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W.A. Senior-- Rm. 117, Bldg #1; Phone: 201-6322
Office Hours: MW 11-12:30; TTH 8:30-9:30 and 12:30- 2
Email—wsenior@broward.edu
Website: www.broward.edu/~wsenior

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Masterpieces, Orson Scott Card, ed.
The Time Machine, H.G. Wells
Rainbow’s End, Vernor Vinge
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
lostboy, lostgirl, Peter Straub
The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson
Various stories printed off the Internet

REQUIREMENTS:
There are four (4) grades to the course, each weighted equally:
1.) a quiz average: quizzes on assigned readings will be given at the start of class and will be content-oriented, not interpretive. I drop the lowest or any missed quiz.
2.) a 750 (3 page) essay on a science fiction story from Card’s collection
3.) a 750 (3 page) essay on a fantasy film- see the assignment on Pan’s Labyrinth
4.) a cumulative final exam during the exam period

The final grade will consist of the average of the two essays, the final, and the quiz average.

Note: Since there will be a limited number (12 or so probably) of quizzes, please be aware of their importance in the calculation of the final grade. I drop the lowest or any missed quiz grade. Most people who do not do the reading and have low quiz averages do not do well on the final and do not pass the course.

Quizzes will be given at the start of each class period and last only a couple of minutes. It is important to be on time and be prepared.

There are no make-ups for quizzes except for those absences covered under the BCC policy for missed classes and work. It is phrased as follows in the BCC Policy Manual in 6Hx2-4.18: “There shall be no penalty for a student who is absent from academic activities because of holy day observances in his/her own faith, the student’s serious illness, death in the immediate family, or attendance at statutory governmental responsibilities.”

Cover Sheet-2

Essays: No late papers will be accepted. Both essays must be turned in by the end of the class period during which they are due or they will not be accepted.

The final date for withdrawal is Oct. 27; anyone who wishes a W after that date must see me by the final exam period and present a justification in writing.

PLAGIARISM:
I expect all students to do their own work. Plagiarism is a serious academic crime and will result in the final grade of F for the course without exception. See the attached.

ATTENDANCE:
All students are allowed four (4) absences without penalty. For each absence beyond the four (4), I will subtract one letter grade from the final average. Because this is a discussion class, attendance is very important.

Anyone missing a substantial part of a class will be considered absent. Anyone who is consistently late will be warned; after that any lateness will be considered an absence.

THE THREE TAKE RULE:
The State in Fla. Statute 240.3215 has determined that students may take a college level course only three times. If a student does not complete or pass the course on the first two tries, he or she will not be permitted to withdraw on the third attempt, and the grade will be figured into the student’s GPA. Students may no longer retake a course in which they have received an A, B, or C for a better grade or review.

COURSE GOALS:
Lit 2310 provides a basic introduction to the related fields of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, which can all be categorized with their related branches under the general rubric of the fantastic. We will look at representative fiction and films for each of these categories to attempt to investigate the basic characteristics, issues, and forms that characterize them. Because this is a survey course, we cannot focus on only one of them.

Central questions or issues with which we will deal include definitions of genres or sub-genres; the history or development of each genre; standard characteristics, tropes, figures, settings; associated themes, meanings, or applications; major figures and works in each field; and basic research sources and strategies for further study.

COVER SHEET 3

CLASSROOM POLICIES AND GUIDELINES:

The primary object of the course policies and classroom policies is to assure that the same rules apply to everyone, that the playing field is level so that everyone has the same opportunities. In addition, they exist to create a climate for concentration and learning.

Please make sure you have the proper materials for class: books, notebook, writing implements, etc. We will be looking closely at all stories and novels, so you will need the texts with you in class. Also, review the syllabus the night before class to make sure that you have read the correct material and done whatever work is assigned.

I highly recommend taking good notes.

Cell phones, blackberries, IPODS, laptops, etc. have become a major problem and cause both interruptions and distractions for everyone. Please turn them off and put them away and out of sight. Students checking messages, listening to music, leaving class, etc. will simply be marked absent.

This is Lit 2310: SF, Fantasy, and Horror -- that is the subject of the class. Do not do work for other classes during this class or you will simply be marked absent. If you have a test or assignment for another class that demands your attention, use one of your absences and go study elsewhere.

Similarly, the class period is not designated for nap time. If you are sleep deprived, stay home and sleep. Use one of your absences if you need to. Or bring one of your favorite caffeinated beverages; just make sure you take it with you when you leave. Attendance means being awake during class, not just physically present. Anyone sleeping will be marked as absent.

Despite the formula for grades on page one of the cover sheet, at times students do not feel their grade is correct. Please make sure you keep all your graded work. I would suggest a pocket folder into which you can put all your quizzes and returned essays. Anyone who feels he or she has been graded unjustly or inaccurately must follow the guidelines in the “Student Guide to the English Department.”

