SCIENCE FICTION

Science fiction has been around for centuries. By some definition even Beowulf might be considered Sci-Fi. But more clearly Bacon's New Atlantis and More's Utopia are clearly in that realm. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein may be the earliest true example of this genre of literature, closely followed by Edgar Allen Poe, but Jules Verne who made a living writing about what the future might look like is usually given the title of the first Science Fiction author. H. G. Wells followed Verne by a couple decades and added to the original base for this literary format.
Although the great literature of the world seems to present human beings as they are with their corruption magnified, Sci-Fi looks rather to higher aspirations and allows human beings to be shown as prevailing against the difficulties that beset civilization to promise that humanity achieves the lofty goals inherent in its nature.
This implied success does not mean that there are no darker stories or themes in Sci-Fi, but just that the rosier views of humanity hold sway. Instead of the forces being constantly against the heroes' efforts and frequently winning, heroes are shown as able to overcome the problems for altruistic reasons: the good of human beings. Seldom are the reasons for doing anything in Sci-Fi selfish; and if the reasons are selfish, the outcome is seldom successful.

The following are the novels that will be read for this unit. Some adjustment may have to be made based on enrollment, but the following twenty-one works will be divided evenly in three classes. Each class will have seven novels to read. Each class will read novels that are different from those read in the other classes

PRELIMINARY WORK

A. Go to the following link.
http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/html/scifi.html
You may browse through the link which is large and is linked to many other sites but you must read and write in 200 words what the article “On Science Fiction - How it influences the imaginations of technologists” is about. The text that follows this title (which is a link) is from the link. It is NOT a summary of the link
This assignment is due February 6 and is worth 15 pts extra credit.
For a little different view of view of science fiction as a literary category the following book might be found in a library or, at most, purchased: Frontiers Past and Future by Carl Abbot. This book discusses science fiction as if it were a literary genre that recaptures the ideas and events that are involved in extending a society’s frontiers as actually happened when the United States moved westward to the Pacific Ocean.

B. Go to the following link.
http://www.filmsite.org/sci-fifilms.html
You should read this link (the first two pages, at least) as it describes the purpose of sci-fi films and presents some idea of their evolution. It also relates science fiction movies to the usual kinds of films that we watch. Pick one of the films from “Alien Invaders in the Cold War Era,” copy the information about it, and hand in that information. This assignment is due February 8 and is worth 10 pts extra credit.

C. The following videos will be watched the first week of February and the prior listed preliminary work will not be able to be done in class. You must find time for that work outside of class.
The Day the Earth Stood Still — Second Period 2/5-6
When Worlds Collide — Sixth Period 2/5-6
Twilight Zone: “Third From the Sun” 2/7
Each two-day video requires a worksheet due at the end of the period. These lists are due at the end of the appropriate period. The Twilight Zone episode will generate the basis for a quick-write related to the episode and society now following a few questions to be answered while watching.
10 pts extra credit for each submission connected to a video
Assignment 1
About the Author: 300 – 400 words about the author’s life and works. You have to know about the writer to help understand the thoughts in the novel.
25 pts due 2/11
Assignments 2, 3, 4, 5
Begin and continue a two-sentence summary of the plotline sequence. (Each chapter or 10-page segment [which ever is shorter] requires the two-sentence description/narration.) All summaries are due each due date.
50 pts for each of the following:
2/14 (through first fourth of the book)
2/22 (through first half of the book)
2/29 (through three fourths of the book)
3/7 (through conclusion of the book)
Assignment 6
Create your own synopsis or summary of the story you read. What happened, who were the characters, what was the goal, how did the story progress? You may do this as an essay or as a sequential list that details the action of the story. You should use the information you generated in the previous four assignment.
15 pts—due 3/10
Assignment 7
Write your own review of the novel (250 words). What was the story about? DON’T retell the story. Were the characters and events believable? How well-written was the book? How does this book fit with others the author has written? Does the story have a wide appeal?
50 pts—due 3/12
Assignment 8
Read a professional review and explain your agreement or disagreement. Reviews can be found at Amazon.com and searching for the title of your book. Normally there will be several listings for the title. Click on one listing and you will be linked to information about the book and REVIEWS. You have been at similar places during the first semester.
15 pts—due 3/13 (This assignment should not be started until you have submitted your own review.)
Assignment 9
Read two non-professional highly  rated and two non-professional poorly rated reviews and explain your agreement/disagreement with them.Reviews can be found at Amazon.com and searching for the title of your book. Normally there will be several listings for the title. Click on one listing and you will be linked to information about the book and REVIEWS. You have been at similar places during the first semester.
20 pts—due 3/14 (This assignment should not be started until you have submitted your own review.)
Assignment 10
In a collaborative group effort with others who read the same novel, discuss the following questions and submit a group essay – typed in proper formatting. 100 pts—due 3/19
1. Is there a purpose or lesson that readers or society should gain from this story? Or is the story for pure entertainment? Explain
2. What characters in the story are similar to people you know (personally) and do they act as you would expect people, in general, to act? If they do not act as you would expect, what is there about them that leads you to believe they could be real people?
3. Is the setting (where the story takes place) important to the action or could the kind of events be things that take place in our world now? Explain.
4. What other story, TV show, movie, fairy tale, fable is like things that happened in this book? What are the similarities between the characters in that story and the characters in the novel?
5. List several advantages and/or disadvantages for the reader when a novel is turned into a movie. Explain which form (movie or novel) of the story is the best way for the author to get his ideas across.