e325SP04

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Class Handbook
and
Success Guide

Spring 2004

Coming Soon! A Photo of the
Spring 2004 English 325 Class

Spring 2004 English 325 -- Fantasy and Science Fiction Section 005
M W F 11:00 - 11:50 AM
McKee 0252
ID #0849

A work listed in the calendar at the end of this syllabus must be completely read prior to the day we study it in class! This includes novels.

Professor: Count¹ Lloyd Worley, Ph.D., Prof. of English
Office: Ross 1130
Hours: MWF 9:00 - 9:50 AM & 1:00 - 1:50 PM; I also hold hours at the Java Joint on 16th Ave (next to The Book Stop) on Thursdays, as announced, and by appointment
Telephone: (office 351-2942; home 356-3002; FAX (419) 793-6884; eMail is Prof@ProfW.com . AOLIM is CtMaxalla . If you have a problem or a question after hours, I will be pleased to talk to you. If you wish, you may call me, either at the office or at home. If you call the office, you should call during office hours - it's best not to leave a message. If you are calling my home phone number, try to call before 9:30 PM. EMail is fast, too. I check daily.

To contact me right now via email, click this link: prof@profw.com!

The following books are required and are available at The Book Stop.

Reference
King, Stephen. Danse Macabre. New York: Berkley Pub. Group, 1997. ISBN: 0425104338
Anthology
Roberts, Garyn G. The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN 0-13-021280-6
Science Fiction
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Dover. ISBN: 0486282112
Fantasy
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Dover ISBN: 0486411095
Fantasy
Meyrink, Gustav. The Golem. New York: Dover.ISBN: 0486250253
Science Fiction
Willis, Connie. Uncharted Territory. New York: Bantam, 1994. SBN: 0553562940

RECOMMENDED READING (in library):
Aldiss, Brian: Trillion Year Spree or the first edition, Billion Year Spree (Michener Stacks #PR830.S35 A38 1974)

Important:
The calendar at the end of this syllabus is designed to help you keep up with reading and writing assignments. Keep track of everything with the calendar. A reading assignment (whether poem, short story, play, or novel) must be completely finished on the day the discussion begins. You must plan your reading schedule accordingly; incomplete or unfinished reading will ruin your pop quiz grades and ruin your understanding of the work under discussion. You will read poems, essays, short stories, one novel, and one play. A work listed in the calendar at the end of this syllabus must be completely read prior to the day we study it in class!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ELIST!
YOU MUST JOIN THE EMAIL LIST FOR THIS CLASS!
I maintain an elist at Yahoo for this class. Not only will discussion of class topics occur on this List Serve, but also assignments and other important class information will be distributed through the List Serve. You also can post to the group. Also, there will be files uploaded to the "Files" section on the main page. The site also offers other options, including a chat room. You should check your email every day. You will subscribe to receive "Individual eMail" messages so that eMail will come directly to you. You should not change this.

Sometimes, I will ask you to send email directly to me at Prof@ProfW.com (with a specific subject line); remember, if you post anything to the List Serve, everybody gets it! (Note: no flaming, no vulgar or obscene language allowed on the List Serve).

Below are our Group Name at eGroups, the url of our main page, and the email address you can use to post directly to the class using your email program. You can also post from the group's main page.

How to Join the List

Click on the "Join" link, below.
A new window at our Yahoo class site will pop up.
In the new window, find the "Join" link, upper right hand corner (usually).
Click on the "Join" link.
Follow the screen directions. Note: if you already have a Yahoo account, there will be fewer steps; if you are new to Yahoo, you must create a Yahoo account. In either case, if you plan to use an email address other than the one that Yahoo will create for you, remember to give Yahoo the email address you will use. Yahoo will forward all emails to your email account.

You will also receive an email from our egroup with further information. Be sure to respond to this email if asked to do so. If you don't, you won't be entered into the list, and you'll have problems.

