This course satisfies the Humanities Liberal Education Requirement.

Course Overview

In English 1818, students learn about science fiction as a literary genre with a distinct form and history. To improve their strategies for interpreting their works, students will learn some of the basic elements of literary analysis.

This class will teach students to . . .

. . . have productive conversations about important works of literature.

. . . expand their understanding of science fiction, particular of its thematic, cultural, and historical diversity.

. . . relate literary works to their larger contexts in culture, ethics, and history.

Grade Breakdown:

Student grades will depend primarily on written work and the understanding of the material that students convey through that work. A command of standard written English and the ability to present an argument will also contribute to the determination of the course grade.

Required Texts

Butler, Octavia E. Clay's Ark. 1984. Grand Central, 2020.

Chambers, Becky. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. HarperCollins, 2016.

Gibson, William. Neuromancer. Penguin, 1986.

Lem, Stanislaw. Solaris. Translated by Joanna Kilmartin and Steve Cox, Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

The Matrix. Written and directed by Lana and Lily Wahchowski, performances by Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburn, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Warner Brother, 1999.

Padmanabhan, Manjula. Harvest. Aurora Metro, 2013.

The Time Machine. Directed by George Pal, performances by Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1960.

Wells, H. G. Time Machine. Oxford UP, 2017.

Expectations

In order to accomplish these goals, students must

• Read all assigned texts carefully in advance of the class day on which we will discuss them.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of these works in exams and papers. For additional information about policies governing final exams, see "https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/academic-policies/final-examinations".

• Written Work. Your grade will depend primarily on your written work and the understanding of the material that you convey through that work. A command of standard written English and the ability to present an argument will also contribute to the determination of your grade.

• Late Assignments will receive a deduction of 1/3 of a letter grade for each business day that they are late. Students who miss exams may not make them up without a valid excuse for the absence.

• Academic Dishonesty tarnishes the reputation of the University of Minnesota Duluth and discredits the accomplishments of its students. Because the university is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit, it must insist on an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. Consequently, all members of the academic community must regard any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which is available online at "https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/academic-policies/student-academic-integrity This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

• Disability Accommodations. Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, should inform me at the start of the semester. The Office of Disability Resources writes that "[i]t is the policy and practice of the University of Minnesota Duluth to create inclusive learning environments for all students, including students with disabilities. If there are aspects of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or your ability to meet course requirements—such as time limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos—please notify the instructor as soon as possible." You can contact the Office of Disability Resources to discuss and arrange reasonable accommodations by calling 218-726-6130 or by visiting the Disability Resources website at "http://www.d.umn.edu/access/".

• Notetaking. Remember that there are rules against disseminating these notes beyond the classroom community, which you can find at "https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/academic-policies/course-notes-and-materials".

• Attendance. Excessive absences will have a negative impact on the grade that you receive in this course. Excusable absences include "subpoenas, jury duty, military duty, religious observances, illness, bereavement for immediate family and NCAA varsity college athletics." Please contact the instructor about anticipated absences in order to minimize their influence on your coursework. For more information on excused absences, see "https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/academic-policies/excused-absences".

• Student Conduct. Respect fellow students and refrain from behavior that might impair their learning opportunities. Any behavior that substantially and repeatedly interrupts the instructor's ability to teach or the students' ability to learn will result in appropriate penalties. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of communications technology in the classroom, such as ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, reading email, or browsing the Internet instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities. For further clarification of UMD policies in this regard, consult the Board of Regents Policy at "https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf".

• Another important conduct code addresses sexual harassment, which means "means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature," and that policy is available at "https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/2020-08/policy_sexual_harassment_sexual_assault_stalking_and_relationship_violence.pdf".

• Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action. As stated in academic policies: "The University provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs and facilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The UMD Department of Human Resources & Equal Opportunity is available to all UMD employees, students, and participants in University-related activities to discuss issues or concerns regarding University policies or practices involving potential bias, discrimination, harassment or retaliation that an individual may have experienced or observed." For more details, see "https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/academic-policies/recommended-syllabi-policy-statements".

• Civility. UMD instructors and students have a responsibility to maintain a learning environment that is, as stated in the Teaching and Learning Policy, "respectful of the rights and freedoms of all members, and promotes a civil and open exchange of ideas." The full policy is available at "https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/academic-policies/instructor-and-student-responsibilities" .

• Mental Health. From academic affairs: "Feelings such as anxiety, anger, depression, low self-esteem, or tension are a normal part of being human and can affect anyone. Sometimes these feelings are temporary and can be eased by rest, relaxation, exercise, good nutrition and the support of trusted friends. At other times, stressors, relationships or past family experiences cannot be managed so easily and become overwhelming. If this happens, and you find it hard to function, you may want to seek professional help. Counseling Services are available at UMD Health Services to assist you.

  If you are in need of mental health support when Health Services is closed, or in case of an emergency, please contact The Birch Tree Center's Crisis line at 218-623-1800 or go to the emergency room/urgent care at either St. Luke's Hospital or St. Mary's Hospital. If an ambulance is needed, call 911.

  If the emergency is non-life-threatening and you do not have a means of transportation, call Campus Police at 218-726-7000). If you have needs that Counseling Services does not treat, they have a case manager who helps connect students to referrals as well as navigating issues with insurance. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus atÊUMD Health Services" at "https://www.d.umn.edu/health-services/counseling-services".

Paper Grading Standards

Learning Outcomes

This class will support the Liberal Education Programs Student Learning Outcomes for Humanities in the following manner:

• Students will apply humanistic methods of inquiry and interpretation to the products/processes of human thought and culture.

  --Our cultural artifacts for this purpose will be science fiction novels, films, and one play. Students will learn to ask key questions and build on these toward writing and stating their own persuasive interpretations of these texts. Specific humanistic methods of inquiry will involve discussion of

  • basic literary concepts such as character, plot, theme, genre, and tone.

  • foundational ethical concerns, especially those governing the development and application of technology.

  • historical factors shaping literary expression and ethical understandings of a given time period.

• Students will analyze products/processes of human thought and culture.

  --The reading list for this class includes a rich variety of science fiction works from different time periods and cultural perspectives. Assignments will require students to read these texts carefully, come to well-reasoned conclusions about their meaning, and support these conclusions with specific evidence from the texts.

• Students will explain how the products/processes of human thought and culture relate to cultural/social/historical context(s).

  --The future-technology analysis paper will require students to adapt ideas from class discussions and activities into more complete arguments that relate these texts to the cultural and historical positions of their authors and readers. It will require students to assemble a literary interpretation and then apply it to a situation beyond the bounds of the text.