UTOPIA PROJECT

Project Assigned: Wednesday, September 17th

Project Due: Monday, October 13th

A utopia is defined as an ideal place or state or any visionary system of political or social perfection. Who wouldnt want to live in a
Utopia? It is a perfect place where there are no worries whatsoever. Create the utopia of your dreams and convince me its the best place to
live. Prove to me you understand the general notion behind a utopian society. The project ideas are endlessPowerPoint, Photo Story,
Moviemaker video, brochure, diorama, paper, collage, poster, etc. What do you want to do? Tell me your idea and Ill tell you if its
appropriate. In order to meet all the criteria of this assignment, you must include all of the contents listed in the categories below. You can
incorporate them into your project any way you want as long as you meet the requirements.
Two rubrics are attached to this assignment. You will be assessed on the content and presentation of your project. Use the rubrics
to help you meet all the requirements. Use them as a guide to help keep you on track. Use this handout to keep track of the requirements
you have completed and/or still need to complete. You will have class time to complete this. You will also have to work at home, during
resource, during your study hall, or whenever you have a chance. Put all your effort into thisyou will be presenting your project to the
class (3-7 minute presentation).

Project Requirements:
Every country in the world is studied based on the following five categories. Within each of these categories is a list of items/topics that
is specific to each country. Use the categories and their contents to create your own Utopia. Your Utopia must include the following pieces
of information. How you include them is up to you: written description, diagram, model, video, etc.

Category 1: Geography of the country

1. Map of the Utopia including major cities, position on the globe, and geography

2. Information on: Land, Climate, Environment, Resources, Human/Environment Interactions (how people use and rely on the land and
resources), Etc.
Category 2: History of the country
1. Declaration of Independence: Write a brief statement describing the reasons for your formation of a utopian society. In other words,
what is it that you dont like about the society in which you currently live? Why do you feel that you need to for a more perfect
society?
2. Information on: Conflicts, Wars, important leaders (presidents, kings/queens, etc), , Development, etc.
Category 3: Political Science and Citizenship of the Country
1. Laws/Codes/Regulations: Develop a list of laws or codes that all inhabitants must follow. These can include, but are not limited to the
following prompts:
a. How will the government of your utopia be structured? What type of government is it? Who will make the decisions?
b. How are people informed?
c. Can all have a say in how things are run? How do they give input to leaders?
d. How are decisions enforced?
e. What are the rules for responsible behavior?
f.

Will there be a system of punishment for those who commit crimes? (You may want to develop a list of crimes and corresponding
punishments)

g. How will people be educated? What type of curriculum will you have?
h. What moral codes will be taught to your citizens?
i.

Will all people be free? How free? Free to think? Free to hate? Free to be violent? Free to support any belief?

Category 4: Economics of the country

1. How your country survives: What do the people of your country do for a living? How do they make money and spend money?
2. Information on: Imports/Exports, Trade, Economic Issues, Standard of Living, Financial Institutions (money), Global Impact, Etc.
Category 5: Behavioral Sciences

1. Name of Your Utopia: Choose a creative and appropriate name for your new society. Explain your choice in a way that makes the
reasons for the name clear.
2. Create a flag that is representative of your utopia. Explain the relevance of your flag.
3. Information on: Cultural Beliefs and Practices, Social or Ethnic Groups, Religions, How people get along with one another and
contribute to society, Roles people play, Media, Etc.

There are two rubrics: one for presentation and one for content. Each rubric is worth 100 points. I will combine your rubric scores
together (200 points), average them, and give you one percentage grade.

This project begins on Wednesday, September 17th. You will have at least 20 minutes MOST days to work in class. Please make
sure you work on it outside of school as well. Check SharePoint for up-to-date calendar information. The project due date is due on
Monday, October 13th. Be ready to present that day. I will draw names each day, starting that day, to determine the order of
presentations.

**You will have a lot of time to work in class. It is your responsibility to bring whatever materials you need to work on your project
during class work time. If you do not bring what you need, you will have to work on your project outside of class.

