creativity in creating this “ideal” society, while keeping in mind the criticism from The Giver.

This assignment must be colorful – you have the necessary materials. You can also use cut outs from magazines and COLOR pictures printed from home as well.

Part 1: Group Responsibilities:

Make sure EVERYONE in the group has duties and tasks that they are assigned to complete each day. (whether that be writing, coloring, organizing). Either choose, or draw names to assign tasks.  

• Environmental consultant: pays attention to the impact of the design on natural resources
• Housing commissioner: ensures that there is a range of housing types and prices
• Recorder: keeps a record of ideas generated in the brainstorming session and reminds the group of ideas they wanted to incorporate
• Director of Activities: makes sure that there are interesting things to do so that life in the community doesn’t get boring

Before making a final decision about each task make sure that the WHOLE group agrees with the decision

You will not only receive a grade for the final product, but you will also be graded on the amount of work done each day. I will be closely monitoring your progress throughout the weeks.

The members of the group will also give you a grade for your contributions to the group. Each member of the group will be given a grading sheet on Friday.

Part 2: Group Presentation Assignment
Your group will take the information you created in the collaborative assignment and construct a Poster presentation for the class. In addition to the rubric under the evaluation tab, each member of the group must present – no exceptions.  (Listening, viewing, and speaking are part of the standards).

Part 1: Collaborative Assignments

Assignment Guidelines: Your final product must include ALL of the following components:

1. Name of your Utopian society – Choose a creative and appropriate name to represent your new society. Write a meaningful statement that tells why your group chose this name.

2. Declaration of Independence – Write an explanation describing the reason why you formed your utopian society. In this statement you must answer the following questions – 1.) What don’t you like about your current society? 2.) How has the current society broken your trust? 3.) Why do you feel the need to form a more perfect society? 4.) How will your society be different? 5.) Does your society have some of the same characteristics as your current society? Yes or No – If yes, then tell which ideas are the same.

3. Utopian Motto and Seal – Create a slogan or motto that citizens of your society will follow, and draw a utopian seal. Write a brief description that explains the meaning of the motto and seal that you chose.

4. List of Rules – Develop a list of 10 rules that all community members must follow. Provide an explanation for each rule.

5. Governing Body – How will the government of this Utopian be structured? Will you have a democracy, anarchy, a monarchy, a dictatorship, or will you have a mixed government (combines elements of all types of government)? How will your government make decisions? Please give an explanation for your choices.

6. Holidays and Celebrations – Create 5 or more unique holidays and celebrations that your society will have throughout the year. For each make sure you include a date and a reason why you chose these dates.

7. Invitation to Friends – Write a persuasive letter to a friend or relative on why your utopia is the best one in which to live.  Include a counterargument statement.

8. Journal Writing – Each group member will write a journal (separate blog entries) describing a day in your utopia.  Choose days when different events will be occurring – for instance, a day when a utopian community member goes to school or work, or during a public holiday that is recognized in your utopia.  Your entries might include details on work, family, worship, school, entertainment, and so on.

9. Daily Itinerary – How will utopia inhabitants spend their time during the week? Develop a hypothetical schedule that community members might follow during a typical day.  Your itinerary can be a listing of times and activities, but it should be broken down by the hour (or a similar time period that is appropriate for your utopia).

10. Advertisement – Develop a written advertisement or flyer for your community. This ad should be complete with pictures that are representative of life in your society. Think of the propaganda examples from Brave New World.

Part 1: Collaborative Utopia Project Rubric

Both the group presentation and individual assignment have a different rubric and will be an additional summative grade.