JOIN
groups.yahoo.com/group/eng325

You should bookmark the site, once you're there.
Our email address: eng325@yahoogroups.com

Your Class Card

My gradebook (and, therefore, your grade!) depends upon your filling out a a 3x5 index card, as illustrated below. To be included in the gradebook and to receive grades, you must complete and submit a Class Grade Card! We will do this in class, and I'll provide the card. Here's what the grade card looks like:

Last Name, First Name Eng 325 SP04

eMail Address (print very legibly, please!)

Bear Number

Local Mailing Address

Local or Cell Phone

( PRINT EVERYTHING VERY NEATLY, ESP. EMAIL ADDRESS! )

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

For this class, you MUST have e-Mail and internet access. I will be communicating with you regularly regarding your class and the assignments. Even better, you will be able to communicate with me about your papers and other problems.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this course are to (a) examine the literary forms, structures, and meanings of fantasy and science fiction (F&SF) in order to (b) understand how these art forms help us to probe and even shape reality. The questions to be considered are (a) how do F&SF differ from other literature; (b) how are F&SF the same as other literature; (c) why do F&SF retain so powerful a grip on its readers; (d) should, or shouldn't, F&SF be considered "serious" literary forms? The bases for these approaches are literary, cultural, and psychological analyses.

The literary questions of this course are ...

Where do stories come from?
How do stories work?
What do stories tell us about ourselves?
What do stories mean?
Why do we need stories?
How can we use stories to improve ourselves?
How can we use stories to improve the world?

The critical questions to be considered during the semester are...

what are some methods of criticism?
which of those methods are useful?
which of those methods seem to me to make the most sense?
why and how does literature retain so powerful a grip on its readers?
what does literature tell us about people, life, living, and belief?

NOTE: those "in the know" recognize that the accepted abbreviation for "science fiction" is SF (pronounced "ess-eff") not "sci-fi" (or, "sigh-fye"). You shouldn't refer to SF as "sci-fi" ("sigh-fye"). Never mind the Sigh-Fye Channel, except that the channel tries to get around the problem by pronouncing its name "sigh-fye," quickly and evenly. Sometimes you may hear the SF experienced say "skiffy"; that's a sweet and endearing version of "sci-fi" and refers to SF written prior to the 20th century. These Sigh-Fye...um...Skiffi...um...SF folks take their art very seriously.

LECTURES, CLASS PARTICIPATION, & VGC1

Don't allow class size to be an obstacle to class participation! Class discussion can be fun...when you have an idea, offer it! Often, I do ask questions of class members, and I expect responses that show reading and thought. That you will be reading your material and will be ready to respond is a given.
You will note that I begin lecturing the moment I enter the class, and I will continue to lecture right up to the final minute. You won't be able to meet with me just before class to chat or solve a problem—but, I always stay after class to chat and to answer questions/solve problems. If another class needs to enter to begin, then we will go to my office.
OK, now, get this — part of class discussion will take place online (that's why you need to get online). I will post a numbered question on the Yahoo ListServe, and you will respond to the ListServe; your initial response must be 35 - 50 words in length, with any of your responses thereafter being of any length. Your responses have point value. Everything will be explained with the posting.

VGC1

VGC1 is UNC's only Science Fiction and Fantasy group. Meeting regularly, VGC1 discusses and enjoys SF and F topics. VCG1 IS NOT a role-playing group, it's a literary group. People don't show up in fake vampire fangs or wearing Star Trek uniforms.

Recently, all VGC1 officers graduated. The group is currently seeking officers; if you are interested in taking an office in UNC's only SFF group, please see me.

GRADING

In general, I use the grading procedure as outlined by the Department of English at UNC. Grading guidelines are available in the English office. I keep cumulative grades with the "plus/minus" letter grade having numerical value, with 90-100=A, 80-89=B, etc. Additionally, every assignment and test is graded with the course objectives in view, my question being: is this student progressing toward the achievement of the objects of English 319, as listed above?
Your semester grade will be derived from...
• literature review quizzes = 10% of your semester grade;
• eMail reaction responses = 10% of your semester grade;
• paper = 25% of your semester grade;
• mid-term = 20% of your semester grade; and...
• final = 35% of your semester grade.

