Mrs. Russ 2014
Introduction
 5-7 Sentences
 Sentence 1: Audience hook (four
option-question, quote,
statistic/fact, anecdote /amusing
story
 Sentences 2-4: one sentence
each for your three bodies
 Sentence 5: thesis statement
(provable yet arguable)
Intro 3 main
ideas
 One sentence for each body
paragraph
 Again, I DO NOT care in which order
you present them.
Thesis
Statement
Last sentence of
intro
Provable
Arguable
Dystopian Literature: Common Threads
“‘We predicated our entire system on predictability. Six Echo
has displayed the one trait that undermines it: Human curiosity’” (The
Island). Dr. Merrick from the big screen blockbuster dystopian film The
Island sums up one defining characteristic present in nearly all
dystopian works of fiction: the idea of rebellion against the established
system. The three protagonists of popular dystopian works begin to
question their governmental systems; those works include The Island,
Ender’s Game, and “The Pedestrian.” In addition to their protagonists
displaying moments of dissension, these three examples of dystopian
content involve the establishment of a certain control used by the
current government in operation. These dystopian works also display a
set of characteristics common in the dystopian genre. While movie
director Michael Bay, author Orson Scott Card, and science fiction
master Ray Bradbury hoped for their works to fall into the hands of
millions of readers, the fans themselves make the connections that
unite these three unique pieces of fiction under the same genre.
PLEASE NOTE: No dead words, N2SSWTSWITSP, No contractions, No
1st or second person pronouns
Body paragraphs: Just giving you one example to help!
The dystopian protagonists in the three works come from different
backgrounds and life experiences, and they all question their governments. For Lincoln
Six Echo in The Island, his rebellion comes in the form of his natural curiosity. Dr.
Merrick and his team of scientists believe that they prevent their manufactured clones
from feeling curious, but Lincoln and his best friend, Jordan Two Delta, quickly
disapprove that assumption. Ender Wiggin from Ender’s Game also displays questioning
characteristics common among protagonists of this genre. Ender’s rebellion comes in
the form of his refusal to continue on to Command School; the International Fleet
officers must enlist the help of his sister to persuade him to continue his training. “ “
(Card ). Leonard Mead from “The Pedestrian” also questions his society, but his
rebellion takes on a new form: walking. While to most it seems as a logical and
acceptable action, Mead’s society spends the majority of its free time in front of the
television. When Mead becomes stopped by police, he cannot help but display his
individualistic human nature and reveal his desire to think for himself. This action, of
course, leads to Mead’s hospitalization as a mental patient. These three protagonists
reveal just one common aspect of dystopian fiction; one must also examine the type of
control in place to fully understand the depth of the restrictions for the people living in
those dystopian societies.
Notice: No dead words, all writing rules are followed!