EGL2430.DL01 (72452)
Prince George’s Community College
Spring 2014
Survey of Science Fiction Literature (Online)
Robert Goldberg, Professor
Office:
Mailbox:
Phone:
Dept.
E-mail:
M-3052
M-3072
301-322-0566
301-322-0561/ Fax: 301-322-0549
robert.goldberg@pgcc.edu
Class: Online, via Blackboard
Office Hour: Tues.: 8:00-9:00 p.m., via Blackboard
& by appointment
Course Web Site: http://pgcconline.blackboard.com
Web Site: http://academic.pgcc.edu/~rgoldber
To communicate with me via e-mail, you must use your PGCC-issued Owl Mail account!
Course Description
We will discuss science fiction literature, including European and American Science Fiction (SF), with an
emphasis on history, themes, forms, and relationship to Western culture and literature. We will examine
some of the exemplary and pivotal works of key SF writers.
We will look at:
 ‘Hard’ SF, which focuses on technology
 ‘Speculative’ SF, which asks difficult questions about “the human condition”
 SF that encounters the problems of time travel, the future, Utopias, and aliens
As with all great literature, SF has formulas and conventions; we will, to some extent, explore how and
why those conventions work.
Prerequisite: EGL 1020, 1100, 1320, or 1340
Course Outcomes
Upon successfully completing the course, you will be able to:
1
Identify major authors, titles, and trends in the history of science fiction.
2
Explain how a science fiction text reflects the social, cultural, and intellectual climate
when the work was written.
3
Write essays, one of which must contain research, analyzing some important science
fiction texts.
* See the 2013-14 Catalog, beginning on page 54, for a more detailed explanation and definitions.
Required:
The Norton Book of Science Fiction, LeGuin, U., & Attebery, B., Eds. (1993)
ISBN: 0-393-97241-0
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Dick, Philip K. (1968, Ballantine)
ISBN: 0-345-40447-5
Neuromancer, Gibson, William (1984, Ace Books)
ISBN: 0-441-00746-5
Recommended: Rules for Writers, 7th edition, Hacker (Bedford-St. Martin’s)
e-version available at http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/Catalog/Product.aspx?isbn=9781457629846
EGL2430.DL01
Grading:
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Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Reading Quizzes (7 @ 10 points each)
Writing
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3 (Research-Supported Long Paper)
Responses (based on readings, 7 @ 20 points each)
Discussion Boards (content, quality; 15 @ 10 points each)
Attendance/Participation (2.5 points per week)
TOTAL
Goldberg, Spring 2014
100 points
100 points
70 points
100 points
100 points
200 points
140 points
150 points
40 points
1000 points
Grade Scale
A = 1000-895.1
B = 895-795.1
C = 795-699.51
D = 695-595.1
F = 595-
You must complete all major assignments (essays, midterm exam, and final exam) to pass the class.
Credit Hour Explanation
At Prince George’s Community College, for all credit courses, students are expected to spend a minimum
of 37.5 combined hours of instructional time and related coursework time per credit hour. This course is a
3-credit course. This course achieves a minimum of 112.5 hours of instructional time by requiring 37.5
hours of instructional time and 75 hours of student work outside of instructional time.
Exams
Exams will have short essays, identifications, and fill in the blanks. They will be based on the readings,
class discussions, and other materials, and will have a 3-hour time limit in Blackboard.
Quizzes
You will have several scheduled quizzes (listed on calendar). They will be based on the readings (and
movie/video clips) prior to that quiz, and will generally be multiple choice and/or True/False, with a 30minute time limit.
Short Papers (Papers 1 and 2)
Everyone must complete two literary analysis papers to pass the class. 100 points each.
Research-Supported Paper (Paper 3)
Everyone must complete a research-supported paper to pass the class. 200 points.
See page 5 for complete details.
Discussion Boards
In order to successfully complete this class, you must participate in the weekly Discussion Boards. This is
where you will demonstrate your understanding of important concepts and the literature. Therefore,
participation is mandatory, and is equivalent to attending class in a traditional face-to-face class (see
"Attendance Policy"). Your Discussion Board participation generally requires two components: 1)
responding to my original postings/questions; and 2) replying to at least two classmates (with something
more than "I agree."). Each week's Discussion Board (from week 1 through week 15) is worth 10 points
(total: 150 points), and will be graded on content (5 pts.), clarity (3 pts.), and grammar/mechanics (2 pts.).
Response Assignments
In addition, you will write response assignments, which you will submit on the due dates listed in the
class schedule. In general, you will write a short entry on the stories we discuss during the semester. Some
stories contain puzzles, which you might be asked to unravel. You may be asked to relate to a character, to
speculate on a future world, or to comment on the science or technology explored by the writer. I do not
