Logan's Run: Conclusion; Feb. Break Portfolio Work

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  • Critical evaluation essay
    • Write an introduction; lead in to your thesis.
    • Add a few paragraphs summarizing the novel you read. Keep only major or important details about setting, character, plot. Do not evaluate. Avoid bias words.
    • After summary, support your thesis with source #1.
    • [Each source should be summarized briefly--what's the main point? Use textual evidence from book or sources to support your points]
    • Evaluate the source. Explain how and why does it fit into your analysis/thesis?
    • After connecting source #1 with your thesis, move to source #2.
    • Evaluate and explain source #2.
    • After source #2, move to source #3.
    • Evaluate and explain source #3.
    • Continue evaluation and explanation for each source. Try to blend ideas into a whole.
    • You may wish to add a counter-argument into your paper--especially if there is a glaring logic error, situational mistake, or problem a reader might have with your thesis.
    • Evaluate the novel. Use textual evidence. Prove your argument/thesis.
    • Conclude by considering what's at stake for the reader, our culture, the world--what's important to remember when reading this novel? Why should we care? or So what?
  • Draft of a dystopian story
    • Create a protagonist who has just realized his/her Utopia is not all that it is cracked up to be.
    • The protagonist fights against the current status quo.
    • Use mythic archetypes: mentors, challenges, love interests, confidantes, foils, "monsters", antagonists, etc. to illustrate aspects of the dystopia.
    • Challenge your protagonist to make a change.
    • Note: Most dystopian novels tend to end bleakly. The protagonist does not always change society--often society changes him/her to comply.
    • Write a draft.
As we move into media studies, let's discuss our next style of academic paper: The Synthesis.

The synthesis is a written discussion or analysis using more than one source to examine a connection or relationship between sources. Analysis, research papers, argument papers, essay exams, position papers, newspaper/journalism articles, business plans, web or blog writing, legal cases, criminal cases, documentaries, most fiction novels, and memos or letters all are common genres of writing that use the process of synthesis.

To begin our conduct of media studies and to bridge our gap between dystopian fiction examples and media studies, we will screen the MGM science fiction classic Logan's Run (1976), directed by Michael Anderson, and based on the novel of the same name. Logan's Run stars Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, and Peter Ustinov.

As you watch the film, inspire yourself to write a draft of your dystopian future. Look here at these 3 short sources for next class:

Source #1: 3 Problems in America's Youth Culture (blog)
Source #2: Should Older Americans live in Segregated places? (article)
Source #3: Aging Worries Influence Die Young Philosophy (psychology article)

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