Science Fiction: A Critical Introduction
ENG290, Fall 2007
Instructor: Dr. Nicholas Laudadio
Office: Morton 135
Office Hours: TR 1-2 and by appt.
E-mail: laudadion@uncw.edu
http://people.uncw.edu/laudadion/290.html

Course Description
In this class, we will be working to make sense of one of the more misunderstood/maligned/misrecognized genres in literature and film studies: science fiction. In order to accomplish this rather ambitious goal, we will be confronting SF as a historical, critical, and political force that attempts to better understand the here that might just end up there (or beyond). For the most part, the class will be organized thematically and the range of primary and secondary texts will be extensive--including (but not limited to) films, novels, short stories, critical essay, philosophical speculation, and new media.

Required Texts
• Course reserves available on the course site.
• LeGuin, Ursula K. The Dispossessed
• Dick, Philip K. The Man in the High Castle
• Atwood, Margaret.The Handmaid's Tale.
• Roberts, Adam. Science Fiction: The New Critical Idiom, Second Edition.
• Stross, Charles. Accelerando.
These books are available from the university bookstore as well as the Seahawk bookstore, but feel free to buy them used from amazon.com or bookfinder.com if you would prefer. Just make sure you have all your books by the time we discuss them.

Supplies
• Folder with pockets for your responses and essays; paper for taking notes; drive/disk for backing up your computer work.
• Save all writing you do this semester in at least two locations (i.e on disk and in hard copy). Keep all work that I hand back to you in your journal.
NB: Always save repeatedly and backup regularly as important documents have a tendency to disappear--crashes/losses are not an acceptable excuse for late/missing assignments.

Film Screenings
Thoughout this semester, you will be watching numerous films. I will have these films on reserve in the library, but given that the books for this course are inexpensive and much of your reading is online, I would recommend that you either buy as many of the films as you can (as most can be found on amazon.com for under $15 and this will help take the pressure off the library reserve) or, more rewardingly, get a Netflix membership for the semester. But however you watch the film, realize that you MUST WATCH THE FILM BY THE DATE IT IS LISTED ON THE SYLLABUS, NOT AFTER. If you plan on buying films, do so as soon as possible to allow time for shipping, etc.

Class Requirements and Assignments
• You will be required to write two short essays (4-5 pgs), one final essay (6-8 pgs), six response papers (2 pgs), take a midterm, participate in class discussions, and attend class regularly (see attendance policy below).
• Each assignment (including responses) should be typed in a standard 10 or 12 point serifed font (Times or Times New Roman) in MLA style (refer to the website for more info). Hand in all versions of the paper with your final drafts.
• Late assignments will be reduced by one-third of a grade per class day. (Absence from class on the date due (as well as computer problems) does not excuse the lateness of your assignment.)

Response Papers
This semester you will be writing two page response papers that discuss/analyze/criticize/meditate on either one of the source texts (film, novel, etc) or one of the secondary articles we've read. Unless I say otherwise, it will be up to you to come up with topics—I won’t be reminding you. These papers will be graded at various times through the semester and you will sometimes be called on to read them aloud in class. On days when you do not have a response due, I still expect you to bring in a (preferably) written idea or question relavent to the text under discussion.
NB: Your responses should NOT be the sort that begin "This [object of study] was really good/bad..." or "I really love/hate this [thing I'm reading/watching] because..." You need to center your discussion on tangible and specific aspects of the text you are discussing, not on your emotions. When you “run out of things to say,” you’re probably not being specific enough.

Breakdown of Grades
Final essay (6-8 pgs) (25%), midterm (25%), two essays (3-4 pgs) (25%), six response papers (2 pgs) (15%).
Participation: includes group work, class participation, attendance, and general attitude (10%).

Attendance
You are allowed to miss two classes before you are penalized. Use these wisely (i.e. save them for when you are really sick). After three missed classes, your participation grade drops a level. After four missed classes, your final grade drops by a third. After five missed classes, you will receive a failing grade. The class depends upon your presence.
• If you miss more than one class, you must contact me in person; otherwise, I will assume you have dropped the class. You will also want to get notes from another student.
• Do not schedule meetings with your advisor, doctor’s appointments or anything else during this class time. (Having a doctor’s note does not gain you a “free” absence.)
• Don’t leave class early.

Lateness
If you are late to class three times (that is, if you come in after I have taken attendance), you will receive one absence. If you are late, please make sure that I have marked you present. If you find that parking is a problem on the first day (and it almost always is) come earlier.

Incompletes
The incomplete grade may be given only to students who have 1) fulfilled the attendance requirement for the course and 2) completed all but one of the written assignments.

Academic Dishonesty
Almost every semester I am forced to fail a student for turning in a plagiarized paper. Do not be this person, as it is a terrible experience for everyone involved.

As a reminder: plagiarism is using another person’s words (even just a few words and even if they are from some old website) and/or ideas as if they were your own. To avoid plagiarism, simply put the material you have taken in quotation marks and cite the person’s name and publication information in your paper. Please note that turning in an assignment that you wrote for another class also falls under the heading of academic dishonesty and is prohibited. If you turn in any such assignments, you will receive an “F” for the course and I will notify the Dean.

Writer’s Block
Feel free to stop in during office hours for any reason; as paper time draws near, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment if you’re desperate for additional feedback. Please do not wait until the last minute to do so; I cannot (as you can probably imagine) schedule time for very many students two days before the deadline. If you need additional assistance on your paper draft beyond this meeting, please seek out the Writing Place; the staff are there to provide feedback on papers. (Please keep in mind, however, that merely having someone on the staff read your paper does not ensure you a higher grade. http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/writingplace/ 962-7155 (appointments are recommended) Hours: M-Th 10-9; Friday 10-3; Sun 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Disabilities
If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation, you should inform me of this fact in writing within the first week of class. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then schedule an appointment with me to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations in your letter.