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Goldberg, Spring 2014
expect (nor do I require) polished prose; the journal is an exploration of your thoughts -- be imaginative,
creative, but be relatively, with one paragraph per story, plus one conclusion. I do expect good grammar
and mechanics. Files must be saved in Word 2010 (.docx) format. Follow the specific content details
located in each Learning Unit.
You will submit journal entries 7 times during the semester, with each submission containing multiple
paragraphs, including a conclusion. Start with a brief introduction, follow with a brief, clear paragraph
about some thought on the story (or an aspect of the story - as described above), and end with a conclusion
that perhaps shows how each of the stories in that week's reading are connected. Each submission is worth
20 points (total: 140 points), and will be graded on content (4 pts.), clarity (3 pts.), and
grammar/mechanics (3 pts.).
Attendance Policy & Participation
Attendance in an online class is crucial to your success, as in a face-to-face class. Attendance here refers to
your participation in the weekly Discussion Boards. Failure to participate as instructed will equal an
absence. Failure to participate fully will result in a 1/2 absence. Two unexcused absences may result in
your course grade being lowered by one letter grade. Four or more absences may result in you not
passing the course. If you know in advance that you will not have online access, contact me immediately to
discuss the situation. If you are “absent” due to a legitimate, documented reason, contact me immediately!
In addition, you will be awarded up to 2.5 points per week, from week 1 through week 15, for attendance
and full participation in the weekly Discussion Boards (total - 30 points), as follows: 2.5 points for full
participation, 1 point for partial or late participation, 0 points for no participation.
 You may not make up any missed work without my prior consent.
To withdraw from the course, follow the procedures outlined in the 2013-2014 Catalog (p. 39). If you stop
attending class and do not officially withdraw, you will receive a grade of 'F' for the course. For spring
2014, April 11 is the last day to officially withdraw.
Q Grades
Students are expected to attend and participate in class activities. Students who either never attended the
class or who ceased attendance during the first 20 percent of the course will be assigned a Q grade by the
instructor. The Q grade is a final grade and will not be replaced with a different grade at a later time.
Although the Q grade will not impact students' GPA, the issuance of a Q grade will likely decrease
students' financial aid awards.
Faculty are required to report the date of last attendance for each student receiving Q or F grade(s) in order
for the college to report this date to a variety of federal agencies as mandated. The date of last attendance
is considered the date of the student’s termination from the course, regardless of the date of grade
submission. Early termination from a course may result in reduction in student loans and financial aid
(e.g., Pell, VA benefits) and may require the student to reimburse funds to the funding agency.
Course Policies
This is a distance learning course. As such, you have some flexibility in completing the course. Persons
enrolled in this section must complete all course requirements as outlined in the following section. The due
dates listed in the calendar are firm; it is your responsibility to schedule, complete, and submit required
course assignments on time.
Likewise, you are responsible for scheduling and completing the course chapters, the relevant reading for
the course, and understanding of associated exercises and tools. You are also responsible for
communicating and working with your team member to complete the final project. You must complete and
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Goldberg, Spring 2014
submit all material on time. A final grade will be issued at the end of the term on the date required by the
College.
Classroom Code of Conduct
In addition to the College's Code of Conduct, our virtual classroom also has a code of conduct. For the
class to be effective, each student must observe this code. All students must show their classmates proper
respect. This includes communication through email, within the class and group chat rooms, and in the
Discussion Forums. All students must observe proper 'netiquette' (or, Internet etiquette). Emails to
classmates or to the professor must be appropriate. Avoid social emailing. Avoid 'flaming'. (Avoid
abusive, disruptive, inappropriate language.) Such behavior will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with
according to the College's "Code of Conduct" (see below).
Online Etiquette
Rules for interacting with others in your online course:
 Unless directed otherwise by your instructor, you should write email and discussion board postings
in standard written English (the kind of language you would expect to find in a workplace).
Messages should be short and to the point.

