Professor: Dr. Roberts
Office: SSC 222G
Phone: 816-271-5810
E-mail: robertsi@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: 8:30-9:30, 12:30-2:00 TTh

Course Description and Philosophy:
A recent survey by the National Endowment for the Arts reports that fewer than half of American adults now read literature. The overall decline in literary reading has nearly tripled in the last decade, and the rate of decline among Americans aged 18 to 24 was 55 percent greater than for the total population. 

As Dana Gioia (poet and chairman of the NEA) observes, the survey "merely documents and quantifies a huge cultural transformation that most Americans have already noted--our society's massive shift toward electronic media for entertainment and information." Gioia goes on to state that reading "is a progressive skill that depends on years of education and practice. By contrast, most electronic media such as television, recordings, and radio make fewer demands on their audiences, and indeed often require no more than passive participation." However, it is quite possible to use electronic media with focused attention, contemplation, and insight. Conversely, many people read great works of literature with only the most elementary comprehension, appreciation, or understanding. Most importantly, the progressive skills required for both print and electronic literacy significantly overlap. In this course we will develop those skills necessary to reading both the visual "texts" of important SF films and more traditional literary texts. We will also explore the relationships between print and electronic forms of literature generally.

As a part of MWSC's General Studies program, this course is designed to fulfill the Category IV General Studies Requirement. Students in 210 will learn to recognize the major characteristics of literary genres, discuss literature orally and in writing with assurance, appreciate literary works which are encountered, and understand the different ways in which a literary theme may be treated in literature.

In its various programs and offerings, the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Journalism works toward four goals: (1) an improvement of communication skills through practice in diverse types of expository and imaginative writing; (2) a development of critical thinking through exposure to and interpretation of the various world views offered in literary works; (3) an increased appreciation of literature, its backgrounds, history, and values through an analysis and discussion of authors and literary works covering a wide range of attitudes, perspectives, and expressions; (4) a deeper understanding of one's own culture and a tolerance and acceptance of things foreign through a study and appreciation of another language and culture. In all of its programs, the department encourages its students to grow in self-knowledge and the knowledge of others through its emphasis on the humane and liberal characteristics of its offerings.

This course also meets the state level competencies for the Skills Area - Valuing and the Knowledge Area - Humanities and Fine Arts. For more information on the institutional and state goals and competencies, see the English Department website for general studies courses at <http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/genstud.asp>. Click on English 210.

"Everybody's a mad scientist, and life is their lab. We're all trying to experiment to find a way to live, to solve problems, to fend off madness and chaos." --David Cronenberg

Objectives:  http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/eng210.asp#Objectives

Required Materials:

• Dick, Philip K. Blade Runner. [Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?] Del Rey.
• Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Dover.
• Wells, H. G. The Time Machine. Dover.
• Wells, H. G. The War of the Worlds. Dover.
• An up-to-date unabridged college dictionary.
• Stamina and good humor.

Attendance:
Regular attendance is an essential part of the student's educational experience and a requirement for an adequate evaluation of student academic progress. For this and other reasons, listed below, attendance is mandatory. While certain absences may be necessary or unavoidable in the case of genuine illness, emergency, or when acting as a representative of MWSC, excessive absences will result in failure of the course. As this is a one day a week class, if you miss more than one class during the semester your final grade will be seriously affected. Chronic lateness and/or leaving early will count toward absences. You are responsible for material covered or assignments given which you missed because of absence, so ask another student to inform you of what happened while you were gone. As a matter of policy, I do not loan out my private copies of the films we will study. If I should be unable to meet class, you will be notified by the secretary, a fellow instructor, or by an officially stamped and dated note on the classroom door.

Preparation and Participation:
You are required to make significant contributions to class in the form of preparation and participation. Preparation includes completing the readings and daily assignments, as well as bringing your assignments, textbook, and other materials with you on the appropriate days. If you come unprepared, you will receive a zero for any work due that day.

Participation includes the help you give to fellow writers and the contributions you make to class discussion. Active and insightful contributions to class discussion are therefore not "extra credit." Like the written assignments, your tactful and substantive comments are part of the minimal requirements for successful completion of the course. If you are a naturally quiet person, force yourself to be more vocal; do not assume that if I do not call on you that you need not participate, as it is your responsibility to voice your observations at appropriate and relevant times. Conversely, if you are a naturally talkative person, you may have to restrain yourself so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Since you obviously cannot make up for discussions from which you were absent, attendance is again critical.

