Science Fiction

Instructor: Rod Fobert Voice mail: 503.667.3186 ext. 1143

Email: rod_fobert@reynolds.k12.or.us Room: W-2
BLOG!: www.fobertrhs.blogspot.com
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Course Description:
This course aims to examine science fiction through some of its most influential authors. Students are
expected to respond to course works both critically and creatively. By the end of the course students are
expected to have an understanding of the genre, be able to critically engage with science fiction, and to
identify its broad cultural impact. Each student will complete two major essays and a project, as well as a
variety of other assignments.

Course Benefits:
Reading science fiction is enjoyable: While you may not like ALL the stories we'll read, you should find
enough to satisfy and even expand your particular tastes. Besides, you can always read stories that haven't
been assigned!

The best science fiction deals with the human experience: Good literature illustrates the best and worst
that life has to offer. This is an opportunity to explore your own and other people's humanity (or
inhumanity). The texts you will encounter all have the ability to delight, horrify, anger, perplex, move,
motivate and/or teach you how to live better with yourself and other people.

You get to talk about your responses, ideas, and questions with other people: Rather than interpret
the stories on your own, this course gives you the opportunity to process a story's possible meanings with
other readers. Discussing your responses, ideas, and questions with class members has the potential to
create synergistic power to solve problems and meet your own as well as other people's needs in ways
you may not have imagined.

Learning Objectives:
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to do the following:
Explain the basic origins and historical development of science fiction.
Identify the key elements of science fiction and show how those elements work together to create a
unified story with coherent meaning(s).
Seek out additional knowledge about a literary work, its author, its content, and its interpretation.
Write a persuasive interpretation of the merits of science fiction.
Write an expository analysis in which you relate texts to one another and synthesize ideas about them
that emerge from your own thinking and the interactions you have with your peers and other authors' texts
or literary criticism.
Work with other students to hone your critical reading and writing skills through meaningful
conversations and peer groups.

Grading and Assessment:

The following grading scale will be used:
A=100% - 90% B=89% - 80% C=79% - 70% D=69% - 60% F= below 60%

To be assigned as follows: (approximate)

20% of grade based on essays
20% of grade based on midterms/final
60% of grade based on individual assignments & quizzes

 In general, late work is not acceptable, and will not be eligible for points. If a student knows in
advance that he/she will be absent on a due date (participation in sports, appointments, etc.), then it is the
student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor prior to that absence (at least 24 hours in
advance). If an absence due to an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to discuss options
with the instructor immediately upon return to school. There will be no points for late work due to an
unexcused absence. ESIS attendance data will determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused.

 You will get 3 “free” emergency passes to use this semester. My expectation is that you come to
class prepared to stay for the entire period. If an emergency arises, and you are unable to wait until class
is over to take care of it, you may be allowed to use one of your passes. After you have used all three,
you will be charged with a tardy if you need to leave during class time.

 If a student displays an unwillingness or inability to participate appropriately in class, he or she

will be excused to the hallway just outside the classroom. The student may be issued a detention or
referral at the teacher’s discretion.

 MLA format is required for all formal papers and essays. Papers are due at the beginning of the
period on due dates. MLA guide: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

Rules:
1. Be on time, and be ready to stay for the entire class period. If you need to leave the room during
class, or leave early, it will count as a tardy (once your 3 emergency passes are used).
2. Cell phones/electronic communication devices need to be TURNED OFF and put away. Yes, this
even means for text-messaging purposes. You can be out of touch with the outside world during
class time. Your parents/guardians will call the office if they need to reach you during class time.
3. Personal stereos (headphones) need to be TURNED OFF and put away during class time.
4. Bring at least two writing utensils (pen/pencil) with you EVERY TIME, and standard notebook
paper. When you run out of writing utensils and/or paper, get more. I am not a school supply
shop.
5. No food or beverages of any kind in class. They are a distraction and past experience has
shown that many students are not capable of cleaning up after themselves. Eat a
breakfast bar and get a drink of water during passing time. I have yet to see a student
lose consciousness from dehydration or starvation during a 46 minute class period
6. Do your work and don’t do anything that keeps others from doing theirs.

Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to do their own work. No credit will be awarded to work that is not the
student’s own. Loss of points may result in failure of the course and therefore may result in the loss of
English credit, which is required for graduation. Plagiarism, in any form, will not be tolerated.

Content:
During this course, we will read a multitude of science fiction short stories by the authors that made
science fiction what it is today, such as Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Isaac Asimov,
H. G. Wells, Jules Verne, Aldous Huxley, and Ayn Rand, just to name a few. Students will also be
reading two classic science fiction novels during each quarter grading period on a mostly independent
basis. Two essays (one each quarter grading period) will be assigned in relation to the reading of these
novels, and will include an analysis of concepts learned throughout the course. These novels are:

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Anthem, by Ayn Rand
Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
Mr. Fobert’s science fiction syllabus assignment: Ask a parent/guardian to read the attached science
fiction syllabus and sign below to acknowledge they have done so. Then, turn in this page on the due
date.

SIGNATURES: (The first assignment!)

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Parent/guardian signature

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Student signature

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Student name printed Period