"TO BOLDLY GO: THE SCIENCE
AND FICTION OF SPACE TRAVEL, TIME TRAVEL, AND ALIENS"
FIRST YEAR SEMINAR 189F
SPRING 2004
Plenary: MWF 9:40-10:40 Bewkes 232
Seminar: Th 2:20-3:50 Bewkes 232
|
Instructor: Dr.
Daniel W. Koon |
Mentor:
Andrew Jones Office/Home:
Whitman 424 Phone:
x6380 Email: akjone02@stlawu.edu Office
Hours: Tues 3:00-5:00, Wed/Fri 2:30-5:00, Thurs in seminar, other hours by appointment |
This
electronic document (See URL at the bottom of this page) is the official
syllabus of this course. It will be updated as the course proceeds. Please
bookmark this page and check back frequently.
OFFICIAL
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Is the shortest path between two galaxies always a straight line? Is time a
one-way street with a fixed speed limit? Will we ever find evidence of
extraterrestrial intelligence, or have they already found us? People have
fantasized for centuries about trips across galaxies and through time. But will
mankind -- or other, alien civilizations -- ever escape the limits of the here
and now? In this course, we will explore speculations about time, space, and
the development of intelligence in both science and science fiction. Students
will not only prepare a semester-long research project culminating in a paper to
be shared with the rest of the class, but will also lead class in formally
presenting their research topic and one or more works of fiction. No particular
expertise in either science fiction literature or in the natural sciences is
required, just a commitment to hard work and an open-minded sense of curiosity
and wonder at the cosmos.
MORE
ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course is divided into three parts: space travel, time travel, and
extraterrestrials. In addition to a semester-long research project, you will
write a piece of science fiction related to this topic, and complete other,
shorter formal and/or informal bits of writing. You will also give a classroom
presentation - - actually leading the classroom discussion - - on your research
topic sometime in the course of the semester. Finally, you will give another
classroom presentation linked to one of the science fiction stories we will
read as a class. In all, about 1/4 of the semester will be student-taught.
MAJOR ASSSIGNMENTS
RESEARCH
PAPER
The major focus of this course is a final paper, 10-12 pages double-spaced, due
at the end of the semester. It will be the result of your research into a
specific research question based on one of the sub-topics in this course.
(See Some
Suggested Thesis Topics for some ideas.) We will spend time throughout the
semester investigating the issues involved with writing a major research paper,
and the various stages of the paper will be collected and graded by the
instructor at specific dates in the semester. (See Major
Deadlines below.) I expect you to become a resident expert in the
specific area in which you will be doing your research. Now, since I also want
all of the students to gain a basic understanding of the technical issues
involved in the three topics of this course -- space travel, time travel,
extraterrestrials -- I will also ask you to share what you've learned by
presenting an overview of the subject during class time in a "technical
presentation": (See below.)
FICTION
STORY
You will also write a short story related to the same theme that you will be
researching for your research paper. Throughout the course of the semester, I
will assign intermediate steps, including development of the science, the plot,
and one or more characters in your story. Unless you prefer not to, your story
may be published online in the SLU SF e-zine, The Android Times.
TECHNICAL PRESENTATION
This course is a seminar. To me, this means that each of the members of this
class --- instructor plus students --- does some outside reading and research,
and then shares the results with the rest of the class. The skills involved in
taking what you have read in several sources, and then synthesizing them into
ideas and arguments is an important skill in crafting your research paper. For
your presentation you will be given about 20 minutes of regular class time.
Your goal is to present the main ideas of your topic and to lead a discussion
among your classmates. Notice that much of the technical content of this course
is the result of scientific speculation. This gives you considerable
flexibility in your presentation, but there must be some grounding of the
discussion in the known, applicable science. You will arrange time to meet with
the instructor twice before the presentation, two weeks and one week before
your in-class presentation. I will also ask you to give me, well before your
presentation, an outline of your presentation with at least one reading for
your classmates to complete before class. If you have any handouts you wish to
share with your classmates, these would be due the class before your
presentation.
FICTION PRESENTATION
You will also be expected to lead class discussion of some piece or pieces of
fiction, preferably from those listed on the spreadsheet Reading
Schedule. How should you structure class? That is a hard question to answer
because there are so many possibilities. What I don't recommend is that
you simply stand in front of class and lecture us for a half hour.
(particularly reading straight from notes) A combination of lecture, directed
discussion, and other activities is probably the best approach, but feel free
to explore your own ideas of presentation. Since this is an important part of
this course and because I'm asking you to do a good share of the teaching, it
is important that we discuss your intentions for class well in advance - - two
weeks before class and then again one week before. Handouts are recommended,
but I don't want you to hand out a page of notes with "all the
answers" to the students without trying to get them to work through the
issues and come up with their own answers first.
