Title: Gattaca Forum
Course: BC - Literary Studies 11 - 1.1 > Section: Unit 4 - Dystopian Literature

Complete two of the following forum post questions, providing a significant response for each in 100-150 words per question, and seeking to ground your remarks in specific examples/quotations from the film and your novel. Comment on one other post by a classmate, offering a further insight, connection, quotation, or charitable difference or approach you see on the topic. When commenting, do not just say, “Good job; I agree!” but instead offer a robust remark about specific elements of the original post, and your unique contribution to the content of the original comment. Make sure to include the questions in your post, so it is clear which two you have chosen to respond to.

1. What is significant about the letters in the title Gattaca? You will notice there are only four unique letters in it: G, A, T, and C. While this is not a Science class, it is a scientific reference to something pertaining to DNA you might recall from Biology. What do you think the use of these letters in the title of the film implies about its major themes?

2. How does Vincent Freeman resist the dystopian elements of his world, and how does this compare or differ from the efforts of the protagonist from the novel you have read in this unit?

3. Fire plays a significant symbolic role in nearly every text in this unit. What is its significance in Gattaca, and how does its use compare to its depiction in the novel you have read in this unit?

4. What dilemmas does Vincent face in Gattaca, and what things does he ultimately lose or have to sacrifice for his vision of a greater good? How does this compare or differ from the losses and sacrifices of the protagonist in the novel you have read in this unit?

Forum Post Rubric

 | Not Completed | Emerging (Unsatisfactory) | Developing (Satisfactory) | Proficient (Very Good) | Extending (Excellent)
 | 0 | 4 5             6 7   8 9 10
Initial Post | Not complete | Demonstrates lack of awareness of the topic. Comments are off topic or irrelevant. Demonstrates thinking that is confused or off-topic. Doesn’t make any reference to the lesson material. | Demonstrates awareness of the topic but offers little reflection on it. Provides mostly relevant comments. Demonstrates thinking that is mostly clear and organized. Occasionally references the lesson material to support reasoning. | Demonstrates consideration of the topic. Provides relevant comments. Demonstrates thinking that is clear and organized. References the lesson material to support reasoning. | Demonstrates thoughtful consideration of the topic. Provides relevant and insightful comments. Demonstrates exceptional logic and organization. Clearly references lesson material to support reasoning.
Response Posts | Not complete. | Responses demonstrate a lack of comprehension of the original post or are disrespectful. | Responses are respectful but do not add much to the conversation. | Responses are purposeful and respectful, adding to the conversation. | Responses are thoughtful, insightful and respectful,  adding meaning and depth to the conversation.
Total          /10 (averaged between posts)