English 12

Science Fiction

  Greetings, Earthling!!!

 

Course Description

The Science Fiction elective is designed to develop your understanding of Science Fiction as a genre and immerse you in a thematic analysis of Science Fiction from its inception to the present.  This is a reading and writing intensive course and will require a great deal of reading outside of class.  If you are not interested in Science Fiction, then you should reconsider taking this elective.

 

Course Outline

 

A.  Definition of Science Fiction

            a.  Classification of types

            b.  Elements that make SciFi what it is

 

B.  Analysis of Science Fiction

 

C.  History of Science Fiction

 

D.  Selected Thematic Readings/Corresponding Videos (when applicable)

           

Course Materials

 

Texts:

Science Fiction:  A Historical Anthology.  Ed.  Eric S. Rabkin.  Oxford:  Oxford

University Press, 1983.

 

Hollister, Bernard.  You and Science Fiction.  Lincolnwood, IL:  National Textbook

Company, 1989.

 

You are required to maintain a notebook for this class.  The notebook must be a three-ring binder as you will be adding material to it throughout the course of the semester.  There will be no exceptions—spiral notebooks are unacceptable.

 

Course Requirements

 

It is essential that each member of the class be present and participate in each day’s activities.  Your opinion and input during class is expected and required.  Therefore, attendance and class participation will be a factor in quarterly and final grades.

 

Each member of the class is asked to cooperate with his or her fellow members in a constructive and friendly manner (i.e. no backbiting, name calling, put-downs).

 

All assignments, including presentations, reading journals, and written works must be handed in or presented when they are due.  Late or missing assignments will severely affect your quarterly or year end grades.  You will be given plenty of time to complete the assignments. 

 

Homework assignments will either be graded or they will be checked (  ).  A (  ) is average completion of the assignment; a (   ) is below average; and a (  ) is above average.

 

For each missing homework assignment you will lose one point from your overall quarterly average.  Late homework will be (reluctantly) accepted no later than two days after the assignment was due; no assignments will be accepted after the two-day period has passed unless you can provide a valid, verifiable excuse (death in the family, violent illness, blunt trauma, plague).

 

Grades

 

Unit exams, projects, presentations                                                                           35%

Quizzes                                                                                                                       20%

Paragraphs, essays and other writing assignments                                                     35%

Homework and participation                                                                            10%

 

In order for you to monitor your progress in this class and to eliminate any questions regarding assignments you may need to make up, your grades will be posted every Tuesday.  You will be assigned a pair of letters from the alphabet; the letter will represent your name on the grade sheet.  IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, DO NOT SHARE YOUR LETTER WITH ANYONE!!!

 

Other Suggestions

 

1.  Be on time for class. 

 

2.  Be considerate when others are speaking.  Do not talk while I am giving instructions to the class, speaking to another student, or while we are reading aloud.

 

3.  Use bathrooms and lockers between periods.  At this point in your life you are aware of your body and its capacities.  To prevent any potentially embarrassing situations from occurring in class you should do what you need to before coming to class.  Don’t waste my time (and yours) by asking to go to the bathroom or to your locker during the class period.  I will make exceptions for emergencies.

 

4.  Be prepared for class.  The required books, notebooks, pens, pencils, and homework must accompany you to class each day.  Since you will be using your binder every day, you should bring it to class every day.

 

5.  Have fun!! 

 

click here to view weekly homework assignments