The specific course schedule is To Be Announced.  See http://www.briandavidphillips.net/nccu/ for updates as well as the class facebook pages and other resources.  See below for additional information on course requirements.

To be announced, based in part upon student background and interest. Some specific authors we may discuss include (listed here to give an impression only): JK Rowling (Harry Potter), JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), Jules Verne (Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon), Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Prof. Challenger stories, Land That Time Forgot), Edgar Rice Burroughs (John Carter of Mars, Buck Rogers), H.G. Wells (War of the Worlds, Time Machine), George Orwell (1984), Ray Bradbury (Martial Chronicles, The Veldt), Andre Norton (varies), Frank Herbert (Dune), Pierre Boule (Planet of the Apes), William Gibson (Johnny Mnemonic, Alien), Piers Anthony (varies), Issac Asimov (I Robot), Arthur C. Clarke (2001), Robert Heinlein (Starship Troopers), Masume Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), John Norman (Gor), Andrew Offut (Spaceways), Gene Rodenbury (Star Trek), George Lucas (Star Wars), Larry Niven (Fuzzy Sapiens), Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), as well as television, comics, and film material of the genre. Much of the actual course content will be based upon participatory decision-making.

Depending upon the number of students and their aptitude, we may incorporate interactive literature materials such as Dungeons & Dragons, Awfully Cheerful Engine, Ghostbusters, The Green Knight, and/or similar works.

Preliminary Schedule (Subject to Change). THIS SCHEDULE IS A PRELIMINARY PLACEHOLDER, THE ACTUAL SCHEDULE WILL COME AFTER INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS TO DETERMINE LEVELS AND INTERESTS.

    THURS

WEEK    TOPIC    CONTENT & READING    ACTIVITIES & HOMEWORK    TIME/WEEK HRS

                IN CLASS    OUT CLASS

01

    Introduction    Orientation to the Course

Mythic Structure in Literature and Film

Orientation to the Course

Birth of Science Fiction

The Time Machine by HG Wells    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    2

02

    The Uncanny and Horror as Comedy    The Uncanny by Sigmund Freud

The Troxler Effect

Shaun of the Dead    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    4.5

03

    Virtual Reality    An introduction to Virtual Reality

Introduction to Midterm Essay Assignment    Lecture/Media Discussion

Borrow VR Headsets    3    4.5

04

    Cultural Impact and Virtual Reality    Ready Player One by Ernest Cline    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    4.5

05

    Experiential Reality and Artificial Intelligence    Simulacron-3 by Daniel F Galouye

The Thirteenth Floor    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    4.5

06

    Cross-Cultural Realities    Big Trouble In Little China

Asian Influence and Big Trouble in Little China    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    4.5

07

    Shifting Time/Reality    All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Edge of Tomorrow    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    4.5

08

    Midterm Essay Presentations    Student Midterm Essay Presentations and Round Table Discussions

Introduction to Final Paper Assignment    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentations

Return VR Headsets    3    4.5

09

    Conferences    Conferences for Final Paper Discussions

Topics may not be the same as any student topic presentation. You will be asked to write your paper with a specific publication/conference/journal in mind.    Conference Discussion    3    4.5

10

    Children's Fantasy/Horror    Student Presentation One:

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

[Example, actual date is Student Choice of Topic.]

    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentation    3    4.5

11

    Perception of the Future    Student Presentation Two:

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

[Example, actual date is Student Choice of Topic.]

    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentation    3    4.5

12

    Gender in Horror    Student Presentation Three:

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

[Example, actual date is Student Choice of Topic.]

    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentation    3    4.5

13

    Future Imagination    Student Presentation Four:

I Robot by Isaac Asimov

[Example, actual date is Student Choice of Topic.]

    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentation    3    4.5

14

    Multiversal Reality    Student Presentation Five:

Illuminatus by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea

Schrodinger’s Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson

[Example, actual date is Student Choice of Topic.]

    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentation    3    4.5

15

    Review    Review of Major Concepts

Monomyth Mythic Structure

Save The Cat Paradigm    Lecture/Media Discussion    3    4.5

16

    Final Paper Presentations    Student Final Paper Initial Presentations and Round Table Discussions    Lecture/Media Discussion

Student Presentations    3    4.5

17*

    POST-SESSION ONE    TBA ACTIVITY

LECTURE    Final Paper Revision    3    3

18*

    POST-SESSION TWO    TBA ACTIVITY

LECTURE    Final Papers Due    3    3

Students will also be asked to perform critical evaluations of their own performances and those of classmates

Additionally, students will be asked to participate in critical discussion activities.  Students will also present informative talks related to playwrights, actors, and/or directors of note.

There may also be occasional pop-quizzes related to weekly readings, lectures, or other course content.

There may also be occasional pop-quizzes related to weekly readings, lectures, or other course content.

Student are Expected to:

For a number of the performance assignments, you may work with others.  It is very important that all members of a team do their share of the work on time and be prepared on performance or presentation day.

• Punctual attendance is expected.   I do take roll every day.   It is your responsibility to find out what went on and to make up the work, ask me for handouts, etc.  See general course attendance policies.

 

• Come to class with an open and willing mind.   The study of literature often involves contemplation of controversial material.   As students of literature, it is expected that you will not judge the material but rather attempt to discern the reason behind the expression of ideas.

 

• Be prepared to participate in class discussions and activities.   You must participate fully.   While I will not grade on sheer volume, regular and enthusiastic participation is required.   The quality of the participation is the most important factor.   Quality covers originality or insight demonstrated as well as clarity of communication.

