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: Page 2 of 8 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 EGL2430.DL01 Page 3 of 8 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 EGL2430.DL01 Page 4 of 8 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) EGL2430.DL01 Page 5 of 8 Goldberg, Spring 2014 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. EGL2430.DL01 Page 6 of 8 Goldberg, Spring 2014 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! EGL2430.DL01 Page 7 of 8 Goldberg, Spring 2014 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 EGL2430.DL01 Week 10 Week 11 LU 5 Week 12 Page 8 of 8 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)