Fahrenheit 451 Final Project

Goal
The goal is to create and present your own science fiction/dystopian story using everything that you have
learned about these genres during our Fahrenheit unit. You should be able to
1. Apply your understanding of the science fiction and dystopian genres through your project by including
specific techniques that the authors of science fiction and dystopian fiction use to tell their stories.
2. Develop a significant theme about a particular topic that is important to you.
Role
You are the creators and performers (writers, artists, directors, actors) of your own cautionary tale. You will
be part of a creative team or work individually.
Audience
You need to warn skeptical members of your own society about the potential problems that they may face if
your society continues down the same path in the future.
Situation
Imagine that you are a writer like Ray Bradbury, the creator of a television show such as The Twilight Zone,
or another artist. You look around at your society and are troubled by something that you have observed.
Through your work, you want to share what has been bothering you and warn others about what might
happen.
Product, Performance, and Purpose
You will create a science/dystopian fiction scene in order to show how a routine, habit, or device that is
commonplace (used every day) today could gain an exaggerated place in your society in the future. You will
act out a skit (according to a script), make a short video, make your own comic book, or create a website
about this strange and disturbing future.
Standards for Success
Your project should include
1. an initial project proposal
2. an explanation (at least one paragraph in length) of why you chose your subject (the routine, habit, or device)
and at least two paragraphs connecting your story to Fahrenheit 451 by answering the following questions:
How is your future different from or similar to the world created by Ray Bradbury? Must include specific
details!
How is your vision of the future a good example of the dystopian and/or science fiction genre(s)?
Specifically, what elements of your project match the elements that are usually included in these genres?
3. a performance/presentation of your vision in front of the class. This can come in the form of presenting the
story on a website that you have designed, creating a skit, etc.

Presentation Options
In groups:
Note: Each person in the group shares responsibility for the project and must participate. Each
team member must have a clearly defined role to fulfill.

Skit 15 minutes. Include a script and consider acting, costume, and prop choices.

Video (movie/T.V. episode) - A 15 minute video. Hand in a script/plan with the presentation.
Consider acting, costume, and prop choices. Teams must use their own equipment.

Comic Book Must include both words (including dialogue) and drawings to tell the story. You
need multiple panels. There are several good comic book templates available online to get you
started. There are many presentation options: the document camera, a PowerPoint, a poster
with your whole comic book laid out, etc.

Website Create a website with links to multi-media. You should include dialogue somewhere in
your project.

Team choice - Run other ideas by me. I am open to options.

On your own:

Video see above

Comic Book See above

Website See above

Note: Choose activities that highlight your talents. Do not choose activities based on which ones
you think are the easiest. Whichever activity you choose should thoroughly demonstrate your
understanding of the science fiction and dystopian genres.





Project Schedule and Checklist
Day Agenda Check when
complete
3/19
Introduction to the final project
Choose whether you want to work in groups or on your own. (Maximum group size is three.)
Write down the name of one or two other group members with whom you would like to work.
Brainstorm ideas.

3/20
Receive your group assignment
Make a final choice about a habit, routine, or device that you will create a story about.
Identify the problem presented by the thing you have chosen. Why will this routine, habit, or
device cause harm, become annoying, or replace something else that is more valuable?
Choose how you will present your project to the class. Will you create a movie or website, act
out a play, or create a drawing or comic book? What does the scene you have imagined look
and feel like?
Get your project idea approved by Mr. Udel or Mrs. Johnson.
Write a paragraph explaining your choice of topic.
HW: Finish your paragraph and complete necessary research to include in your project.

3/21
Create your project, making sure that it refers to the techniques that an author uses to tell a
science fiction story.

3/24
Complete preparations for your presentation.

3/25
Presentations

3/26
-27
MCAS
3/28
Presentations

There is great serious fun for the writer in asking himself, when does an invention stop being a reasonable escape mechanismfor
we must all evade the world and its crushing responsibilities at timesand start being a paranoically dangerous device? How much
of any one such invention is food for one person, fine for this man, fatal for the next? Ray Bradbury

DAY 1
Brainstorming

Routine, Habit,
or Device
Use in our society
How is it used in our society?
Problem(s) in the future
What problems might it create?
Online shopping
(habit)
Quick and convenient, it allows shoppers to choose
from a range of options to find the items they are
searching for. They can purchase these items and
have them delivered without leaving their homes.
Amazon is leading the way with one-day deliveries. In
a few years the company will deliver packages using
drones!
I can imagine a future in which people almost
never leave their homes because they can
have everything delivered. They might work
remotely over the internet and even receive
their education entirely through online
courses. Without the need to leave their
homes, people will become lazy and antisocial.

Routine, Habit,
or Device
Use in our society Problem(s) in the future





Brainstorm #2: Authors Techniques

Science Fiction
What techniques does an author use to tell a science
fiction story?
Which of these techniques can you use in your own
story? Explain.



Dystopian Fiction
What techniques does an author use to tell a
dystopian fiction story?
Which of these techniques can you use in your own
story? Explain.


DAY 2
Project Proposal

(Topic) My project will be about
_________________________________________________________________________________

The message that I want to send about this topic is




I will create a (check one)
Video
Skit
Comic book
Website (using the available tools)
Other

What details will you include?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Why did you choose this type of presentation?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Teacher signature___________________
Rubrics There are three test grades attached to this project.

1. Preparation
Expectations

Use of Class Time Brainstorm(s) Proposal Use of Feedback
Time used effectively and demonstrated
consistent focus on the task at hand. If
working within a group, the individual was
focused and collaborated well with others.
Includes several fully
developed and well
thought-out ideas.
Completed on time.
Shows evidence
of a clear plan.
Includes
important details.
The final product
showed evidence
of this plan.
Used teacher and peer
feedback to develop and
improve ideas.
Exceeds
expectations
4

Meets
expectations
3

Barely Meets
expectations
2

Does not meet
expectations
1


Grade:
Comments:



2. Written Product
Expectations

Choice of Topic Understanding of
Dystopian and
Science Fiction
Compare and contrast
with Fahrenheit 451
Formal writing
conventions
Offers a clear and thorough
explanation of why the topic
was chosen.
Demonstrates a strong
understanding of the
science fiction and
dystopian genres and the
specific elements within
them.
Makes deep and insightful
connections between
Fahrenheit 451 and the
students own story using
specific details.
The written work shows
evidence of careful writing
and editing. There are no
serious mistakes in grammar,
punctuation, or spelling.
Exceeds
expectations
4

Meets
Expectations
3

Barely Meets
expectations
2

Does not meet
expectations
1


Grade:
Comments:





3. Presentation
Expectations

Time requirements Effectiveness of
Presentation
Use of media Creativity and deep
thinking
Project met
requirements for time
and level of detail.
The presenter delivered a clear
presentation that communicated
his or her ideas so that the class
could understand them.
The project demonstrated
strong artistic and
organizational techniques to
present information. The
choice of presentation
format provided a strong
way to demonstrate
understanding.
Demonstrated original and
deep thinking about how the
material could best be
presented.
Exceeds expectations
4

Meets
Expectations
3

Barely Meets
expectations
2

Does not meet
expectations
1


Grade:
Comments: