EAC234: Science Fiction Major Paper

EAC234: Science
Fiction

(Value:
20%)

General
Instructions

You are
to write a major paper/essay – thesis/critical argument;
critical analysis; details; quotes; etc. –of 1000-1200 wordson
one
ofthetopics below. Gradingofthepaperwillbe
basedon scope, depth, criticalthinkingskills,
and grammaticalaccuracy; consult the rubric for more details.

Your majorpaper should
bewritteninthe
3^rd person, sobe sure
to avoid any 1^st person subjective
experiences.Remember: theassignmentisn’tabouthowyou felt when
you readthe material norwhether
the events couldhappen
intherealworld;
rather, it is anessaythatpresents anargumentabout the fictions andthen provides literaryanalysis,
research, quotes, etc. toprove the
argument.

Each essay topic requires you to use at least two stories for each essay
topic, but be advised of the following conditions:

1. While
you can use any of the movies we have studied in the course, they will not count towards the two stories minimum for
this assignment.

2. One
of the stories must be from the stories we have studied in this course. They include: “The Star” (Wells); “Out of All
Them Bright Stars” (Kress); “When It Changed” (Russ); “Desertion” (Simak);
“Think Like a Dinosaur” (Kelly); “And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold
Hill’s Side” (Tiptree, Jr.); “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (Dick);
“Burning Chrome” (Gibson); “Pretty Boy Crossover” (Cadigan); “Reason” (Asimov);
“Super-Toys Last All Summer Long” (Aldiss); “Closer” (Egan); and, “All You
Zombies” (Heinlein)

3. The
stories you use to answer your essay topic must include at least one
of the following supplementalstories (available in your Wesleyan Anthology):

“The Sentinel” (Arthur C. Clarke)

“Rogue Farm” (Charles Stross)

“Fondly Fahrenheit” (Alfred Bester)

“Abominable” (Carol Emshwiller)

“Exhalation” (Ted Chiang)

“The Machine Stops” (E. M. Forster)

“Everywhere” (Geoff Ryman)

Essay
Topics

Choose one of the topics below for your
paper. You must use at least two
stories for each essay topic and one of those two stories must be one of the supplemental stories I’ve listed above.

Your completed assignment should meet
all the requirements described after the essay topics.

1. Advance an argument about how character change/development
is a direct reflection of the social/political issue(s) an author wishes to
explore in science fiction (sf). Note:
do not simply catalogue the changes of a character; rather, demonstrate how the
characters’ central struggles are the vehicle for the sf author’s specific political
point, social commentary, or social questioning.

Make sure
you use at least two stories and one of those two stories must be one of the supplemental
stories I’ve listed above.

2. Science fiction (sf) often features encounters with
the alien, whether that alien is another life form, another planet, or another
social environment. Yet, the alien is
rarely truly alien; rather, it typically functions as a metaphor for the
human. Advance an argument about how sf uses
the alien as a metaphor to provide commentaries on issues
relevant to humanity and, by extension, readers?

Make sure
you use at least two stories and one of those two stories must be one of the supplemental
stories I’ve listed above.

1. In
   science fiction (sf), characters sometimes have to have their beliefs
   challenged – even pushed to the limit, even broken – before they come to a
   broader realization of some truth, a realization that serves to convey a specific
   theme of the story. Advance an argument regarding the relationship between
   a character undergoing this type of difficult awakening and broader themes
   being explored in sf.

Make sure
you use at least two stories and one of those two stories must be one of the supplemental
stories I’ve listed above.

1. Science
   fiction (sf) often depicts a variety of social positions for social
   classes and a person’s social position is an important part of his/her
   acceptance by society. A character’s social position and the challenges
   that arise (how they and/or others respond to it, react to it, etc.) can
   also address themes of a story. Advance an argument regarding the
   relationship between a character’s social position and broader themes
   being addressed in sf.

Make
sure you use at least two stories and one of those two stories must be one of
the supplemental
stories I’ve listed above.

5. Violence can be emotional and internalized as much
as it is physical and externalized; in other words, abuse can take place on the
physical body as well as in the mind or psyche of the victim. Advance an argument about the use of violence
in science fiction (sf) and how such violence allows authors to explore broader
themes in their stories.

Make sure
you use at least two stories and one of those two stories must be one of the supplemental
stories I’ve listed above.

6. Science fiction (sf) can often reveal the darker
side of what it means to be human as it often addresses the secrets we want to
keep hidden – our secret desires; our secret fears; our secret selves. Advance an argument about what is revealed
when we explore the darker sides of ourselves (and our selves) and what truths
we might learn by taking a walk on the dark side.

Make sure
you use at least two stories and one of those two stories must be one of the supplemental
stories I’ve listed above.

Instructions and Submission Requirements

Quotations	· You mustuse direct primary quotesfromthe novels/stories toprovideevidenceforyourpaper. Essays thathave no quotes fromprimarysources willnotearn a passinggrade.
Research	· You mustconductacademic researchfromsecondarysourcesand incorporaterelevant secondaryquotes fromresearch resources thatdirectlypertaintothearguments you areadvancingin youressay. You mustuse a minimumoftworeputable researchresources relevant to science fiction studies; therefore, you need to carefullyscreen theresearchavailableas yourgrade willbeaffected bythequalityofthe research and how you areusing andintegratingthecontent.The Senecalibraryhas a hostofresearchresources availableto you through avarietyofsubscription-based services, so theyare highly recommended as opposed todoinga quick search on Google. You might want to check the Online Links folder in Blackboard, notably Google Scholar, Refseek, or any of the other sources I’ve provided (or links to sources available through the library), to help you in your research. Remember:yourmarkwill beaffected bythe qualityofthe researchresources,so don’tunderestimate the valueofcarefullyresearchingthe authorityofthe research resourceyou wantto use.
MLA	· Allquoting and paraphrasingofprimary and secondaryresourcesmustbe properlyreferencedusingMLA in-text/parentheticalcitations. · An accompanyingMLA Works Cited page referencingthe novels/storiesmustbeincluded. · Ifyou are unfamiliarwithMLA styleforboth referencingand constructinga WorksCited page, you needto lookatThe MLA Handbook(available in mostlibraries),orconsult theonlineresources: SenecaOnline Libraryhttp://library.senecacollege.ca/Research_Help/Citing_Sources/mla_guide.html · Usinga style otherthan MLA (e.g., APA)willresult in severepenaltiesinterms of thegrading.
Format:	· Wordlength: 1000-1200words · Wordprocessed, double spaced,and composedin propersentences andparagraphs. · Setthe alignmentin yourword processingprogramforleft-hand margin only. · Margins:1” (2.5 centimetres) fortop, bottom, left, and right. · Title page:mustinclude:name ofthe assignmentyourname, studentnumber,submissiondate, word count.
Format	· Rich Text Format(.rtf)or Microsoft Word (.doc; .docx) are properformats. Files thatIcannot open willnotbemarked. Do not send files in PDF.
LatePenalty	· I typically do notacceptlate papers.Ifyou have notsubmittedthe assignmentbyitsrespective due date itwillnotbeaccepted forgradingunless there are extenuatingcircumstances, butthenthere willbe penalties.Pleasereview the instructions carefullyso you cantake advantageofthe flexibilityafforded toyou in this assignment.
Due Dates	· Therearetwo due datesforsubmittingthe essay. Eachhas itsown rewardsandconsequence: Option#1:ifyou submitthe paperby11:59:59PM on March 31styou willreceive commentaryon thegraded paper. Option#2:ifyou submit the paperby11:59:59PM on April 7thyou willlikelynotreceive anycommentaryon the gradedpaper. Note:don’t confusethese dates. Ifyou submityourpaper foroption #1,thatdoesnotmean you willgetthe paperbackand be given the chance to make changes and then re-submitforoption #2.Yousubmit thepaperonce, butyourchoice as tothetwo due datesisentirelyin yourhands.

Back-up Option: If you are
worried your assignment wasn’t sent properly through SafeAssign, you can opt to
send the identical assignment as a File Attachment to the “Assignment Back-Up”
folder set up in Blackboard; however, be advised this is purely a back-up
option and papers not submitted via the Blackboard system as the primary method
of delivery will not be graded accordingly.

IMPORTANT: I will not
accept papers that are not submitted correctly via Blackboard, so it is in your
best interest to use the back-up as a fail-safe to ensure there have been no
errors on your end attaching and sending the assignment file accordingly. I
will post a listing of successfully submitted papers the day after the
respective due dates, so it is your responsibility to promptly check
that list.