PORTFOLIO
Your portfolio is a record of your progress in this course. As such, it needs
to include all drafts of every bit of written work you do during the course,
including the various stages of your research paper including notes, all the
materials associated with the topical projects just mentioned, and in-class
free writes. Part of that portfolio should be the self-assessment, in which you
reflect critically on the work assembled in the portfolio. Your self-assessment
should be a frank honest analysis of your work. It should neither be filled
with platitudes nor excuses for why your grades were what they were. In fact,
grades are completely irrelevant. What is your assessment of your own
work? How did it improve during the semester?
A three-ring binder, or its equivalent, is recommended for assembling your
portfolio through the course of the semester.
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS
Reading journal: One element of your participation grade will be your
notes from the individual readings. I will ask you to keep a notebook with
extensive notes on all of the readings for this course, including films.
I will occasionally ask you to hand it in, so that I can check that you are
indeed keeping up. I will grade on completeness, not on neatness.
Personal
writing mechanics journal: One element of your portfolio grade will be a running inventory of
areas of your own writing that need work. After each assignment, you need to
look through the instructor's, mentor's, or tutor's marks to see what you ought
to add to this list. You should consult this list when proofreading all
subsequent formal assignments. As a writer, it is important to practise the
mechanics of writing, and to be aware of those areas in which you most need
work. If one of these areas is 'homophones', for example, you may find it
useful to compile a list of words that you have difficulty with
("to", "too", "two", or "its" and
"it's", for example) but which the spell-checker refuses to help you
with.
Miscellaneous
writing assignments: Finally,
there will be occasional free-writes and quizzes throughout the semester, as
the need arises. I do not know in advance how many there may be, so I will
simply include the results of these assignments in your 'classroom
participation' grade.
ATTENDANCE
Your active participation in class is important. Of course you need to
attend class. I reserve the right to dock you a half-point final letter grade
for each absence beyond the third, in addition to lowering your class
participation grade. But you also need to arrive in class prepared to
contribute to it. Bring any materials that we are planning to discuss that day
-- texts, handouts, and notes from texts or films. Occasionally I will throw an
unannounced quiz to ensure that you’ve come to class prepared. Such
quizzes will usually be open notes, but not open text. Thus, it really pays to
take good notes. Late arrival in class is also distracting, especially when one
of your colleagues is giving his/her oral presentation. I will count every two
latenesses of five minutes or more as equalling an absence. Please speak to me
beforehand if you anticipate having to miss or be late for or leave early from
any class.
PLAGIARISM
The SLU
Student Handbook
defines plagiarism as "presenting as one's own work of another person --
words, ideas, data, evidence, thoughts, information, organizing principles, or
style of presentation -- without proper attribution." While we will talk
about the dangers of plagiarism in class, it is your responsibility to be aware
of what is and what is not plagiarism, whether intentional or not. Your
instructor has a variety of tools at his disposal for testing written work for
plagiarism, ample experience at detecting it, and a low tolerance for it. If
you have questions about whether you are adequately citing or attributing work,
please ask your mentor or instructor. Please see the material below.
You are responsible for this material.
ACADEMIC RESOURCES,
SPECIAL NEEDS
Students
needing extra help are encouraged to contact the Academic Resources Office
(x5537), or Lorie MacKenzie. The
instructor is willing to accommodate students with special needs, but
appreciates the student coming forward as soon as possible for us to work out
the most appropriate set of accommodations.
GRADING
OF ASSIGNMENTS
|
Research
project |
35% |
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|
Bibliography & annotated
bibliography |
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|
Notecards & functional outline |
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|
|
First draft |
|
|
|
Final draft |
|
|
|
Technical
presentation |
15% |
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|
Preparation |
|
|
|
Presentation |
|
|
|
SF story |
20% |
|
|
Outline & assorted assignments |
|
|
|
First draft |
|
|
|
Final draft |
|
|
|
Fiction
presentation |
15% |
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|
Preparation |
|
|
|
Presentation |
|
|
|
Quizzes,
exams, classroom participation |
10% |
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|
Portfolios |
5% |
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|
Week |
Date |
SF story |
Research paper |
|
1 |
Thu. Jan 22
|
|
Choose research topic |
|
2 |
Fri. Jan 30 |
|
Preliminary research
question |
|
3 |
Fri. Feb 6 |
|
Bibliography: first
draft |
|
4 |
Fri. Feb 13 |
First draft of plot
summary |
|
|
5 |
Fri. Feb 20 |
|
Annotated
bibliography |
|
6 |
Fri. Feb 27 |
First draft of
character sketch |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
Fri. Mar 12 |
|
Functional outline:
first draft |
|
9 |
Fri. Mar 26 |
"Exposition"
of science |
|
|
10 |
Fri. Apr 2 |
|
Functional outline:
second draft |
|
11 |
Mon. Apr 5 |
First draft of
fiction |
|
|
12 |
Fri. Apr 16 |
|
Research paper: first
draft |
|
13 |
Fri. Apr 23 |
Final draft of
fiction |
|
|
14 |
Fri. Apr 30 |
|
Research paper: final
draft |
Week 14: Friday, April
30: Portfolio & self-assessment.
