ENG 4033: SCIENCE FICTION
Fall 2008
MWF 1:00-1:50
Stoler
This course is essentially a modern science fiction class since all the readings in the Norton Anthology were written in 1960 or after. I would prefer it otherwise, but the Norton was the only collection of short science fiction that met my requests for examination copies before book orders for the class had to be submitted. The short stories we read will offer us differing approaches to and themes of science fiction and the six novels I have chosen are generally considered to be “classics” of the genre.
There will be frequent previously unannounced quizzes on both the readings and lectures. The two lowest quiz grades will not count in the final average, but quizzes NOT TAKEN will be averaged in as zero grades. These quizzes will be given after lectures have been given but before a discussion of a reading and will be objective and not interpretive. They may be given before class discussion gets underway, in the middle of a class, or at the very end of a class. There will be three short (3-5 pages each) papers. The lowest paper grade will not be counted (BUT ALL THREE PAPERS MUST BE TURNED IN WITH A GENUINE WRITING ATTEMPT—no two sentence efforts in place of a paper) unless all three grades will help the student’s average. Late papers will be penalized five points a day. A mid-term and a second exam will be given. The second exam will NOT be comprehensive and will be a one-hour exam given at the BEGINNING of the scheduled final exam period. The quizzes will count at 20% of the final grade; the papers as 40%; and each exam as 20%.
Paper topics may include any aspect of one of the NOVELS not discussed in class; any story in the anthology not assigned as required reading; a comparison of an assigned anthology story with any non-assigned story in the text. You may not write on the same novel or story more than once.
The course format will be discussion supplemented by lecture. No letter grade will be given for discussion participation, but borderline students who have been frequent participants will receive a higher grade (for example, a C+ student who has been active in discussion of the course material will receive a B- final grade).
Leave your cell phones off while In class. Should your phone go off in class, I reserve the right to ask you to leave the classroom and not return until the next class period. If someone expects a possible crisis call, please let me know before class that you will be leaving your phone on. Faculty are not allowed to drop students for non attendance. Consequently, students who stop attending class and do not drop will be given a grade of F no matter what the reasons are for the non-attendance. I almost never give the grade of incomplete, so I expect students to attend class, take the quizzes, and turn in work on time.
Required texts are:
Le Guin and Attebery, eds.The Norton Book of Science Fiction
BradburyFahrenheit 451
HuxleyBrave New World
AtwoodThe Handmaid’s Tale
MillerA Canticle for Leibowitz
BurgessThe Wanting Seed
VonnegutCat’s Cradle
The novels will be read in the order listed.
The following schedule is designed for students to keep up with their reading. We will not necessarily be on this schedule all the time for discussion, but students are expected for quiz purposes to have the readings done on the date scheduled no matter where we are in our discussions.
Wed., 27 Aug.Introduction to class
Fri., 29 Aug.Strange Wine (350)
Mon., 1 Sep.LABOR DAY: NO CLASS
Wed., 3 Sep.Elbow Room (412)
Fri., 5 Sep.We See Things Differently (762)
Mon., 8 Sep.The New Atlantas (317)
Wed., 10 Sep.FAHRENHEIT 451
Fri., 12 Sep.FAHRENHEIT 451 (cont.)
Mon., 15 Sep.As Simple As That (231)
Wed., 17 Sep.Dark Benediction (handout)
Fri., 19 Sep.Dark Benediction (cont.)
Mon., 22 Sep. Speech Sounds (513)
Wed., 24 Sep.The Star Beast (handout)
Fri., 26 Sep.The Star Beast (cont.)
Mon., 29 Sep.PAPER DUE. BRAVE NEW WORLD.
Wed. 1 Oct.BRAVE NEW WORLD (cont.)
Fri., 3 Oct.And the Angels Sing (797)
Mon., 6 Oct.CATCH-UP
Wed., 8 Oct.His Vegetable Wife (628)
Fri., 10 Oct.Baby, You Were Great! (handout)
Mon., 13 Oct.For the Sake of Grace (211)
Wed., 15 Oct.The Women Men Don’t See (255)
Fri., 17 Oct.FIRST EXAM
Mon., 20 Oct.THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Wed., 22 Oct.THE HANDMAID’S TALE (cont.)
Fri. 24 Oct.THE HANDMAID’S TALE (cont.)
Mon., 27 Oct.The Nacirema (handout); Homelanding (794)
Wed., 29 Oct.Gather Blue Roses (250)
Fri., 31 Oct.Tauf Alef (4270
Mon., 3 Nov.PAPER DUE. CATCH-UP.
Wed., 5 Nov.A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ
Fri., 7 Nov.A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ (cont.)
Mon., 10 Nov.A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ (cont.)
Wed., 12 Nov.Kyrie (201)
Fri., 14 Nov.After the Days of Dead-Eye Dee (605)
Mon., 17 Nov.The Life of Anybody (569); The Byrds (501)
Wed., 19 Nov.THE WANTING SEED
Fri., 21 Nov.THE WANTING SEED (cont.)
Mon., 24 Nov.THE WANTING SEED (cont.)
Wed., 26 Nov.CATCH-UP
Thur., 27-Sun. 30 NovTHANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Mon., 1 Dec.PAPER DUE. CAT’S CRADLE.
Wed. 3 Dec.CAT’S CRADLE (cont.)
Fri., 5 Dec.CATCH-UP.
Mon.,8-Tue. 9 Dec.STUDY DAYS: NO CLASS
Wed. 10 Dec.SECOND EXAM—1:30-2:30. THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM AND WILL LAST ONLY ONE HOURS.
IMPORTANT DATES: Sep. 29: Paper Due; Oct. 17: First Exam; Nov. 3: Paper Due; Dec. 1: Paper Due; Dec. 10: Second Exam.