HUMANITIES/CLASSICS 3220 - SCIENCE FICTION

FILMS AND TEXTS:
Scott, Ridley Blade Runner
Scott, Ridley Alien
Bradbury, Ray The Martian Chronicles
Miller, Walter Canticle for Leibowitz
Dick, Philip K. Man in a High Castle
Jones, L. Q. A Boy and His Dog
Leguin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness
Card, Orson Scott Ender's Game

STRUCTURE:
Class sessions will alternate between lecture discussions on assigned texts and films and workshop sessions. During workshop sessions quizzes on assigned readings will be given and after quizzes are completed students will participate in small group and/or class discussions. Attendance at discussion sessions is mandatory.

GRADES:
You are expected to attend class, to read assigned materials by due dates, to take notes, make comments and ask questions. Brief informational quizzes on assigned materials and lectures are scheduled and you will be able to submit commentaries on assigned films and readings as well.

The final take home examination requires you to integrate a variety of course materials into an essay that presents and discusses your views about one of the following questions. In writing your answer refer to at least four of the novels and two flms you read and viewed for this course, explaining how each novel and/or film illustrates the points you are making.

1. What attitudes toward religion are conveyed by the science fiction writers studied in this course?
2. What changes in the concept of the hero are revealed by examining the science fiction of the last 50 years?
3. Discuss the problems of cultural differences and relationships between aliens, colonized people or various classes of people found in the various novels read for this science fiction class.
4. Explain how the science fiction read for this course uses adventure and/or wonder to entertain readers and/or engages in social criticism.

A modified contract grading system will be used in determining final grades for HmCl 3220 - Science Fiction. Essentially students will have to earn specified numbers of points to qualify for A, B, or C grades. In computing the final grade quiz/posting points will be weighted equally with up to 130 points available on the take home final examination. The following point - grade requirements will apply:

In addition to the scheduled quizzes students may post responses to any materials they are reading or on films and videos seen as part of the course. Responses are usually posted after small group and lecture discussions of each of the assigned readings and films. The instructor will award quiz\posting points for well written thoughtful posts of at least 3000 bytes or one typed page.

Postings are scored according to a general rule of thumb which is:

There is, however, no upper limit for the number of points which can be earned on a post or on the number of posts that students may submit. Posts are not limited to written work or analytic essay formats. Students may choose the form of their posts; oral presentations, poetry, musical performance and works of art are acceptable. Most posts should be made on the Science Fiction Forum. See me about musical and oral presentaion/posts.

Postings may be submitted up to Friday, May 19, 1999. Points earned on such postings will be added to the points earned on the quizzes.

Students must complete all five of the scheduled quizzes with a total score of 30 to qualify for an A; four of five with a total score of 20 to qualify for a B; three of five with a total score of 15 to qualify for a C. Students seeking an A must submit at least five posts. Those contracting for a B must submit four posts. Those contracting for a C must submit three posts. In addition, student may earn points by completing web assignemtns. Well done web assignments will earn quiz/posting points as well. All web assignments are available on the course summary page. Look at the end of the entry for each assigned film or novel. You can also find these assignments by clicking on the title of the assigned film or novel on the schedule page. these assignments must also be turned in by Friday, May 14.