What is a Utopia?
Essential Questions
- What is a Utopia?
- What are the purpose, goals and characteristics of actual utopias?
Goals
By the end of this lesson, you will
- clearly articulate a descriptive definition for utopia.
- define the operations of actual utopias – past and present - by using a variety of resources including on-line resources and personal reflection.
- transfer information that defines a utopia from written information to a visual graphic organizer.
- examine controversial issues about utopias by sharing and evaluating initial personal response; researching and summarizing printed data; and compiling personal responses and researched data to organize your presentation.
To Do's
Utopia Defined
The following links provide definitions for Utopia. Note any thoughts, ideas, passages that have meaning for you.
The following links provide definitions for Utopia. Note any thoughts, ideas, passages that have meaning for you.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia
- http://www.utopiaanddystopia.com/dystopian-fiction/
- http://users.erols.com/jonwill/
- http://brainstorm-services.com/wcu-2005/bravenew-utopia.html
- http://users.erols.com/jonwill/utopialist.htm
- http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/the-meaning-of-utopia/?_r=0
Researching Real Life Utopias
Choose three of the following current day/future utopias and complete the Utopia Characteristics Chart –
New Harmony
• http://www-lib.iupui.edu/kade/newharmony/home.html
Brook Farm
• http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/brookfarm.html
Twin Oaks
• http://www.twinoaks.org/
Acorm Community
• http://www.acorncommunity.org/
Victory City
• http://www.victorycities.com/
Others: http://brbl-archive.library.yale.edu/exhibitions/utopia/utopcom.html
Choose three of the following current day/future utopias and complete the Utopia Characteristics Chart –
New Harmony
• http://www-lib.iupui.edu/kade/newharmony/home.html
Brook Farm
• http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/brookfarm.html
Twin Oaks
• http://www.twinoaks.org/
Acorm Community
• http://www.acorncommunity.org/
Victory City
• http://www.victorycities.com/
Others: http://brbl-archive.library.yale.edu/exhibitions/utopia/utopcom.html
Graphic Organizer: Defining a Utopia
Complete the Graphic organizer that asks you to describe the following:
Complete the Graphic organizer that asks you to describe the following:
- Explain what a utopia is.
- Describe some properties of utopian societies.
- Provide a few examples of utopias (for example, from other novels)
- Compare a utopian society to another type of society.
- Write a complete definition of utopia based on your map.
definition-map.pdf | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
File Type: |
Independent Research on Utopias
To extend your knowledge on Utopias, research one or both of the following areas. Add your information to your Blog.
To extend your knowledge on Utopias, research one or both of the following areas. Add your information to your Blog.
- Philosophy -- A number of utopian communities were established in the U.S., such as the Shakers in the eighteenth century, or Fruitlands, led by Bronson Alcott (father of Louisa May Alcott) in the mid-nineteenth century. Choose one of these communities and list the principles that guided it, as well as the assumptions behind those principles.
- Sociology -- Choose a group in the U.S. today that actively seeks to maintain an identity outside of the mainstream culture: the Amish or Mennonites, a Native American tribe, the Hasidic Jewish community, or another group. Research and report on the answers to questions such as the following: What benefits does this group expect from defining itself as "other"? What are the disadvantages? How does the mainstream culture put pressure on such a group?