PLUS.....
One week and two weeks before each classroom presentation: Outline of
presentation, list of prior readings for the classmates, meet with instructor
One class before each classroom presentation: Class handouts for
distribution
READINGS:
(See also Reading
Schedule)
|
REQUIRED |
Callender,
C. & Edney, R. (2001). Introducing
Time. Crows Nest, NSW, Australia: Totem Books. Pickover,
C. A. (1998). The
Science of Aliens. New York: Basic Books. Hacker, D.
(1999). A
Writer’s Reference. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s. |
|
COURSE |
"Sequence",
Carl Jacobi (1972). Selection
from "Slaughterhouse V", Kurt Vonnegut (1969). Bova, B. with Lewis, A. R. (1997) Science
Fiction Writing Series: Space Travel. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books Nahin, P. J. (1997). Science
Fiction Writing Series: Time Travel. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books |
|
ONLINE |
Excerpts from A Voyage
To The Moon,
Cyrano de Bergerac (1657), plus Act 3, Scene 11 of
“Cyrano de Bergerac”, Rostand (1898). "Fire
Watch",
Connie Willis (1982). "Bad
Timing",
Molly Brown (1991). |
|
FILMS AND |
Minority
Report, La
Jetée, NOVA: Time Travel (1999), The Time Machine (2002), Time
and Punishment (Simpsons episode), Donnie Darko (2001). Alien,
Hunt for
Alien Worlds (1997), Kidnapped by
UFO's (1997), Twilight Zone: To Serve Man
(1962) |
LINKS AND OTHER RESOURCES:
|
ONLINE |
SF & Fantasy Books Online Guaicán Literario (Cuban SF
in Spanish) Amateur SF
sites “Agent to the Stars” (John
Scalzi) -- a shareware novel The Android Times (SLU student SF) |
|
LISTS: |
Definitions of SF, More
definitions |
|
OTHER |
APAStyle.org. Citing electronic references, FAQs Ohio State on APA
citation guide The Planetary Society Online
Writing Laboratories ("OWLs") 60 Minutes
transcript: “The Rumor
Mill” (1998). Orson Scott Card's homepage: Includes "Uncle Orson's
Writing Class" |
|
PUBLICATIONS:
|
New Scientist: QM articles.
|
|
SLU
LIBRARIES: |
ODY books:
Search under Time, Space and time, Robots in literature, time travel in
literature, extraterrestrial, Life on other planets, Human-alien encounters,
Science Fiction English History & Criticism, Science Fiction American
History & Criticism, etc. Databases:
Reader’s
Guide Abstracts, Periodical
Abstracts, MLA
Abstracts, General
Science Abstracts PN3448.S45
B63 1990: "Science-Fiction:
the early years". PN3433.5
.B87 1992: Reference guide to science fiction, fantasy & horror. PN3433.8
.A52 1995: Anatomy of wonder: critical guide to science fiction. PN3435
.E53 1997: The Encyclopedia of fantasy. QB209 .E52
1994: Encyclopedia of time. |
|
SPACE TRAVEL Warpdrive (Alcubierre) Manned travel to Mars Permanent base on the Moon |
TIME TRAVEL Relativistic (1-way) time travel Chronology protection conjecture |
EXTRATERRESTRIALS SETI Theory of panspermia Biblical UFOs & ETs Psychology of UFO abductees |
CALENDAR:
(Note: This
part of the syllabus will be filled in more fully once research topics are
assigned.)
Monday, Jan. 19
Introduction
to the course
Discussion
of possible research topics
Wednesday, Jan. 21
Library
Orientation: ODY “B.I. room” (Turn
left as you enter ODY and keep going. It’s a computer lab on the right.)
