ENG 235 W
Science Fiction
Instructor: Charles Tedder Semester: Spring, 2011
Email: Location: CURY 241
Office: 113 McIver Time: MWF 1:00-1:50
Office Hours: 8-9, 10-11
Catalog Description
Historical and critical study of science fiction in the twentieth century.
Thematic Focus
Ray Bradbury once wrote, “Anything you dream is fiction, and anything you accomplish is science—the whole history of mankind is nothing but science fiction.” This course uses science fiction and critical theory to explore the ways in which the literary imagination represents, critiques, and even creates human experience. How is science fiction connected to modernity and postmodernity? What is the deeper relationship between fearing and hoping for scientific progress? Why do writers use the fantastic and the bizarre when confronting both uncertain possibilities and mundane reality? Through class discussion, presentations, journal entries, short essays, and a term paper, students are invited to develop and share their own positions on how literature interacts with identity, technology, and the idea of the future.
Course Goals (including Writing Intensive goals)
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
· Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature
· Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts
· Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing
· Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been and are written and interpreted
· Incorporate constructive feedback from readers to improve written work
· Write and speak clearly, coherently, and effectively
· Adapt modes of communication to various audiences
Texts
Masri, Heather. Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts. Bedford, 2009. 9780312450151
Graff et al. They Say/I Say. 2e. Norton, 2010. 9780393933611.
Grade Distribution
Participation 20%
Class Presentation 10%
3 Short Papers 30%
Final Paper 40%
Grading
Assignments in this class receive whole letter grades, although final grade averages may be given with plus and minus ranks. Final grade averages are calculated using a 4.0 scale. Grades should be interpreted according to the table below.
Grade / Score / General AssessmentA / 4.0 / The work is excellent, meeting the highest standards for critical thinking and academic discourse
B / 3.0 / The work is very good, showing insight, originality, or notable but underdeveloped critical thinking
C / 2.0 / The work is good, meeting all requirements and showing correct understanding of the material
D / 1.0 / The work is fair, meeting most requirements and/or showing an imperfect understanding of the material
F / 0 / The work is poor, meeting only a few requirements and/or showing misunderstanding of the material
Participation (20%)
Excellent or very good participation is characterized by asking and answering questions, showing respect to others, and inventive commonplace writing (see below). Good participation will be sufficiently free of problem behaviors and show an interest in learning the material, although the student might be inconsistent in either the commonplace book or live discussion. Fair to poor participation is characterized by tardiness, distraction, missing commonplace entries, carelessness, and a lack of serious scholarly inquiry. Participation is assessed holistically; although behavior throughout the semester is taken into consideration, the grade is not decided until the end. Concerned or motivated students should ask the instructor several times during the semester how to improve their participation
Commonplace Book (Journal)
Part of your participation grade, intellectual notebooks or scrapbooks called “commonplace books” have been around since the late Middle Ages and have often been used in formal higher education. Which is to say, even though this assignment is “informal” and “creative,” you should still understand it to be intellectually rigorous and open to public assessment. In other words, it’s not your private diary. Using Blackboard’s journal function, you will keep a commonplace book this semester in which you gather significant details from our readings and your thoughts on those details. The result should be cohesive network of related ideas: commonplacing should develop and enrich your thinking as you go. You may be asked to share your commonplace entries with each other, so don’t include anything that you would be uncomfortable sharing or discussing.
Class Presentation (10%)
Each student will give a 5-10 minute presentation, complete with a one-page handout. Each presentation should summarize the text, identify major literary features (such as key motifs, forms of irony, variations in narrative structure), and offer an interpretive or analytical position as a starting point for the day’s discussion.
3 Short Papers (10% each, 30% total)
At the end of each unit (about every three weeks), students will write a 1200 word paper (about 4 pages). One of these will be revised and expanded to serve as the final paper. Each short paper needs to use three texts from that unit, either one work of literature and two critical essays, or two works of literature and one critical essay. This triangulation is designed to spark critical thinking and avoid overly simple applications of text A to text B. Papers should be presented in MLA style.
Final Paper (40%)
The final paper in this class is a critical research paper, minimum 8 pages (approximately 2400 words). Each student will revise and expand one of his or her short papers. In rare cases, with prior permission, students may combine material from two papers or create an entirely new paper. Students should add at least two new secondary sources, preferably critical works that examine the paper’s subject text(s). The paper is due on the last day of class and should be presented in MLA style.
Professionalism and Courtesy
Students are expected to arrive to class on time, with their materials, having read the day’s assignment. Anyone who fails to meet these expectations will be asked to leave and counted absent for the day. Anyone who blatantly disregards the class (e.g. by falling asleep, responding to a text message or phone call) or who disrupts class in any manner will be asked to leave and counted absent for the day. See the attendance policy below.
Attendance Policy
Students are allowed a maximum of three absences without a grade penalty. For every absence beyond those allowed, students will be penalized one-half letter grade. Students who miss six classes will fail the course. There is no basic distinction between excused and unexcused absences, and students do not have to account for their absences to the instructor. However, in extraordinary circumstances, you should not hesitate to contact me about your attendance. Students whose personal circumstances hinder their ability to attend classes successfully should talk to their advisor and contact Student Academic Services. http://web.uncg.edu/adv/
You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays, which do not count toward your total allowed absences, as defined by the above policy. If you plan to miss class because of religious holidays, you must notify me in advance of your absence.