Presentation Scoring Rubric

Utopia Project
CATEGORY
Creativity

20

15

Product shows a large

Product shows some original Uses other people's

Uses other people's ideas, but does

amount of original thought.

thought. Work shows new

ideas (giving them

not give them credit.

Ideas are creative and

ideas and insights.

credit), but there is little

inventive.

10

evidence of original
thinking.

Appearance

Makes excellent use of font, Makes good use of font,

Makes use of font, color, Use of font, color, graphics, effects

color, graphics, effects, etc. color, graphics, effects, etc.

graphics, effects, etc. but etc. but these often distract from the

to enhance the

occasionally these

to enhance to presentation.

presentation.

presentation content.

detract from the

presentation content.

Mechanics

Use of Class Time

No misspellings or

Three or fewer misspellings

Four misspellings and/or More than 4 errors in spelling or

grammatical errors.

and/or mechanical errors.

grammatical errors.

grammar.

Used all class time to

Used most of class time.

Rarely used class time.

Did not use any class time wisely.

complete tasks. Remained Was reminded to focus a few Constant reminders to

Presentation

focused and attentive

times

Presentation was audible,

Presentation was audible but Presentation was hard to There was no presentation.

clear, and had a flow.

lacked flow. Presentation

hear. Presenter was

Audience was engaged.

could have been

unorganized.

planned/practiced more.

NAME:_________________ SCORE:_____________

focus.

Content Scoring Rubric

Utopia Project

(20)

(15)

(10)

l (0)

Geography

History

Political Sci. & Citizenship

Economics

Behavioral Sciences

No examples or details
regarding Land, Climate,
Environment,
Resources, or
Human/Environment
Interactions are
mentioned or included.

No examples or details
regarding significant
historical events, wars,
conflicts, developments,
or land acquisition are
mentioned or included.

No examples or details
regarding government
structure, government
type, human rights, or
foreign relations are
mentioned or included.

No examples or details
regarding financial
institutions, economic
issues, global impact,
trade, import/exports or
standard or living are
mentioned or included.

No examples or details
regarding media, beliefs,
practices, ethnicities, or
human interactions are
mentioned or included.

One or more appropriate

example(s) named, but
without explanation or
details for clarification.

One or more appropriate

example(s) named, but
without explanation or
details for clarification.

One or more appropriate

example(s) named, but
without explanation or
details for clarification.

One or more appropriate

example(s) named, but
without explanation or
details for clarification.

One or more appropriate

example(s) named, but
without explanation or
details for clarification.

OR

OR

OR

OR

OR

Selected example(s)
would be obvious to
someone unfamiliar with
the country.

Selected example(s) would

be obvious to someone
unfamiliar with the country.

Selected example(s) would

be obvious to someone
unfamiliar with the country.

Selected example(s) would

be obvious to someone
unfamiliar with the country.

Selected example(s) would

be obvious to someone
unfamiliar with the country.

At least ONE example is

described well enough to
be understood by
someone unfamiliar with
the country.

At least ONE example is

described well enough to be
understood by someone
unfamiliar with the country.

At least ONE example is

described well enough to be
understood by someone
unfamiliar with the country.

At least ONE example is

described well enough to be
understood by someone
unfamiliar with the country.

At least ONE example is

described well enough to
be understood by someone
unfamiliar with the country.

Multiple examples from

different sub-categories
are described in enough
detail to be understood by
someone unfamiliar with
the country.

Multiple examples from

different sub-categories are
described in enough detail
to be understood by
someone unfamiliar with the
country.

Multiple examples from

different sub-categories are
described in enough detail
to be understood by
someone unfamiliar with the
country.

Multiple examples from

different sub-categories are
described in enough detail
to be understood by
someone unfamiliar with the
country.

Multiple examples from

different sub-categories are
described in enough detail
to be understood by
someone unfamiliar with
the country.

NAME:________________________ SCORE:____________________