Make sure that you use a meaningful subject line so that your readers will have a clear idea of who
sent the message and what the message contains. Many instructors and students are either teaching
or taking more than one online class; make the specific class clear from the subject line.
o
Good example - "Subject: XXX 000, J Smith, My feedback on the Taylor article."
o
Poor example - "Subject: Interesting Stuff."

Use all capital letters sparingly. Capitalize words only to highlight an important point or to
distinguish a title or heading. Capitalizing whole words that are not titles is generally seen as
SHOUTING and is often offensive to the reader.

Be courteous about what you say about others in an electronic format. Never say anything in an
email or on a discussion board that you would not want to see printed in the newspaper.

When reacting to someone else's message, address the ideas, not the person.

Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Without face-to-face communications your joke may
be viewed as criticism.

Be careful not to get too personal too fast.

Be respectful of other, diverse opinions. Don't assume that everyone shares the same views or
background.

Be aware of potential compatibility problems when sharing electronic files. Even though you may
be able to "attach" a file to an electronic message, your recipient(s) may not be successful in
opening your file on the other end.

Don't share copyrighted materials. Most things on the Internet are NOT "fair use." Instead of
copying a relevant article or web page, provide a link to the material along with a short description
of its significance.
(Netiquette rules based on materials developed by World Campus, Penn State)
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Civility
To promote a community of scholarship and civility, everyone at Prince George's Community College is
expected to be respectful, tolerant and courteous towards others at all times, adhere to college policies and
procedures, and respect college property. Creating a culture of civility both inside and outside the
classroom is everyone’s responsibility.
Civility is a college-wide commitment and in order to identify PGCC students, we are requiring that ALL
students have their IDs visible while AT ANY COLLEGE SITE, WHETHER THEY ARE ON THE
LARGO CAMPUS OR ANY EXTENSION SITE.
Code of Conduct
The Prince George's Community College Code of Conduct defines the rights and responsibilities of
students and establishes a system of procedures for dealing with students charged with violations of the
code and other rules and regulations of the college. A student enrolling in the college assumes an
obligation to conduct himself/herself in a manner compatible with the college's function as an educational
institution. Refer to the 2013-2014 Student Handbook for a complete explanation of the Code of Conduct,
including the procedure for dealing with disruptive student behavior.
Code of Academic Integrity
The college is an institution of higher learning that holds academic integrity as its highest principle. In the
pursuit of knowledge, the college community expects that all students, faculty, and staff will share
responsibility for adhering to the values of honesty and unquestionable integrity. To support a community
committed to academic achievement and scholarship, the Code of Academic Integrity advances the
principle of honest representation in the work that is produced by students seeking to engage fully in the
learning process. The complete text of the Code of Academic Integrity is in the 2013-2014 Student
Handbook.
Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or cheating, has severe consequences, from an automatic "0"
on the assignment, to an "F" or "F*" for the course, to possible suspension from the college.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is using someone else's words or ideas without
