Shippensburg University Department of CS CSC 191: Gen Ed Special Topic: Computers in Science Fiction Spring 2009 TR 14:00 - 15:15 MCT 162 1 General Information Instructor: Dave Mooney Office: MCT 156 Office Hours: MTR: 10:00 - 12:00; or any time you can find me Phone: 477-1405 (office) home page: clipper.ship.edu/∼djmoon E-mail: [email protected] Readings1: Non-Fiction: ”What Computers Still Can’t Do” (”What Computers Can’t Do”), Hubert Dreyfus. ”The Age of the Spiritual Machine”, Ray Kurzweil. ”The Emperors New Mind”, Roger Penrose. ”Man-Made Minds”, M. Mitchell Waldrop. Fiction: ”I, Robot”, (”The Rest of the Robots”, ”All the Robots”) Isaac Asimov. ”War With the Robots”, ed. Assimov, Warrick, Greenberg. ”A.I.s”, ed. Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois. ”When Harley Was One”, David Gerrold. ”Neuromancer”, William Gibson. ”The Difference Engine”, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. ”Colossus (The Forbin Project)”, D. F. Jones. ”The Fall of Colossus”, D. F. Jones. 2 Course Description This course will examine the use of computers in science fiction, and evaluate their portrayal in terms of the current state of computer science. The course will consider examples from novels, short stories, cinema, and television. 3 Prerequisites None. 4 Class Website All assignments will be posted on the class website, which can be accessed at clipper.ship.edu/∼djmoon. 5 Attendance Attendance is required 1This is a preliminary, tentative list of books. Most will be on reserve in the library. It does not include short stories, films, or TV. Listing is alphabetical, by author 1 6 Grading Your final grade is based on the following (percentages may be adjusted no more than ±5 percent, dependent on number of assignments): Semester Tests 25% Minor papers 25% Major paper 25% Class participation 25% 6.1 Exams There will be 2 or 3 short semester tests. There will not be a final exam. 6.2 Minor Papers Papers will be assigned based on readings/viewings. These will be relatively short (3 - 5 pages). There will be 7 - 14 of these assigned during the semester. 6.3 Major Paper Each student will be expected to explore one aspect of computers in sci-fi in depth. This paper will supplement the material presented/discussed in class. It will be assigned before spring break, and will be due at the end of the semester. 6.4 Class Participation Students are expected to attend all classes (barring extenuating circumstances). They are expected to contribute to discussions regarding the reading and viewing material. 6.5 General Information If you believe an assignment was not graded properly, you have one week after its return to argue your case. After one week, no requests for grade changes will be considered. Please save all graded items until the end of the semester in case of a discrepancy in your final grade. If at any time you are having a problem with any aspect of the course, please do not hesitate to meet with the instructor. 7 Academic Honesty All work is expected to be your own. Your work should reflect the amount of effort you have invested in an assignment, not someone else’s. Cheating of any kind will be handled as described in the student handbook. 2 8 Dates The following lists class dates. Meeting Dates TR 01-13 01-15 01-20 01-22 01-27 01-29 02-03 02-05 02-10 02-12 02-17 02-19 02-24 02-26 03-03 Spring 03-05 Break 03-10 03-12 03-17 03-19 03-24 03-26 03-31 04-02 04-07 04-09 04-14 04-16 04-21 04-23 Last class 04-28 Exam 04-30 Week 3.