Read
Hacker, Sections R1 & R2 before class -- “Conducting Research” and “Evaluating Sources”
Thursday, Jan. 22 LAB: Finding initial references for research
topics, assessing sources
Class
meets in Science Library
60
Minutes tape: “The Rumor Mill” (1998).
RESEARCH TOPIC DUE AT END
OF CLASS
Friday, Jan. 23
Excerpts from A
Voyage To The Moon,
Cyrano de Bergerac (1657), plus Act 3, Scene 11 of “Cyrano de Bergerac”,
Rostand (1898)..
The Travels and surprising
adventures of Baron Munchausen: Ch.
6
, Ch.
18
(1785).
“Space Travel”, Bova, Ch. 7:
“The Moon” (Course Packet, pp. 99-117).
Monday, Jan. 26
Guest
lecture: Steven G. Horwitz -- Progressive Rock and SF: Rush's 2112 (lyrics: T:/Koon/Stories/2112.doc)
Horwitz,
S. G.: "Rand,
Rush, and Detotalizing the Utopianism of Progressive Rock" (Journal of Ayn Rand Studies)
Wednesday, Jan. 28
From the Earth to the Moon, Ch. 1, 2, 3: Jules Verne (1865).
“Space Travel”, Bova, Ch. 1
“Dreams into Reality (Course Packet, pp. 4-8).
Kinematics,
conversions and “gee forces”
Thursday, Jan. 29 LAB: Crafting a thesis
question; Citations
The Good Thesis (Massey, N.Z. OWLL)
Handout
on APA citation style, Hacker, section A1b: pp. 368-74.
Friday, Jan. 30
Guest
lecture: Aileen A. O’Donoghue -- Our place in the cosmos
Handout
-- “Miscellaneous Space Travel Background Information” (T:/Koon/Readings/Nearby stars and unit
conversions.doc)
Browse:
“An
Atlas of the Universe”
Space art gallery, Hubble telescope’s greatest
hits: 2003 and other years
“Nightfall” by Isaac Asimov, for anybody
who’s curious
See
also Aileen O’Donoghue’s Powerpoint from class (T:/Koon/etc.)
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH QUESTION DUE
SPACE TRAVEL:
Monday, Feb. 2
Continue
discussion of kinematics
The First Men on the Moon,
APA
Style sheet
(18 pages) (Nova Southeastern Univ.)
APA
Style sheet
(14 pages) (Univ. of Baltimore)
Wednesday, Feb. 4
“An Atlas of the
Universe”
Bova
Ch. 10: “The Starrs”, Ch. 12: “The Universe”
Thursday, Feb. 5 LAB: Notetaking; Plagiarism
Read
Hacker R3, Bring Hacker with you
Bring
to class notes to H. G. Wells, notes to one of your research works
Nuñez
and Glass: Any readings due for Monday?
Taking
notes
and Avoiding
plagiarism:
The Purdue
OWL
Friday, Feb. 6
Generations
starships:
Interstellar travel: a family affair?, National Geographic News, 2/20/2002
(T:\Koon\FYS\Readings\Generation)
Sex and society aboard the first
starships,
Space. com (T:\Koon\FYS\Readings\Generation 2)
Morse
and Hilts: Any readings due for Wednesday?
BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE. 2+ books, 2+
journals/magazines, 2+ online resources for a total of 8+ sources. All entries
must be in APA style!
Weekend -- Why not visit Winterlude in Ottawa, or Canton’s Winterfest?
Monday, Feb. 9
Ramscoop -- Nuñez
“Sequence” --
Glass (Carl Jacobi, 1972. Course packet)
Read
Bova, pp. 207-208 before class.
Read
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight: Interstellar
ramjet
(Also on T: drive under \readings\ramjet.doc) before class
Johnson:
Any readings due for Friday?
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Base on the Moon -- Morse
“Sky Lift” --
Hilts (Heinlein, 1953. course packet)
Review
Bova, Ch. 7 “The Moon” before class.
Read
CNN: “Bush
unveils vision for moon and beyond” (also on T: drive under
\readings\Bush and mars.doc) before class.
Thursday, Feb. 12 LAB: Evening viewing of film
“Contact” instead of regular Lab.
Friday, Feb. 13
Solar sails -- Johnson
Read
“The Science” and “The Plan” from http://solarsail.org/
"The
Wind From the Sun", Arthur C. Clarke (1963) (Comic book version: Olivier Boisard (1985))
SF PLOT SUMMARY DUE: Length = one page
Monday, Feb. 16
Discuss film: “Contact”, viewing Friday - Sunday, Channel 71, 4pm
& 8pm.