Overview

Students will study a range of modern and contemporary texts in the field of dystopian fiction. These will include texts that address climate change and environmental collapse, but also those that register dystopia through the lens of gender, right-left wing politics and technology. For example, these would typically include:

-Welsh dystopian texts such as Cynan Jones’ Stillicide

-contemporary dystopian fiction, for example, Sophie Mackintosh’s The Water Cure, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road

-mid-century classics of the genre, which might include Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, J.G. Ballard’s The Drowned World, Anna Kavan’s Ice, and Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451

-early twentieth-century dystopian fiction, which might include George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and E.M. Forster's The Machine Stops.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Typically, work graded D- to D+ (or 40 to 49) will show many of the following qualities:• Unsure and lacking in confidence when discussing ideas• Referring to the subject in question in a superficial manner• Making an effort to provide fairly balanced answers • Some points in the argument irrelevant to the topic • Little evidence of background reading • Some uncertainty over language and syntax • Strengths and weaknesses fairly balanced; occasionally clumsy and unimaginative -good -Typically, work graded B- to B+ (or 60 to 69) will show many of the following qualities:• Discusses ideas adeptly • Most of the arguments about a specific field are well-aired • Displays knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is relevant • Shows analytical and clear thought • Gives evidence of relevant reading • Shows accuracy in expression with mastery over language.• A few minor errors here and there.• Signs of creative thought deserve a higher position within the class • In creative work: shows signs of originality, having understood the requirements of the medium • Plans of well-balanced and full answers, despite some gaps -excellent -Typically, work graded A- to A** (or 70 to 100) will show many of the following qualities:• Discusses ideas with confidence and precision• Demonstrates maturity and sophistication • Displays deep knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is totally relevant • Shows independent, analytical and clear thought • Gives evidence of substantial and relevant reading • Shows great accuracy in expression, displaying total mastery over all aspects of the language • Shows occasional signs of brilliance and originality of thought • In creative work: displays considerable originality • Command over medium; may have potential for publication/production -another level-Typically, work graded C- to C+ (or 50 to 59) will show many of the following qualities:• Discusses ideas, but without much confidence • A respectable effort but not showing any unusual talent; a few flashes of originality here and there • Makes reference to the subject in question, but some important matters not mentioned • Fairly clear thought on most occasions, and the arguments relevant on the whole • Evidence of having read some works associated with the field in question • Quite accurate expression, though the points may sometimes be presented clumsily • Signs of conscientious work deserve a higher position within the class • In creative work: not having quite mastered the requirements of the medium • Evidence of planning in the answers, but a lack of coherence at times; undisciplined and unsure at times