5/23/2013 11:51:00 AM	ENGL 70.1 Course Outline as of Spring 2010	Inactive Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ENGL 70.1	Title:  ETHICAL ISSUES IN SCI FI
Full Title:  Science Fiction: 21st Century Social and Ethical Questions
Last Reviewed:11/29/2004

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.50	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		8	Lecture Scheduled	24.00
Minimum	1.50	Lab Scheduled	0			Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	24.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact Total	0

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

In this course students will read and respond to ethical and social questions that arise from science fiction works.

Prerequisites:
Course Completion of ENGL 100 OR Course Completion of ESL 100

Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

In this course students will read and respond to ethical and social questions that arise from science fiction works.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of ENGL 100 OR Course Completion of ESL 100
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
CAN:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, through extensive reading, students will be

able to:

1. Define and identify social and ethical problems presented in the genre

  of science fiction, e.g. the role of the individual in society, the

  role of biology and technology in society, and dystopias and utopias;

2. Compare and contrast fictional and non-fictional approaches to ethical

  and social questions posed by the works of science fiction;

3. Critique orally and in writing the film and written treatments of works

  of science fiction;

4. Compare and contrast historical and contemporary examples of ethical

  questions in selected readings;

5. Evaluate the effectiveness of several science fiction genres (poetry,

short stories, essays, novels, and film) in presenting social and ethical

questions.

Topics and Scope

I.    Analyze the role of the individual in society in

     works of science fiction. Specific social and ethical questions

     or areas of examination will include the following:

 A.  What is personal freedom?

 B.  What can an individual do to change his or her society?

 C.  How does an individual adapt to society, and what are the pros

     and cons of adaptation?

 D.  What are the goals of society, and how are they defined in the

     readings and in our own time?

 E.  What are the means used to achieve these goals?

 F.  What historical and contemporary examples parallel or contrast

     the readings?

 G.  What checks and balances does a society have on its goals?

II.   Analyze the role of biology and technology in works

     of science fiction. Specific social and ethical questions or

     areas of examination may include the following:

 A.  Where is the boundary between biology and technology?

     1. Cloning

     2. Robotics

     3. Computer chips

 B.  What are the pros and cons of technology, and why are they

     debatable?

III.  Analyze dystopias and utopias such as works of science

     fiction.

 A.  Defining the terms 'dystopia' and 'utopia'

 B.  Exploring specific examples of utopia in:

     1. Sir Thomas More's "Utopia"

     2. "The White Islands," from Greek mythology

     3. Heaven

     4. Communes, such as Oneida

 C.  Exploring specific examples of dystopia in:

        1. "Bladerunner"

        2. "Johnny Mnemonic"

        3. "1984"

Assignments:

Assignments may include:

1.  Daily reading- or viewing-response journals,

2.  Critical analysis papers of 500 words in response to readings, videos,

   and lectures,

3.  Research paper of up to 1,500 words on a social/ethical question as

   exemplified in readings,

4.  Reading assignments of varying lengths, including poetry, short

   stories, novels, and essays,

5.  Viewing videos inside and outside classroom setting,

6.  Objective quizzes on reading material,

7.  Daily participation in class discussions.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 70 - 85%
Written homework, Reading reports, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 5 - 15%
Multiple choice, Matching items, Completion, quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 20%
Participation in class discussions.

STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT BUY TEXTBOOKS before checking with the SRJC Bookstore.
These titles are representative only, and may not be the same ones used in your class.
Check availability and pricing.

Representative Textbooks:

Instructor-prepared materials.

NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF SCIENCE FICTION. Ursula K. LeGuin and Brian

Attebery, Eds. W. W. Norton, 1993.

"Bladerunner," 1982. Director, Ridley Scott.

"Johnny Mnemonic," 1995. Director, Robert Longo.

IDORU, William Gibson. Berkeley Books, 2003.

BURNING CHROME, William Gibson. Eos, 2003.

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? Philip K. Dick. Ballantine Books,

1996.

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