Build your own Utopia
From Plato to Čapek, we have read a broad range of Utopian literature.  Now, it’s time for you to make your own utopia by borrowing bits and pieces of what you have read and doing further research on utopian literature.
Think about the following three issues as you develop your utopia or dystopia
Genre: We have read a variety of literary genres for this course: philosophical treatises, plays, prophetic literature, speeches, letters, sermons, travel reports, allegories, satires, histories, political pamphlets, novels, and sci-fi literature.   Use one of these genres (or come up with another) in your utopia.
Setting: The utopian literature we have read has been located in a variety of settings: the present, an imaginary land, a spiritual world and the future of fantasy and imagination.   Reflect on where you want to place your utopia or dystopia.
Problem: Though much of the literature we have read has wrestled with a range of problems facing society, often times the writer has focused on one major theme: economic exploitation, spiritual alienation, human productivity, etc..  In your utopia deal with one major question or issue.

Sources: Though this assignment is obviously creative, it needs to be based on serious research.  A successful paper will refer to and cite literature we have already read in this course.   You will also be expected to compile a bibliography that will include material from at least one other utopia/dystopia that we have not read.  You will need to research the problem you are addressing as well and include sources in the bibliography.  Your bibliography must have at least five items (not including course material).

Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length.  The paper will be due the date of our exam, Thursday, December 15.  You can turn the paper in earlier by simply sliding it under the door of my office (218 Flint).

To help you, there are a number of reference works (3rd floor Smathers) that will assist you in your search for further utopian literature.  For the sake of others, please return the books to the shelves when you have finished.

Dictionary of literary utopias: Z7164.U8 D52 2000 (Reference)

Utopian literature : a bibliography with a supplementary listing of works influential in utopian thought: Z7164.U8N43 (Reference)

Encyclopedia of Utopian Literature: PN56.U8 S66 1995 (Reference)