ENG 302: SCIENCE FICTION (Special Topics in Lit. and Lang.) (sec. 2, class #12926, meeting times TTH 12:30-13:45, Keezell G9)

Description:This is a course on 20th and 21st century Science Fiction. The two central topics that will connect our studies are the nature of science fiction as a genre and the exploration of ideas about being "human" and/or being "nonhuman" in our chosen works of science fiction, considering connections among our diverse literary explorations as well as connections to various scientific and cultural boundaries that have been posited explicitly or implicitly between the concept human and the many concepts of "others": animal, post-human, god, robot, android, clone, alien, etc. At the end of this course, students should have a nuanced and enriched ability to read science fiction. Students should also gain a clear and mature understanding of the particular literary works discussed and of certain related details about authorship, period, and genre. Students should also develop a more sophisticated understanding of the philosophical, scientific, and cultural ideas discussed and be able to relate them compellingly to the literary works. Finally students should be able to express their understanding of the course material in their own writing and be able to extend their understanding and reasoning abilities to new literary works.

Required Texts (physical copies, must be brought to class):
Beukes, Lauren (2008). Moxyland.
Dick, Philip K. (1968). Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. (Strongly recommended edition - Ballantine Books Trade Paperback Edition, 1996, ISBN 0-345-40447-5))
Ishiguro, Kazuo (2005). Never Let Me Go.
Leckie, Ann (2013). Ancillary Justice.
Additional literary works and secondary materials will be made available online or distributed.

Work and Grading: Quotes and other Assignments (12%), Midterm (22%), Final Exam (22%), Papers (22%), Sci Fi Pulp Magazines project (22%). Attendance (except at tests/exams or as otherwise noted) is not mandatory; however, regular attendance is generally crucial for keeping up with the class. If you miss a class, you are responsible for the material and for checking for an assignment link and doing any assignment due the next class period. All work must be completed before the start of class and must be turned in on time and in class except with permission, but you may skip one "ungraded" assignment without affecting your assignment grade. Depending on their size, assignments will be announced at least one class period before they are due and will be posted as links at the bottom of this webpage no later than the evening of that same day. (Links are named and ordered by the date they are due.) Assignments, unless noted otherwise, are graded only on acceptable effort -- as full credit, half credit, or no credit. In other words, you won't be penalized for incorrect information, although you must (of course!) make an honest attempt at all questions/examples on the assignment to get full credit. The tentative dates for tests and exams are provided in the schedule below. Adjustments may be made to the course schedule to accomodate weather cancellations, other special circumstances, or class needs. Please read my course policies for additional details about grading and other issues. Note: As in all your courses, your work for this course is subject to the JMU Honor Code.

Daily Schedule: (Note: This is a tentative schedule of what will be discussed in each class period.) You should have readings done before the first class date on which they will be discussed and bring the readings with you to class. Watch for changes and, in particular, for secondary sources to be added to literature readings for particular days.

Look here for homework assignments:

Individually Dated Assignments:

• Due 1/15/15
• Due 1/27/15
• Due 1/29/15
[Reminder: The first short paper is due 2/17 (update, snow day extension to 2/19). A copy of the guidelines handed out in class is available on Canvas.]