 

• Read assigned readings by the due date - be prepared to discuss.

 

• Hand in assignments on time.   Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date.

 

• All students in the class are expected to foster respect, communicate with civility, cultivate the ideas of others, and encourage participation.

 

• Comprehend that all class activities are vital to the understanding of the literature and should be studied as thoroughly as lecture and reading material.

Working Together: For some of the assignments, you may be asked to work with others.  It is very important that all members of a team do their share of the work on time and be prepared on due day.

You MUST have access to a Google Drive for readings and to turn in class assignments.

 

N/A

Faithful class attendance, Active and worthwhile participation, Oral Reports, Term Paper, projects, quizzes, and exams.  In addition to keeping up with extensive reading assignments, students will be asked to view several films which showcase topics being explored or that are adapted from material under discussion.  Group and individual projects are also commonly used to enhance the learning experience via creative interaction.

1.    Regular attendance

2.    Participation in classroom activities

3.    Completion of assignments

4.     Papers and Essays

5.    Examinations

6.    Review Questions & Pop Quizzes

Oral and Written Examinations.  Participation.  Fluency.  Projects.  Note that students receive participation points for each course session, so absences lower final grades. If a student has three unexcused absences then that student will not be allowed to participate in final projects or take the final examination. Five absences (excused or unexcused) lead to automatic failure in the course. Except in unusual cases late assignments will not be accepted. Plagiarism may result in an automatic failure of the course (over-reliance on AI will count as plagiarism, particularly when not properly credited).

Please note, some assignments are yes/no points in which students receive a set number of points for completing on time and zero points if not.  For essays, papers, and written assignments, the instructor does not edit or proofread submitted work.  This is not a writing class per se so make certain you have edited your work prior to handing in (with credit to any AI used and without over-reliance on AI for any part of the work).  You will receive a score for such work.  Assignments may or may not be returned so students are encouraged to keep track of their work themselves.

Students should familiarize themselves with course policies, including those specifically related to Attendance, Participation, and Extra Credit opportunities (if any).

•    ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION POLICY:  Attendance and  Participation in this course are re-quired.  Students who are tardy or absent will be penalized through lower possible participation points which leads to grade penalties.  Attendance is taken regularly and penalties are applied.  Typically, stu-dents receive on average fifteen to twenty participation points each class period (more or less depending upon activities of the week and actual participation – typically, a maximum of thirty participation points per session but only for very high-performing students; the typical is twenty).  Participation Grade Penal-ties are as follows:  Tardy, -5 participation points; Second Hour Tardy, -10 participation points; Absence, no participation points possible (this is true even if the absence is excused).  Use of Cellphone, tablet, computer, or mobile device without specific permission or instruction from the instructor, no participation points possible, -10 to -15 participation points and possibility of device being confiscated for the period (yes, just like elementary school students).

•    Attendance Points and Penalties are as follows:  Absence means no participation points.  Three Unex-cused Absences, not allowed to take final exam and zero points for final project; Five Absences, automati-cally fail course.  Note, students who missed the first few course sessions are still penalized for attendance and participation, even if they had not yet registered for the course.

•    Days in which students are scheduled to make presentations or in which interactive drama or similar activ-ities are planned count as DOUBLE ATTENDANCE DAYS and all participation and attendance points or penalties are double.  Days in which the course is scheduled with another class will count as TRIPLE ATTENDANCE DAYS.

•    EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:  For the most current Extra Credit policies, please see the class Facebook group files section . . . Students may makeup for points lost due to missed classes or gain additional grade points by completing optional extra credit activities.  Extra credit is always optional.  Regardless of the amount possible for particular extra credit opportunities, students may not earn more than five grade points for extra credit in a semester.  Certain extra credit opportunities are not available to everyone and others are time sensitive.  It is to your advantage to sign up for extra credit earlier rather than later to ensure that you are eligible and that the schedule allows for the activity.  If you wish to pursue extra credit, do so early.  Extra Credit is typically NOT available within the last two weeks of the semester.

•    Missed Appointment, if you make an appointment to see Dr. Phillips in his office and are tardy, -1 grade point; if you do not show, -2 grade points; if you do not contact Dr. Phillips and let him know you are missing the appointment by email at least twenty-four hours prior to the appointment or by phone within twenty-four hours, an additional -1 grade point. Failure to contact the instructor within one day before or after is an additional -1 grade point.

•    Taking Notes:  University students are expected to have pen/pencil and paper with them during all class sessions.  You should take notes during class of information presented in lecture or discussion as well as of content of media presentations.  Please take notes with pen and paper and later transcribe to your digital note files (lit screens from mobile devices or notebook computers can be distracting to other students during class).

At any time, students are free to ask to see their attendance record or grade scores.  Students receive points for completing assignments, participation, attendance, and other factors toward their final grade.  A raw percentage is then figured based upon the total points possible.  However, the final grade is set via a system that utilizes a curve grade formula after which any penalties from tardies or missed classes or bonuses from extra credit are applied so your final grave is not always the same as points earned within a particular time.

Selections from practical texts and plays.   Photocopy or digital copies of plays and materials may be distributed.  Texts and reading will be provided in digital copies.

Typically . . . Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn. CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO SCIENCE FICTION.

Others TO BE ANNOUNCED in the course of the semester. You do NOT need to buy the textbook as handouts will be decided on later and provided at the time.

And/Or Other Texts as appropriate.

 List may be modified at any time.  Other texts to be assigned throughout the semester.