Central Campus English Department Plagiarism
Plagiarism is one of the most serious academic offenses that students can commit. Sometimes students plagiarize deliberately because they believe that the assignment is too difficult, because they have not left enough time to do the assignment, or because they are lazy. Often, however, students plagiarize because they do not completely understand what plagiarism is.
Plagiarism is the act of submitting as your own work the words, ideas, or conclusions of someone else. Plagiarism consists of any one of these:
• Failure to indicate quoted material
• Failure to credit the source of quoted material
• Failure to credit the source of paraphrased material
• Failure to use your own language when paraphrasing
• Use of another's ideas as your own
• Duplication, in part or whole, of another writer's essays or projects
All work handed in under your name should meet all of these conditions:
1. You have cited the author and source for any quoted material.
2. You have cited the author and source for any paraphrased or summarized material.
3. The organizational pattern, the sentence, structure, and the choice of words is your own.
Penalties:

***The Penalty for Plagiarism is a failing grade in the course, and the essay will be sent to the Dean of Students for appropriate action.
In the case of extreme or repeated acts of plagiarism, following the recommendation of the professor and the concurrence of the Department Head and upon completion of the appeal process for academic honesty, one of the following recommendations may be made to the Dean of Student affairs:
• Disciplinary probation by the Dean
• Academic suspension

Plagiarism 2
The Proper Use of Undocumented Information
Undocumented information contained in your work will not be considered plagiarism if it meets one of these conditions.
• It is common knowledge, or it does not come from any particular source (example: “The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.”)
• It is first-hand knowledge, or it represents your own ideas (example: “My father moved to Illinois in 1971.”)
In addition, the information must be written entirely in your own words.
A Final Word on Plagiarism
If you have any doubts about whether an act or practice represents plagiarism, you have the responsibility to ask your instructor to clarify the matter for you. He or she will be happy to help you avoid accidental plagiarism.

ENC 2310 SYLLABUS- Fall 2008

August:
19 Introduction to the Course
21 Introduction to SF

26 Card: Anderson, 7
28 Card: Asimov, 91; Hamilton, 97

September:
2 Wells, The Time Machine
4 Cont.

9 Card: Aldiss, 203;
11 Card: Ellison, 145; Lafferty 156

16 Card: Gibson, 297; Kelly, 364
18 SF Film
.
23 Vinge, Rainbow’s End
25 Cont. (Please Note: Essay #1 Due Next Class)

30 Fantasy: An Introduction SF ESSAY DUE
October:
2 Story Handout

7 No Class: Jury Duty
9 No Class: Vacation Day

14 Heroic Quest Fantasy: The Hobbit, Tolkien
16 Cont.

21 Fantasy Film
23 Fantasy Film (Please Note: Essay #2 Due Next Class)

LIT 23120 Syllabus-2

28 Horror: An Introduction FANTASY FILM ESSAY DUE
30 Benson, “The Room in the Tower; Lovecraft, “The Tomb”
http://www.underworldtales.com/classic.htm

November:
4 Horror: Jackson, Hill House
6 Continued

11 No Class: Armistice Day
13 Film Discussion

18 Straub, lostboy, lostgirl
20 Continued

25 Classic Horror Film
27 Thanksgiving Break

December:
2 Final Class: Review of the Course and the Final Exam
4 No Class: Department Grading Day

FINAL EXAM:

While we will attempt to adhere as closely to this schedule as possible, the syllabus is subject to change if change becomes necessary.

Academic Websites of Interest:

http://library.tamu.edu/cushing/sffrd/: a bibliography of scholarly study in the field
from Texas A&M University
http://www.uiowa.edu/~sfs/biblio.htm: another from the U. of Iowa
www.horror.org: the official site of the Horror Writers Assoc.
www.sfwa.org: the official site of the Science Fiction Writers Assoc.
www.sff.net: a professional site devoted to SF, some fan material
www.iafa.org: the largest scholarly group in the field

LIT 2310
Fall 2008: Writing Assignments/Film Essays

Instructions: These should be critical, analytical papers aimed at introduction, interpretation, or explanation, not reports which simply summarize and filter information. Think of this paper as an introduction to the story or film for those who have read it and to whom it is being taught as SF, fantasy, or horror. Do not retell plot, but propose a thesis and defend it using quotation and direct references to the text.

I.. SF Essay: 750 words. DUE 9/30
Choose one of the following stories from Card’s collection and evaluate it as SF: Biggle, “Tunesmith” 47; Niven, “Inconstant Moon” 218; or Martin, “Sandkings” 243. Do not retell the plot; assume everyone has read it. Your job is to point out what kind of SF it is and to limit the focus to the major SF elements, themes, issues, etc. Remember that this is a basic five paragraph essay, so you must create a limited thesis and focus.

II. Fantasy Film Review: Due 10/28
A 750 word film review on Pan’s Labyrinth. Again, explain the film in terms of the traits or characteristics of fantasy. This is not simply a review of the film but should focus on its fantasy elements. Don’t retell the story.

Comments:

Consider this a version of the 5-paragraph essay we teach in ENC 1101/1102 or a parallel to a literary paper from ENC 1102. You do not need to do any research, but if you do, be sure to quote accurately from any sources and cite quotations by (Author’s Name Page #) and to list your source(s) in a works cited at the end. Also, please make sure you use valid, authoritative sources. Sites like “Jenny’s Picks” on AOL have no academic validity. Consult any 1101 handbook for quotation or bibliography format. A good and inexpensive source book is Bud’s Easy Research Paper Computer Manual.

If you have questions on any of this, please consult me beforehand.

Please observe standard grammar, punctuation, and composition format; these essays should demonstrate college-level writing ability. Anyone with questions on format, quotation, focus, etc. should consult with me before turning in the final essay. Please see the website for a sample essay from a previous semester.

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