Utopian Creative Narrative

First Three Pages Only

Option 2: Creative FictionYour paper will be graded based on four major components: •Writing style/voice•Plot, setting, and characterization•Engagement with major themes•Observance of technical requirements1) Writing Style/Voice•The narration should be compelling.It should read smoothly and be enjoyable, even while provoking thought.There shouldbe no logical gaps in the storytelling that leave the reader totally confused about what is happeningor why a particular detail is included.•It should be evident that careful thought has been given to the overall structure of the narration. Think about whether itmakes more sense to tell your storyin the first person, second person, or third person.Think about whether a direct narration of events makes sense, or if there might be some reason to depict a character recollecting something that happened, or for yourstoryto berelated second-handby someone who wasn’t actually present to witness the events described, etc. 2) Plot, Setting, and Characterization•While yourstory does not need to conform to a traditional plot structure, something needs to be “happening”—even if that something is merely a conversation taking place. Compelling storywritingtypically presentsus with a problem or conflict that is resolved in somemanner by the end of the story(albeit, not always fully successfully or to the characters’satisfaction). •In creative works of political theory, settingsare oftenimportant means of imbuinga story with deeper significance.Use vivid, descriptive language to describe whenand wherethe story is set. The setting should be carefully chosen to help emphasize something important in your story or to convey a deeper messageto attentive readers(perhaps one that underminesthe “surface-level”meaning).•Clearlydescribe the characters in your story. Includeinterestingdetails to help bring the characters’personalities and/or perspectives to life.In the vein of Thomas More, you might even wish to give the characters names that impart extra information about your authorial intentions.3)Engagement with Major Themes•Though you are not expected to offer any formal analysis of Plato’s Republic or More’s Utopia, your story should demonstrate substantialunderstanding of and engagement with the major themes of utopian political fiction.In other words, your story should be in conversation with these texts in some way—addressing similar problems, responding (directly or indirectly) to the solutions these works pose, drawing on the literary conventions of this genre,etc.•To promote engagement with the assigned readings, I will require something unusual of a work of creative fiction: footnotes. Several times throughout your story, include a footnote in which you briefly explain how this part of the story is connected to Plato’s
Republic or More’s Utopiaand provide a relevant page numberfor reference. These footnotes will be considered ancillary to thestoryitself (i.e., they won’t be considered part of the story, unless you want them to be!).4) Observance of Technical Requirements•Is your paper free ofgrammar and spellingerrors? Did you abide by the page requirement?Did you format the paper correctly?Did you cite your sources properly? Make sure your paper conforms to the technical requirements listed above.

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