These sites cover both sides:

 

Violent Video Games Increase Aggression Long After the Game Is Turned Off, Study Finds

Wearing school uniforms prepares students from the future because they get used to wearing something that is required. “Wearing a uniform helps prepare students for the world of work, where uniforms are often worn”(www.idebate.org). This is true because many jobs require wearing a uniform everyday to work. Imagine how informal it would look if a judge was doing a court case, or a doctor was doing surgery with shorts and a tank top. It would seem like they don’t care about their job. Schools can make students more prepared for the future by making them wear uniforms.

-Student A

 

School uniforms provide a non-threatening and effective environment for students. When uniforms became required at a public high school in Long Beach, crime rates dropped 91%, school suspension lowered 90%, sex offenses where reduced 96%, and vandalism declined 69% (www.educationbug.org). By enforcing school uniforms, the students became focused on education. Also, the school uniforms added a sense of maturity to students. The uniforms encouraged the students. Their behavior changed dramatically because their environment changed dramatically.

-Student B

Dystopic Films Extra Credit Assignment Name__________________________________

Watch and review a dystopic film for extra credit, and earn up to 5 points (a homework grade). Grades will be based on your reflection answers. Below is a list of dystopic films. There are tons more that aren’t on the list. Please see me if you wish to review a film not on this list. You can find out more about each film at imdb.com. You can search for more film ideas by googling “Top 50 Dystopian Movies of All Time”. You can also do this with a book like 1984, The Hunger Games, and The Uglies.

Rating Titles

G and PG Wall-e (2008)

Logan's Run (1976) City of Ember (2008)

PG 13 A review of one of these films must be accompanied with signed parent permission Pleasantville (1998)

Minority Report (2002)

Gattaca (1997)

R Brazil (1985)

1984 (1984)

The Matrix (1999)

Please answer the following reflection questions on a separate sheet:

1. What are the major differences between the society in the film and our own society? Give four examples.

2. Do you think there are any benefits (pros) to living in the society depicted in the film? What are they?

3. Do you think there are any negative effects(cons) to living in the society depicted in the film? What are they?

4. What are some similarities between the film you saw and the book you read (The Giver)? What are some differences?

5. What is the theme of the movie? What is this movie trying to tell us about our own, present society?

6. Is this film a dystopia or anti-utopia? Explain.

Many scholars distinguish between dystopias and anti-utopias.

-anti-utopia: society tries to form a utopia, and they may make some positive changes, but ultimately major problems come up (think The Giver).

Dystopia: usually set in the future. They often don’t pretend to be perfect. Many times the setting causes a problem for the protagonist(s).

Parent Permission, required for all PG-13 and R rated films. Find out more about the ratings at imdb.com.

Please sign to give your child permission to watch __________________________________________ (film title).

____________________________________/_____/____ ___________________________________

Signed name Date Printed name