Introduction to Science Fiction

Welcome to the Sci Fi class blog. Check out the syllabus given. 

HS 7592 - SCIENCE FICTION

                                                                                                                                    L T P C

                                                                                                                                    3  0 0  3

Course Description

This course is designed to teach language skills through science fiction. Science fiction and allied science writings are used as materials to generate discussions both on the language as well as on the content.

Objectives

ü  To familiarize students with the genre of science fiction.

ü  To help students appreciate the nuances of the language used in science fiction.

ü  To provide students with the material to discuss common themes of human concern.

Learning Outcomes

Ø  Students will be able to read and understand science fiction texts and the literary tools and strategies used by writers to communicate their meaning.

Ø  Students will be able to collect, organize and present details about the writers, the historical and general contexts of the texts.

Ø  Students will be able to discuss, analyse and argue about issues related to science and technology and their impact on society, culture, war, race, gender and the like.

Unit I Science Fiction – An Introduction                                                                                                       (9)

Definition of the genre - The beginnings of the genre - Gothic fiction and fantasy - Early writers

Texts for study

·         Excerpts from H.G.Wells’ Time machine

·         Albert Einstein’s On the Idea of Time in Physics from Relativity

Language focus

Descriptive language, technical and scientific vocabulary, Verbs (Present, past, future tenses)

Suggested activities

Reading, dialogue writing, paragraph writing, summarising

Discussion topics

Science as a reflection of the spirit of scientific enquiry of the time, Science fiction as a forerunner of future developments in science

Extensive reading

·         Mary Shelley: Frankenstein

·         Jules Verne: Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Unit II Social Science Fiction                                                                                                                         (9)

            Use of science fiction to criticize contemporary world and predict the future -

            Texts for study           

·         Excerpts from George Orwell’s 1984

·         Excerpts from Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock

Language focus

Imperatives, instructions

Use of allegory

Suggested Activities

Reading, skit, poster making (based on the social issues presented in the material), role play

Discussion topics

Utopian vs dystopian fiction

Extensive Reading

·         Aldous Huxley: Brave New World

·         Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451

Unit III Man and Machine                                                                                                                             (9)

            Exploration of the relationship between man, machine and morality

            Texts for study

·         Excerpts from Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot

·         Stuart Russell & Peter Norvig: ‘What if we do succeed?’ from Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

Language Focus

Compound words, definition, machine description, If conditionals

Suggested Activities

Debate, Creative writing, Report writing

Discussion topics

                        Man vs machine, Artificial intelligence

            Extensive Reading

·         Philip K. Dick: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Unit IV Other Worlds                                                                                                                                                (9)

            Exploring the idea of aliens and other worlds

            Texts for study

·         Excerpts from Arthur C.Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey

·         Excerpts from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos

Language focus

Compare and contrast

Suggested Activities

Group discussion, essay writing

Discussion Topics

Life in other worlds, Space colonization

Extensive Reading

·         Robert A. Heinlein: Stranger in a Strange Land

·         Douglas Adam: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Unit V Biological Sciences                                                                                                                             (9)

            Exploring the forays into biological research and the ethical issues involved

            Texts for study

·         Excerpts from Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park

·         ‘Hybridism’ from Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species

Language focus

Process description

Suggested Activities

Profile writing

Discussion topics

Dangers and ethical issues in cloning

Extensive Reading

·         William Gibson: Neuromancer

Teaching Methods

Lectures, discussions, seminars, use of audio and video material, participative individual and group tasks (simulation/role play, dramatic presentation, creative adaptation, creative writing etc) based on the study materials

Evaluation pattern

Pen and paper test, short quizzes, seminars, assignments

50 % Internal Assessment

50% End Semester Examination

II Assessments with equal weightage

Internal Assessment:

Language based questions, Analysis of unseen texts using similar methods and criteria, Transcreation, creative adaptation, creative writing assignments, Oral presentations/seminars on the texts, authors, contexts

End Semester Exam:

Language based and text based critical analysis and evaluation, analysis of Unseen texts, transcreation, creative writing questions

References

James, Edward & Farah Mendelsohn, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction.  2003

Parrinder, Patrick. Science Fiction: A Critical Guide. Routledge, 2014

Prucher, Jeffrey (ed) Brave new words: the Oxford dictionary of science fiction, USA: OUP,  2006

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=sfstudies

http://www.sfhub.ac.uk/