ABSENCES AND THEIR EFFECT ON YOUR SEMESTER GRADE
The UNC policy concerning attendance is this: "Students are expected to attend class." That's my policy, too. Because of class sizes, I no longer call roll (too time consuming), but you can't miss without my noticing that you're gone. I want to see you at each class.

I don't issue an "excused absence." If you miss anything, you can't make it up. Generally, if you are absent on the day something is due or for a discussion session on something in your textbook, you lose the points for that day.

However: If you are ill (sore throat, cough) and obviously infectious, please stay home! Get better and don't spread what you've got! If you return with a "just cause" excuse (see below), you can make up whatever you've missed. Believe me, I'll understand when you tell me. I'll help you catch up when you return, and your grateful classmates will fill you in.

The "Just Cause" Absence
If you have been absent, please offer me an explanation when you return. Don't penalize yourself for something legitimate. The definition of "just cause" includes such things as personal and family illness (see above) and sponsored school activity. Visiting relatives or friends, birthday celebrations, early exit for holidays, and so forth likely will not qualify as "just cause." Don't tell me before an absence that you will be absent - see me after the absence (this does not apply to official UNC athletic absences, in which case you will have an official absence sheet for me).

OBTAINING YOUR GRADE REPORTS ON THE INTERNET
I will post your grades regularly at www.ProfW.com, in a secure site. To access your grades, you will need:

to go to the main page www.ProfW.com .

your class card name as you wrote it on your class card. Don't forget this!

your Bear Number. Don't forget this!

THE PAPERS

There will be two semester papers of 7-9 pages of text (i.e., excluding title page and reference page), one on science fiction and one on fantasy, using for paper #1 one short story from the science fiction anthology and, for paper #2, one fantasy story from the fantasy story anthology. The paper and documentation will follow the standard format as established for English majors by the MLA style sheet. You must use the MLA format! If you don't have an MLA Stylesheet, then see the MLA link on the ProfW home page (www.profw.com)! Failure to use the MLA style will affect your grade!
Your paper must be written in standard, edited English, with few or no major errors in punctuation, structure, grammar, or spelling.
Errors in punctuation, structure, grammar, or spelling will negatively affect your grade. Help for punctuation, structure, and grammar is available.

How to Write an Idea Proposal, a First Draft, and the Final Paper

The Idea Proposal
1: browse through your Norton, looking for a writer whose writing attracts you; your literary critical approach in your paper is either Reader Response or New Criticism; IF YOU NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING YOUR APPROACH, PLEASE SEE ME OR EMAIL ME! I CAN HELP YOU! I WILL HELP YOU!
2: select one author's non-class work (i.e., it's not on our syllabus) that appears in the text;
3: read the introductory notes to your author, then read the work; next, think about what one major point about or derived from the work you will cover in your paper; then, think about three or four ideas you may have about that major point, based on the critical approach; finally, in one or two paragraphs, name and describe the critical approach you will use (Reader Response or New Criticism); name your author and work; and tell me about your major theme and its three or four points. Submit your Idea Proposal to me via eMail. My email program will sort your submissions, so your Subject Line must look like this:

Lname Fname IP #1 (or #2 or #3)
The term "Lname" means your last name; the term "Fname" means your first name.

These paragraphs will be your Idea Proposal (see below);
4: I will read your Idea Proposal and comment on it, then I will return it to you via eMail by hitting my "return" key; print out the approved IP; DON'T LOSE YOUR IDEA PROPOSAL! The Idea Proposal is not graded, but it is essential, since you will turn in the printout with your completed paper (a paper without an Idea Proposal attached is docked 25% of the grade).

IMPORTANT: send your IP* to me at this address: prof@profw.com
DO NOT send your IP to the class list at Yahoo -- unless you want your classmates to receive your IP.
* the term "IP" means "Idea Proposal"

The First Draft

Now comes your first draft. Your FD consists of just two parts, an introduction and an outline. That's all. These are typed (word processed) and submitted on paper, not electronically. Don't give me a handwritten FD — I won't take it. Here's how you do it.

