ScienceFictionSyllabus

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LIT 3313H: Honors Science Fiction Literature

Contents

Course Description

Epcot Center of the future, as generated by Midjourney

This course will survey the history of science fiction with an emphasis on short stories, beginning with emerging works in the 19th century and spanning the so-called “Golden Age” and its aftermath. We will examine the genre’s engagement with our changing relationship with technology, real and imagined, considering both utopian and dystopian visions and the role of shifting political and social landscapes in shaping the genre of science fiction.

Throughout our journey, we will read both works from recognizable “classic” authors as well as a selection of works from intersecting traditions and genres, including a number of works in translation. Our readings will follow a historical trajectory, allowing us to consider the shifting themes, conflicts, and ideologies of the works in question. Students will select 4 short stories for close readings based on their own thematic interests, and then complete a longer research paper putting a set of of stories into conversation.

Course outcomes consist of:

Course Objectives

Materials and Texts

This course uses a short story reader to minimize costs: note that in addition to being available through the UCF bookstore, this book is also frequently available at a lower cost from used booksellers. The secondary text is also accessible through free using the UCF library.

In addition, some weeks include selected essays. Those will be available on Webcourses as PDFs.

Evaluation and Grading

Points Assignment Summary Due Date
5 Activity Verification - Complete the brief survey posted on Webcourses as soon as possible to confirm your enrollment in the course. As this is required by the university, please attend to it as soon as possible at the start of classes. Friday, January 13, 2023
60 Close Readings - Close readings (4) require 500-750 word responses to a selected short story from the indicated timeframe building an interpretation of the text. Each reading should cite at least three secondary sources, and engage with the student’s area of focus, building towards a larger paper project. GR. Deadlines in Schedule
15 Paper Draft - Students will complete a larger paper drawing connections between disparate short stories and placing their selected works into conversation, with at least 10 sources in MLA style. Drafts should be 3000 - 3500 words. GR. Thursday, March 30th
20 Final Paper - Students will complete significant revision based on instructor feedback to complete a substantial research paper. Final papers should be 4000 - 4500 words. GR. Thursday, April 27th, 2023

Students can access their grades and feedback at any time using the Grade Book function of Webcourses. All assignments will be submitted through Webcourses. Plan on checking the site at least twice a week for updates and assignment information. Grades are calculated out of 100 (all listed points above equated to 1% point) following the standard letter scale below:

93-100% A
90-93% A-
87-89% B+
83-86% B
80-82% B-
77-79% C+
73-76% C
70-72% C-
67-69% C+
63-66% C
60-62% C-
Under 60% F

Late work is accepted without penalty through the next major assignment deadline. If circumstances require extension beyond that deadline, please reach out to the instructor immediately.

Syllabus Amendment

In the event of disruptions during the semester or other circumstances necessitating updates to the syllabus, any amendments will be communicated both in class and through Webcourses.

Weekly Schedule

Week One: Introduction (Tuesday, January 10)

Week One: 1900s (Thursday, January 12)

Week Two: 1910s (Tuesday, January 17)

Week Two: 1920s (Thursday, January 19)

Week Three: 1930s (Tuesday, January 24)

Week Three: 1940s (Thursday, January 26)

Week Four: Entering the 1950s (Tuesday, January 31)

Week Four: Earth and Stars (Thursday, February 2)

Week Five: Strangers and Visitors (Tuesday, February 7)

Week Five: Closing the 1950s (Thursday, February 9)

Week Six: Entering the 1960s (Tuesday, February 14)

Week Six: Wrath and Darkness (Thursday, February 16)

Week Seven: Bodies (Tuesday, February 21)

Week Seven: Closing the 1960s (Thursday, February 23)

Week Eight: Into the 1970s (Tuesday, February 28)

Week Eight: Names (Thursday, March 2)

Week Nine: Closing the 1970s (Tuesday, March 7)

Week Nine: Into the 1980s (Thursday, March 9)

Spring Break: Enjoy the holiday!

Week Ten: Concluding Vint (Tuesday, March 21)

Week Ten: Artifice (Thursday, March 23)

Week Eleven: Art and Culture (Tuesday, March 28)

Week Eleven: Drafts Due (Thursday, March 30)

Week Twelve: Closing the 1980s (Tuesday, April 4)

Week Twelve: Entering the 1990s (Thursday, April 6)

Week Thirteen: Transitions (Tuesday, April 11)

Week Thirteen: Entering 2000 (Thursday, April 13)

Week Fourteen: Futures (Tuesday, April 18)

Week Fourteen: Conclusions (Thursday, April 20)

Final Paper: (Thursday, April 27th)

General Policies

Gordon Rule and Academic Standards

This course is a Gordon Rule course. It contains 6000 words of evaluated writing as required by the English Department. Assignments which fulfill the Gordon Rule are marked in the assignments list as GR, and have the following characteristics:

  1. The writing will have a clearly defined central idea or thesis
  2. It will provide adequate support for that idea
  3. It will be organized clearly and logically
  4. It will show awareness of the conventions of standard written English
  5. It will be formatted or presented in an appropriate way.

Short close readings serve as drafts for sections of the final paper, and should be expanded and refined through an iterative writing process building towards a full and revised draft.

Academic Integrity

The Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action.

UCF Creed: Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core values that guide our conduct, performance, and decisions.

  1. Integrity: I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.
  2. Scholarship: I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the UCF community.
  3. Community: I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.
  4. Creativity: I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.
  5. Excellence: I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, “Academic Misconduct,” students are prohibited from engaging in

  1. Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
  2. Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
  3. Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
  4. Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
  5. Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
  6. Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
  7. Helping another violate academic behavior standards.
  8. Soliciting assistance with academic coursework and/or degree requirements.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and respond to academic misconduct when necessary. Penalties for violating rules, policies, and instructions within this course can range from a zero on the exercise to an “F” letter grade in the course. In addition, an Academic Misconduct report could be filed with the Office of Student Conduct, which could lead to disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, or deferred suspension or separation from the University through suspension, dismissal, or expulsion with the addition of a “Z” designation on one’s transcript.

Course Accessibility Statement

This course is built with universal design for learning principles in mind: if you encounter challenges with any of the course materials, assignments, platforms, or requirements, please reach out for assistance, and know that additional support is always available regardles of documentation.

Additionally, the University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need access to course content due to course design limitations should contact the professor as soon as possible. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone 407-823-2371). For students connected with SAS, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential course access and accommodations that might be necessary and reasonable. Determining reasonable access and accommodations requires consideration of the course design, course learning objectives and the individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student. Further conversation with SAS, faculty and the student may be warranted to ensure an accessible course experience.

Land Acknowledgement Statement

The UCF Department of English acknowledges that our main campus stands on the traditional territories of the Seminole and Timucua peoples, and that other Native American traditional territories exist throughout Florida where our regional campuses are located. We collectively recognize their continuing connection to the land, water, and air and pay respect to their elders past, present, and emerging. We recognize the continuing consequences of colonialism on Indigenous peoples and their resilience in the face of colonial and state sponsored violence, and we fully endorse Indigenous Sovereignty.

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

Students who are deployed active duty military and/or National Guard personnel and require accommodation should contact their instructors as soon as possible after the semester begins and/or after they receive notification of deployment to make related arrangements.

Authorized Events and Religious Observances

Students who represent the university in an authorized event or activity (for example, student-athletes) and who are unable to meet a course deadline due to a conflict with that event must provide the instructor with documentation in advance to arrange a make-up. No penalty will be applied.

Students must notify their instructor in advance if they intend to miss class for a religious observance. For more information, see the UCF policy.