ENG 323 Course Title: Fantasy and Science Fiction EPN: 22225427 Term: Summer II Location: Online Course Dates: 5/20, 8/9/2013 Course Days and Times: N\A
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CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY GLOBAL CAMPUS COURSE SYLLABUS I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION Course: ENG 323 Course Title: Fantasy and Science Fiction EPN: 22225427 Term: Summer II Location: Online Course Dates: 5/20, 8/9/2013 Course Days and Times: N\A Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG 101 or ENG 103. Blackboard: Blackboard is a web-based learning management system licensed by CMU. Within Blackboard, a course website, also known as a shell, is automatically created for every CMU course. Face-to-face courses may or may not incorporate Blackboard, whereas Blackboard course shells are always used for online courses and will be available to you prior to the course start date. Seeing the course shell listed in Blackboard with unavailable adjacent to its title is an indication that your instructor has not made it available and is in no way indicative of registration status. To access Blackboard, open a web browser and enter http://www.cmich.edu/blackboard. After the site loads, enter your CMU Global ID and password in the respective spaces provided. Click the "login" button to enter Blackboard and then the link to the appropriate course to enter the course's Blackboard shell. If you need assistance, contact the IT Helpdesk at 989-774-3662 / 800-950-1144 x. 3662. Self-guided student tutorial resources are also available at http://www.cmich.edu/blackboard. Instructor: Nicole Sparling Primary Phone Number: 989-774-2660 Secondary Phone Number: N\A E-Mail Address: [email protected] Office hours: Sundays 9-10pm (EST) on Wimba Chat, or by phone appointment; The best and fastest way to reach me is through Availability: email. Academic Biography: Nicole L. Sparling is currently Assistant Professor of World Literature at Central Michigan University. She earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Women’s Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. She specializes in comparative studies of North and South American cultural production and, more specifically, in the literature of the twentieth century written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese from these regions. Much of her research focuses on issues of knowledge production as it relates to disciplinary formation and the construction of identity. Her most recent work places into conversation the various scientific, national, and literary discourses that shape contemporary notions about sexual difference and reproduction. In the last few years, her scholarship and teaching has involved an extensive examination of genre, such as science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, dystopia, and detective fiction. II. TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Order books from MBS at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/cmu.htm Textbooks and Course Materials: Title: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (AKA: Blade Runner) Author: Dick Edition: 1982 ISBN: 978-0-345-35047-3 Publisher: Random House Required: Yes Title: Dracula Author: Stoker Edition: (REV) 03 ISBN: 978-0-14-143984-6 Publisher: Penguin Group Required: Yes Title: Fahrenheit 451 Author: Bradbury Edition: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4516-7331-9 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Required: Yes Title: Frankenstein Author: Shelley Edition: 2004 ISBN: 978-0-7434-8758-0 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Required: Yes Title: Hobbit: or There and Back Again Author: Tolkien Edition: 2001 ISBN: 978-0-618-26030-0 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Required: Yes Title: Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts (an anthology) Author: Masri Edition: 2009 ISBN: 978-0-312-45015-1 Publisher: MPS Required: Yes Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Author: Stevenson Edition: (REV)02 ISBN: 978-0-14-143973-0 Publisher: Penguin Group Required: Yes Title: Time Machine Author: Wells Edition: 2005 ISBN: 978-0-14-143997-6 Publisher: Penguin Group Required: Yes Course Reserves: N\A Required Materials: N\A Recommended Materials: N\A III. COURSE DESCRIPTION History, meaning, and influence of fantasy and science fiction. Emphasis on 19th-21st century literature and film. (Group I-A) IV. COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Both the general objectives of the course and the specific learning outcomes are discussed below. General Objectives This is an upper-level English course that is designed to explore the literature and film of fantasy and science fiction. The focus is on the history and meaning of fantasy and science fiction, with a strong emphasis on late 19th through 21st century materials, especially short stories, novels, and films. The overall objective of the course is to provide students with the tools to understand the plots, settings, characters, writing styles, and themes of fantasy and science fiction, as well as the history of these genres. This course focuses on teaching students how to