1: a. Read your work, keeping in mind the critical approach you will be using; once you've read the work, think of three major things that you would like to tell me about your work; then decide how those three major ideas about fit together.
b. Each of your major ideas now need minor ideas to make them more clear;
c. Using those three major ideas with their minor, assemble an outline of your proposed paper (your outline will consist entirely of your own major and minor ideas...no data yet).
Your outline looks like this:

a. minor idea one
b. minor idea two
c. minor idea three

B. Major Idea Two
- a. minor idea one
- b. minor idea two
- c. minor idea three
B. Major Idea Three
- a. minor idea one
- b. minor idea two
- c. minor idea three

c. Now, to find the data for your ideas, go to the library or go to the internet and find at least one article in one scholarly journal (or a chapter in a book) that discusses and expands for each of your ideas as you presented them in the outline. These are print articles, not internet sites. Note: the journal article does not have to relate directly to your author or work; a collateral article that helps you in your ideas will do the job.
d. Using some information from your article and using your own ideas, write a one-page introduction for your paper in which you present the work from the angle as described in your Idea Proposal. Write this one-page introduction using the best English writing that you can muster. Remember, the articles you use must appear in your Works Cited page.

PROBLEM: "I can't find any articles on my author's work." Well, sometimes that happens. If this happens to you, SEE ME, IN PERSON, RIGHT AWAY, AFTER CLASS OR DURING MY OFFICE HOURS. Don't wait. Don't stall. Don't be "creative" with the paper. Don't email me about it ... come to see me in person right away.

2: discuss your first draft with others; it is OK to talk with others about your paper, and it is OK to exchange ideas and to take suggestions; this is not plagiarism; you can even "footnote" a friend as a source of an idea;

3: write your first draft; the first draft will have these parts:

your introduction of one (or two, if needed) pages
the outline
a Works Cited page which lists the article you will use
an identification of your critical method.

BE SURE TO USE THE MLA FORMAT FOR YOUR DOCUMENTATION! There is an MLA link at www.profw.com .

QUESTION:
You mean that my first draft consists of an introduction, an outline, an identification of my critical method, and a works cited page? That's it?
ANSWER:
Yes, that's it.

Don't Panic

You say: "WAAAAAAAHHHHHH! I DON'T KNOW ANY CRITICAL METHODS! WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

ProfW says: "OK, OK, relax. Just go to the main page and look at the left side. There you will find links for three popular and useful critical methods -- Reader Response, New Criticism, and Feminist Criticism. Click each one, read about it, and use the one that you like. If you need further help, see me. Just don't panic...and don't procrastinate!

The Final Draft
1: Using your first draft, expand your introduction;
2: Using your first draft, flesh out and expand each of your three ideas, being certain at some point to use at least one internal reference (note: don't use footnote numbers anywhere — MLA doesn't use numbers anymore);
3: complete your final draft by checking to see if it says everything you want it to say and to see if your grammar and writing are OK. Next, turn your paper in on the deadline as instruction. (warning: no papers accepted after the deadline; the grade for the paper will be zero).

NOTE: Don't put your completed paper on my office door box! Don't! Somebody is stealing papers every semester.

What to Turn In and In What Order
You will need to turn in the following items, STAPLED TOGETHER. DO NOT USE A COVER OF ANY KIND! DO NOT USE A PAPER CLIP TO HOLD YOUR PACKAGE TOGETHER! STAPLE IT!
First, on top: title page (the MLA format is neat and attractive) giving paper title, author's name and work, your name, my name, and class name (see the cover of this handbook for this information).
Second: the final draft of the paper or a photocopy. This final draft includes your reference page.
Third: your original or photocopied Idea Proposal; without the Idea Proposal attached, you lose 25% of the grade!
Fourth (on bottom): the initialed first page of the first draft.
Finally: you MUST submit to me your electronic file of your final paper as an attachment to email; any format is acceptable because I have a Macintosh (a Macintosh can read and print anything, unlike Windows). I will use your electronic file to check for plagiarism (see plagiarism statement, below).