Virtual Class Meetings (VCM)
No more than twice during the semester we might hold a virtual class meeting in lieu of a regular class. We will do so only when inclement weather or other extenuative circumstance requires: an announcement will be made in class and/or posted on Blackboard. Students are responsible for checking their UNCG email and blackboard regularly. VCMs will consist of participation in a blackboard discussion forum. By noon on the day of class, student will need to post one question or comment on the assigned reading. By midnight that same day, each student must have posted a minimum of two replies to his/her classmates.
Technology in the Classroom (Laptops)
Laptops may be used in class only by students with a documented need, e.g. for note-taking or other classroom activities. Students with such a need should make specific arrangements with me. No student may use a laptop in class without such an arrangement.
Communications (Email)
I will send emails and announcements to your UNCG email account via Blackboard. You are expected to check your UNCG email account and Blackboard regularly. When you email me, you must include a subject line, write professionally, and make your questions or requests as clear and specific as possible. I will respond to emails within 24-48 hours. On a three day schedule, it is often quicker and more effective to speak with me before or after class.
Academic Integrity
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. Any academic integrity violation in this course will be met with the full force of the policy.
The Writing Center and Speaking Centers 3211 MHRA
Students who choose to write papers for this course are strongly encouraged to make use of the University Writing Center. Students may also benefit from working with the Speaking Center prior to their presentations. Working with writing and speaking consultants will improve your performance (and thus your grade) and enhance your benefits from this course. Their websites are also especially helpful and include numerous handouts and quick reference guides.
http://www.uncg.edu/eng/writingcenter/ http://speakingcenter.uncg.edu/
The Learning Assistance Center
The Learning Assistance Center offers free services to the entire UNCG undergraduate community and is located in McIver Hall, rooms 101-104, and 150. For help with study skills, contact Erin Farrior, Academic Skills specialist. Telephone: 334-3878; e-mail: .
Accommodations
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services on campus before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: .
Schedule
W / 12 / *Suvin “On The Poetics of the SF Genre” (Blackboard) *Critical or theoretical essay
F / 14 / * Masri, Introduction (starts on page 1) [10 pages total]
M / 17 / NO CLASS – MLK Day
W / 19 / Hoffmann, The Sandman (195) [26]
F / 21 / * Freud, The Uncanny (427) [16]
M / 24 / Wilhelm, Baby, You Were Great! (331) [12]
W / 26 / * Baudrillard, The Precession of Simulacra (442) [14]
F / 28 / Dick, Second Variety (296) [36]
M / 31 / McHugh, Nekropolis (386) [30]
W / Feb. / 2 / * Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (455) [20]
F / 4 / Tiptree, The Girl Who Was Plugged In (342) [30]
M / 7 / Dorman, When I was Miss Dow (87) [10] / Paper 1 due
W / 9 / * De Beauvoir, from The Second Sex (179) [8]
F / 11 / Russ, When It Changed (769) [7]
M / 14 / Resnick, Kirinyaga (811) [16]
W / 16 / * Wainaina, How to write about Africa, From Granta (n.p.) [n.p.] (on Blackboard)
http://www.granta.com/Magazine/92/How-to-Write-about-Africa/Page-1
F / 18 / Weinbaum, A Martian Odyssey (32) [21]
M / 21 / Le Guin, Vaster than Empires and More Slow (96) [24]
W / 23 / Butler, Bloodchild (119) [17]
F / 25 / * Gould, Nonmoral Nature (1203) [9]
M / 28 / Hopkinson, Something to Hitch Meat To (838) [13]
W / Mar. / 2 / * Fanon, The Fact of Blackness (189) [6]
F / 4 / McDonald, Recording Angel (958) [12]
Last day to drop “without academic penalty”
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
M / 14 / Ryman, Dead Space for the Unexpected (826) [12] / Paper 2 due
W / 16 / * Arendt, Ideology and Terror (850) [15]
F / 18 / Sanders, When This World is All on Fire (969) [26]
M / 21 / * Sartre, from Being and Nothingness (664) [10]
W / 23 / Ballard, The Terminal Beach (921) [17]
F / 25 / Chiang, Story of Your Life (614) [37]
M / 28 / * Jameson, Progress versus Utopia (876) [17]
W / 30 / Delany, Driftglass (1161) [15]
F / Apr. / 1 / Bisson, Bears Discover Fire (1194) [8]
M / 4 / Library Day / Paper 3 due
W / 6 / Research/Revision Workshop
F / 8 / Thesis/Organization Workshop
M / 11 / Conferences (students meet individually with the instructor)
W / 13 / Conferences (students meet individually with the instructor)
F / 15 / Conferences (students meet individually with the instructor)
M / 18 / Blade Runner (film in class)
W / 20 / Blade Runner continued
F / 22 / NO CLASS – Spring Holiday
M / 25 / Blade Runner continued
T / 26 / Evaluations (UNCG on Friday Schedule) / Final Paper Due
W / 27 / READING DAY
W / May / 4 / EXAM: 12-3 (attendance required; term papers returned)