When I am teaching The Giver, I usually have my kids read and report on other examples of dystopian literature.
There are so many fun books for them to choose from, many of them written in the last five years specifically for young adult readers.
I have the notes and instructions all in a nice printable in my unit plan for The Giver, but you can copy and paste them from below to share with your class.
Definitions
Utopia = a community or society that is perfect, or nearly perfect
Dystopia = a society that is undesirable or frightening
Intro
Dystopian literature often explores the dangers of trying to serve the greater good by repressing the needs of the individual.
In The Giver, Lois Lowry depicts a society that has gone too far in trying to eliminate the potential for conflict and pain. The Giver shows that rich, diverse experiences for individuals can be more important than overall peace and stability.
Task
Your task is to explore another example of dystopian literature and prepare a report on it for the class.
Your report must include the following:
- Description of the dystopian society – Use a few paragraphs to describe what the society is like. What is life like for the people? What are the rules? Why does it exist?
- Plot summary – Provide a brief summary of what happens in the story.
- Comparison to The Giver – Write a paragraph comparing the society in the novel you choose to that described in The Giver. How are they similar? How are they different? Which is worse?
Resources
You can find examples of dystopian literature online, in the library, and at the book store.
Here is a great place to start your search:
Thank you for this. I always like to encourage my kids to go beyond the text we are studying, and this will make it very easy.