DUE DATES FOR YOUR TWO TERM PAPERS
PAPER #1
Due Dates (see also your calendar):
January 23 (Class 5): Your Idea Proposal is due. Send it via email by 5 PM today. LATE IDEA PROPOSALS NOT ACCEPTED! Copy and paste this Subject Line: "IP#1 e325 by your last name, your first name"The IP is a one-page description of your idea and plan of action (i.e., a proposal). I will read, approve/disapprove and return your Idea Proposal via email; you will print it out and attach to your final draft. DON'T LOSE IT! Warning: no Idea Proposal will result in a -10 point penalty on the final draft.
Feb 4 (Class 11): The first draft of the paper is due. I will check the length and sign the first page of your first draft; DON'T LOSE THAT FIRST PAGE! YOU WILL NEED IT. Warning: late first drafts not accepted; missing signed first draft first page will result in a -20 penalty on the final draft.
Feb 20 (Class 20): Your final draft package is due at the beginning of class. danger! Late papers not accepted.

Paper #2
Due Dates (see also your calendar):
Feb 23 (Class 21): Your Idea Proposal is due. Send it via email by 5 PM today. LATE IDEA PROPOSALS NOT ACCEPTED! Copy and paste this Subject Line: "IP#2 e325 by your last name, your first name."The IP is a one-page description of your idea and plan of action (i.e., a proposal). I will read, approve/disapprove and return your Idea Proposal via email; you will print it out and attach to your final draft. DON'T LOSE IT! Warning: no Idea Proposal will result in a -10 point penalty on the final draft.
March 8 (Class 27): The first draft of the paper is due. I will check the length and sign the first page of your first draft; DON'T LOSE THAT FIRST PAGE! YOU WILL NEED IT. Warning: late first drafts not accepted; missing signed first draft first page will result in a -20 penalty on the final draft.
Mar 31 (Class 34): Your final draft package is due at the beginning of class. Warning: Late papers not accepted.

There is a calendar with this syllabus. Use that to help you stay on schedule for the paper.

The TESTS

There are two exams, a Mid-Term Exam and a Final Exam during Finals Week (write the date in your calendar).
The Mid-Term and Final Exams will follow the multiple choice format. You will need to know (a) authors, (b) time periods, (c) literary summaries, and (d) literary analyses regarding form, function, and content.

PLAGIARISM AND STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Plagiarism is the presenting of someone else's work as your own, whether in whole or in part. Plagiarism is theft and is no light matter. Don't try to use another person's term paper, either in part or in whole. The penalty for plagiarism will be an F in the course, with the case being submitted to UNC's Chief Disciplinary Officer for further action.
One of the functions of documenting (sometimes called "footnoting") is to prevent the appearance of plagiarism. Note that it is OK to discuss your work with your peers, and it is even OK to use any ideas or topics they may suggest to you. On the other hand, it would not be OK to simply copy something and pretend that you wrote that something. If you have questions about plagiarism, please see me for help.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT FROM THE DISABILITY ACCESS CENTER

The Disability Access Center places the initial responsibility on the students with special needs to identify themselves with the Disability Access Center. The DAC requires medical and/or psychological documentation that verifies the need and right to accommodations. The following disability statement is issued officially from the DAC:

Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Disability Access Center (970) 351-2289 as soon as possible to better ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

For further information, contact:

Nancy Kauffman, Director
Disability Access Center
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-2289 (Voice/TDD)
(970) 351-4166 FAX

Note: Prof. Worley encourages students with special needs to contact the DAC.

The Semester's Work

(I may have to adjust the dates and items to be studied to fit the needs of the class. Note that works will be discussed cumulatively.)

January 2004
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
			1	2
5	6	7	8	9
12 Intro to Science Fiction & Fantasy; Hard/Soft SF & High/Low Fantasy	13	14 ANTH: Moskowitz, p. 1127; an overview of the link between media and SF/F growth	15	16 ANTH: Mitchell, p. 361
19 M.L. King Day. Unc closed.	20	21 ANTH: Verne, p. 370	22	23 ANTH: Well, 373; IP due today via email
26 ANTH: Spofford, p. 380	27	28 ANTH: Burroughs, p. 390	29	30 ANTH: Siodmak, p. 495