Why is discussion so important? Because live classroom discussion:

• gives me an additional indication of how closely and thoughtfully you have read, enabling me to evaluate your knowledge and abilities more fairly and accurately.
• helps you think in terms of the subject matter by giving you practice in thinking.
• helps you learn to evaluate the logic of and evidence for your own and others' positions.
• helps you learn what counts as evidence and how to evaluate knowledge claims.
• helps you understand how knowledge is arrived at in the discipline.
• gives you practice arguing with others respectfully and professionally.
• gives you opportunities to formulate applications of principles.
• helps you construct knowledge you can recall and apply when needed.
• gives you prompt feedback on difficult or confusing issues and material.
• increases your retention of material through explaining, summarizing, and questioning.
• stimulates new ideas, approaches, questions, reading and research.

Student Conduct:
As a condition to remaining at MWSC, the college expects all students to conduct themselves so as to maintain an effective environment for learning, to act responsibly in accordance with good taste, and to respect fully the rights of others. Passionate and forceful language is sometimes appropriate; intolerance and dogmatism are not. Behavior that disrupts the classroom environment or interferes with other students' learning will result in dismissal from the classroom.

More specifically, the following behavior will be noted and result in an absence for the day and/or a deduction from any writing due that day: sleeping, distracting conversation during films and lectures, and failure to turn off cell phones before entering the classroom.

Assignment Requirements:
All out of class written assignments for this course must be word processed unless otherwise specified. Non-word processed submissions will be returned with no credit. Assignments should follow MLA format, using no larger than twelve point font and one inch margins. Pages should be stapled together before you come to class (do not use folders or paper clips and do not fold down the corners of papers). Do not throw away any work you do for this class, from notes to drafts to final papers, and keep back-up copies of all papers you turn in to me.

All assignments are due at the beginning of the hour on the due date. Learning is a cumulative process, and each assignment is designed to build on the previous one. As late work disrupts this important aspect of the learning process, no late work will be accepted without prior notification and approval.

Grading:
The standards for college English classes are higher than those used in high schools. All the guidelines and standards for classes at MWSC are similar to those used by other colleges and universities throughout the country. You, as a serious student, will appreciate the fact that we hold high standards for your work. Your grade will be determined by the quality of your daily work, short writings, and exams, as well as by your preparation and participation. Assignments will be evaluated according to how well they meet the requirements outlined in the assignment description and the following general scale.

A = Superior
B = Above Average
C = Average
D = Minimum = passing below average
F = Failing

Short Writings and Daily Assignments = 40%
Midterm Exam = 20%
Final Exam = 20%
Critical Paper = 20%

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a most serious offense and, therefore, will incur harsh punishment. Don't think you won't get caught; writing style is distinctive and verifiable. It is the student's responsibility to prove that all work is their own. Work with evidence of plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind, intentional or not, will receive a zero. Plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty may also result in failure of the course.

Disabilities:
Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me immediately so that we can discuss class requirements.

General:
This syllabus is of a contractual nature, and by remaining in the course you acknowledge your acceptance of its stipulations in their entirety. If the goals, policies, procedures, standards, expectations, or obligations are unclear, then you should speak with me immediately. If they are clear but unacceptable to you, then you should drop the course.

If you choose to remain in the course, be sure to keep a copy of this syllabus with you and to refer to it regularly. Policies are enforced without exception to ensure uniformity and predictability, to avoid confusion and anxiety, and to facilitate fairness and objectivity for all students. In the interest of efficiency, however, I reserve the right to make necessary alterations to this syllabus and to make announced changes in daily plans. Any announcements made in class automatically supersede this syllabus. It is your responsibility to find out about announced changes.

Final Thoughts:
For further explanations, comments, and advice, I am available during office hours. For additional help outside of class, I strongly recommend the Center for Academic Support.

I genuinely want you to succeed in this class and at MWSC generally. I therefore urge you to keep in mind that what you gain from this course, and from your education generally, is proportional to the amount of productive time and careful attention you devote to it. In the words of Abigail Adams (1744-1818), "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."

Course Outline:
This outline shows major readings and assignments, but additional readings and assignments will be given in class throughout the semester

Course Schedule and Bibliography Links:

Course Schedule

Selective Bibliography on Science Fiction and Film