The goals of the course are
- to enjoy reading
and discussing some excellent novels and short stories; - to help students
improve their writing, particularly of essays focused on persuasion and
analysis; - and to exercise
our critical faculties by learning about the discipline and art of
interpretation.
There will be some lectures,
but most classes will be devoted to class discussion. Attendance and
participation are mandatory.
Writing assignments:
- four three-page
essays - six one-page
reaction papers - an in-class oral
presentation - a final exam.
Reading list:
- Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
- H. G. Wells, The Time Machine
- Karel Ĉapek, War with
the Newts - Philip K. Dick, The Man
in the High Castle - Samuel R. Delany, Babel-17
- China Miéville, The City & The City
- short stories by
Stanley Weinbaum, James Tiptree, Jr., William Gibson, and others