98-502 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Writing Dystopian Fiction
3 units, Carnegie Mellon University
"The beauty of dystopia is that it lets us vicariously experience future worlds - because we still have the power to change our own." - Ally Condie This course is a genre fiction writing class. We will learn how to write effective stories in the dystopian genre, by exploring themes and tropes in dystopian media and learning how to employ them in our own writing. The study of dystopias will be approached through four units: theme, worldbuilding, character, and plot. Classes will be a mix of lecture and discussion, with time for workshopping student work towards the end of the semester. Activities will include: Discussing and learning about the dystopian genre Reading examples of dystopian fiction Exercises and assignments in creative writing Workshopping each other’s work Students will leave the course with an original plan for a Dystopian story. Aside from being super fun, dystopias reflect aspects of our own society and provide space for contemplation, and their study makes us more informed and conscientious people.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Spring 2027, Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Fall 2025
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