acknowledging your debt. For example, a plagiarized paper might be one that is copied word for word from a
single source, one that contains some paragraphs or sentences lifted directly from one or more sources, or one
that changes a few words here and there but basically presents another writer’s work as your own. In English
101, you learned how to document any use of secondary sources using correct MLA format. You are
responsible for this information. I will not tolerate plagiarism!
Disability Support Services
Students requesting academic accommodations are required to contact the Disability Support Services
Office (M-1042) or call (301) 322-0838 (voice) or (301) 322-0122 (TTY) to establish eligibility for
services and accommodations. Students with documented disabilities should discuss the matter privately
with their instructors at the beginning of the semester and provide a copy of their Student/Faculty
Accommodation Form.
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Term Project (Paper 3 – Research-Supported) Topics
You must submit a completed research-supported, thesis-driven paper by May 8. You have a choice of
several possibilities, so choose wisely. Each option must be at least 7 pages long, but not longer than 10
pages long (not counting the Works Cited page), and must use at least five scholarly secondary sources, in
addition to your primary sources (novels, short stories, films). Your sources must come from the PGCC
Library's Research Databases or reputable, valid Web sites. Follow MLA format for the paper, the in-text
citations, and the Works Cited page. {Do not use a cover page.}
You MAY NOT use any public online wiki or Cliff Notes, Spark Notes, Monkey Notes (or any other
"notes"). Do NOT use essay writing sites, such as freeessays123.com, 123helpme.com, and so on. Doing
so WILL result in an automatic zero, with NO opportunity to rewrite the essay.
By November 3, you must let me know, via the Discussion Board link (labeled "Term Project Topic") in
Blackboard, your selected topic. Choose from the following list:.
1. Research Paper:
You have many choices here: investigate a type (hard, soft, speculative, and so on) of Science Fiction;
investigate a particular author; make interesting comparisons between films and the classic short
stories on which they were based. You can see me for suggestions, or to test your ideas. The best
choices come from your own interests.
2. Book Analysis:
Pick a favorite SF novel – including interactive novels or SF games on the PC – and analyze it in terms
of Science Fiction; that is, discuss and explain themes and ideas covered in class. DO NOT SIMPLY
GIVE ME A PLOT SUMMARY. You may need to briefly summarize the plot and describe the
main ideas, but the focus should be on examining themes and/or ideas. YOU MUST CLEAR THE
BOOK WITH ME!
3. Movie Analysis:
Pick a SF film that you want to see, or watch an old favorite again. Then, analyze the film in terms of
Science Fiction; that is, discuss and explain themes and ideas you see in the film, as they relate to the
course content. DO NOT SIMPLY GIVE ME A PLOT SUMMARY. You may need to briefly
summarize the plot and describe the main ideas, but the focus should be on examining themes and/or
ideas, in terms of what you have learned in class. YOU MUST CLEAR THE MOVIE WITH ME!
4. Novel (or Story) and Movie Comparative Analysis:
Select a SF novel or short story that has been turned into a film (i.e., The War of the Worlds, Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). In your essay, compare and/or contrast the two formats in terms of
literary issues, such as character analysis, theme, imagery, or some other element. Explain the
significances of the similarities or differences. DO NOT SIMPLY GIVE ME A PLOT
SUMMARY. You may need to briefly summarize the plot and describe the main ideas, but the focus
should be on examining the literary element, in terms of what you have learned in class. YOU MUST
CLEAR THE MOVIE and BOOK WITH ME!
5. Other:
If you have some other idea for a project, however strange it may seem, talk with me. In previous
courses, students have illustrated short stories, drawn detailed maps of alien worlds, and submitted
panels for a SF comic book. To submit this option, you must include an analysis and explanation for
your work, providing secondary sources to support your creative decisions. A short story may only be a
few pages; your analysis, in addition to the short story, should be at least 7-10 pages, with sufficient
supporting evidence from secondary sources (at least three). THIS CHOICE REQUIRES PRIOR
APPROVAL!
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Course Calendar
Week
Begin
Date
Topics
Assignments
Course Introduction
What is SF? Elements of SF; Historical
Perspectives
ST: TNG: "Darmok" (video)
Student Introductions
Writing Sample
Week 1 Discussion Board
Week 1
1/21
(Tues.)
Week 2
LU 1
1/27
Extrapolation: Method of Development
"The Life of Anybody," R. Sheckley
"Day Million," F. Pohl
Week 2 Discussion Board
Paper 1: Topic Paragraph & Thesis
Statement due 2/2
2/3
". . .the World as we Know't," H. Waldrop
"Speech Sounds," O. Butler
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? P.
K. Dick, Chapters 1-5
Week 3 Discussion Board
Quiz 1, due 2/9
Response entries, weeks 2-3, due 2/9
2/10
Metaphor & Analogy in story-telling
"The Mountains of Sunset, the Mountains
of Dawn," V. McIntyre
"Half-Life," P. Preuss
Week 4 Discussion Board
Week 3
Week 4
LU 2
College Closed 2/17 – President’s
Day
Week 5
2/17
"Comes Now the Power," R. Zelazny
Do Androids Dream... Chapters 6-10
Forbidden Planet (movie clips)
Paper 1 Due Tuesday, 2/18
Week 5 Discussion Board
Quiz 2, due 2/23
Response entries, weeks 4-5, due 2/23
2/24
Estrangement and the Novum
"Over the River and Through the Woods,"
C. Simak
"A Midwinter’s Tale," M. Swanwick
Week 6 Discussion Board
Paper 2: Topic Paragraph & Thesis
Statement due 3/2
Week 7
3/3
"Out of all them Bright Stars," N. Kress
"And the Angels Sing," K. Wilhelm
Do Androids Dream... Chapters 11-16
The Time Machine (movie clips)
Week 7 Discussion Board
Quiz 3, due 3/9
Response entries, weeks 6-7, due 3/9
Week 8
3/10
Midterm Review
Midterm Exam
Week 8 Discussion Board
Midterm Exam due 3/16
Week 9
LU 4
3/17
Reading Protocols
"His Vegetable Wife," P. Murphy
"High Weir," S. Delany
Paper 2 Due Tuesday, 3/18
Week 9 Discussion Board
Week 6
LU 3
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Week
10
Week
11
LU 5
Week
12
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Goldberg, Spring 2014
Week 10 Discussion Board
Term Project (Paper 3): Topic
Paragraph & Thesis Statement due
3/30
Quiz 4, due 3/30
Response entries, weeks 9-10, due 3/30
3/24
"Frozen Journey," P.K. Dick
Do Androids Dream... Chapters 17-22
Blade Runner (movie clips)
3/31
Icons and Megatexts
"Tauf Aleph," Gotlieb
Week 11 Discussion Board
"Good News from the Vatican," Silverberg
Neuromancer, W. Gibson, Chapters 1-7
4/7
"The Private War of Private Jacob,"
Haldeman
Neuromancer, Chapters 8-12
ST:VOY: "Heroes and Demons" (video
clips)
AI: Artificial Intelligence (movie clips)
Week 12 Discussion Board
Quiz 5, due 4/21
Response entries, weeks 11-12, due
4/21
NOTE: Spring Break: 4/14-4/20
Week
13
LU 6
Week
14
LU 7
4/21
4/28
Gender
"The Women Men Don't See," Tiptree
"Homelanding," Atwood
"Midnight News," Goldstein
"Interlocking Pieces," Gloss
ST:TNG: "Offspring" (video)
Neuromancer, Chapters 13-18
Week 13 Discussion Board
Quiz 6, due 4/27
Response entries, week 13, due 4/27
Cyberpunk Fiction, Interactive SF, and
other Innovations
"(Learning) About Machine Sex," Dorsey
"Invaders"
"The Gernsback Continuum," Gibson
Neuromancer, Chapters 19-24
Week 14 Discussion Board
Week
15
5/5
The Matrix or Johnny Mnemonic (movie
clips)
Paper 3 (Research Project) Due
5/6
Week 15 Discussion Board
Quiz 7, due 5/6
Response entries, week 14-15, due 5/6
Week
16
5/6
Final Exam Week 5/6-5/12
Final Exam Due Friday, 5/9
Week 16 Discussion Board due by
Saturday, 5/10 (optional)