read, analyze, appreciate, and write about fantasy and science fiction. As a University Program course in Subgroup IA, this course focuses on “discerning coherence, order, meaning and significance in human events and ideas. The focus is upon substantial and significant aspects of human experience and upon the development of ideas and ideals. The subject matter may range from the examination of broadly general or universal propositions to the examination of human thoughts and actions in various contexts over a period of time” (“The University Program: A Basic Documents Set”, p. 3). This course focuses on writing as a process of thinking as well as a mode of communication/ expression. Writing will be presented as an integral aspect of thinking and learning and will, therefore, be a pervasive activity in this class. Specific Learning Outcomes Students who successfully complete this course will be able to demonstrate through their performance on writing assignments and exams that they 1. understand how fantasy and science fiction relate to conventional literature. 2. have learned about significant events, authors, and literary works in the history of fantasy and science fiction. 3. can competently read, understand, and analyze three major forms of fantasy and science fiction (i.e. the novel, the short story, and film) in terms of plot, setting, characters, style, and themes/messages. 4. recognize the wide variety of themes present in fantasy and science fiction, as well some critical approaches to analyzing those themes (e.g., extrapolation, metaphor, estrangement/novum, icons and megatexts, feminism, post-colonialism). 5. can recognize and analyze blurred genres in which elements of fantasy, science fiction, and conventional literature are combined in one text or film. 6. can recognize and articulate the characteristics of sub-genres, e.g. dark fantasy, epic/heroic fantasy, sword & sorcery fantasy, military sci-fi, cyberpunk, utopian/dystopian, etc. 7. understand that fantasy and science fiction are not trivial but are important cultural and political phenomena. 8. understand that although fantasy and science fiction originated in a male-dominated European tradition, these genres have changed over time and much now reflects gender and cultural diversity. V. METHODOLOGY Students will read the assigned texts and supporting materials, listen to audio lectures, and watch films. In this course they will write one analytical paper and take exams composed of comprehension questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Students will also be expected to post their responses weekly to the discussion board as well as comment on their classmate’s postings. Finally, students will also be expected to submit their answers the assigned study questions for each week. Students should expect to spend 8-12 hours per week on this course. VI. COURSE OUTLINE/ASSIGNMENTS Pre-Class Assignment: Please use the Get to Know Each Other! discussion board to introduce yourself to the rest of the class. Be sure to tell us about your major, your educational background, your interests, and your expectations for this course. Please keep in mind that even though this class takes place in a virtual setting, you should still be professional with the content of your posts and courteous in your tone as you interact with others. Course Outline: Week One (5/20-5/26) 1. Read: The Hobbit. 2. Watch: your choice of either Clash of the Titans (1981) or Ulysses (1954) 3. Listen: to this week’s audio lecture. 4. Answer: study questions (submit them via the Blackboard link under the Assignments tab) and discussion board questions (select the appropriate discussion board in accordance with the week in the semester. Note: The discussion board in Blackboard serves as the substitute for classroom discussion each week). 5. Participate: in Wimba chat, the first chat, Sunday night, May 26, at 8:00 pm, EST. Week Two (5/27-6/2) 1. Read: Dracula. 2. Watch: your choice of either The Exorcist (1973) or The Amityville Horror (1979). 3. Listen: to this week’s audio lecture. 4. Answer: study questions and discussion board questions. 5. Participate in Wimba chat session this week, Sunday night, June 6, at 8:00pm, EST. Week Three (6/3-6/9) Exam 1 (covering materials—films, novels, and audio lectures—from weeks one and two) Week Four (6/10-6/16) 1. Read: from Science Fiction (1-10, 17-18, 18-33, 194-195, 296-331, 476-478, 478-503). 2. Watch: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and It Came from Outer Space (1951) and Them (1954). 3. Listen: to this week’s audio lecture. 4. Answer: study questions and discussion board questions. Week Five (6/17-6/23) 1. Read: from Science Fiction (702-704, 768-774, 892-894, 969-984, 1028-1029, and 1110-1132). 2. Watch: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Aliens II (the second one in this series) and Independence Day. 3. Listen: to this week’s audio lecture. 4. Answer: study questions and discussion board questions. Week Six (6/24-6/30) 1. Read: Frankenstein. 2. Watch: The Fly (either 1958 version with Vincent Price or 1986 version with Jeff Goldblum) 3. Listen: to this week’s audio lecture. 4. Answer: study questions and discussion board questions.