ENG 1921: Honors Advanced English Composition (The Big Ideas of Science Fiction)
Tentative Course Schedule
Winter 2012-2013
NOTE: This schedule may change as needed. Your presence in class ensures correct assignments
WEEK 1
W 11/28 Course Introduction; Meet your reading/discussion groups; Why study science? What
is the cultural and philosophical relevance of science fiction? Complete syllabus quiz
(quiz 1) before; Blog entry 1: Take opposite sides in a debate about one of the scenes; write a paragraph criticizing the scene and then one defending/praising it. Watch Scene from Alien (1979): Ash Burns; Contemplative Education;
Watch Scene from Alien (1979): Parker & Lambert's Death; focus on use of lighting
For Next Time:
- Create your blog; blog set-up instructions; email Professor Harmon either the
link to your page or the user id you created when you set up your account.
- Post your two paragraphs about the scene from Alien that we wrote in class today to
your blog.
- set up your Twitter account; Follow Prof. Harmon's Twitter page
- Read Chapter 1 in Corrigan: Writing About the Movies
M 12/3 Analyzing a Scene: Opening Sequence of Terminator II;
Watch The Terminator (1984): Sarah & Kyle's Chase Scene; Discussion Group/Blog
Entry 2; Tweet responses to scenes as you watch (lighting, acting, sound, costuming
set design, camera shots)
For Next Time:
- Read Chapter 2 in Corrigan: Beginning to Think, Preparing to Watch, & Starting
to Write
- Take extensive notes as you watch the film about compositional elements (see below).
- Submit Informal Response to film to Ulearn (see "submit essays/assignments); in response, discuss compositional elements (sound; special
effects; acting; set design; costuming; types of camera shots, etc.); This must be
submitted as a Word document only.
WEEK 2
W 12/5 Submit Informal Response to film to Blackboard (see "submit essays/assignments");
Submit Informal Response to film to Blackboard (see "submit essays/assignments"); in response discuss compositional elements (sound; special effects; acting; set design;
costuming; types of camera shots, etc.); Blog entry 5: Walking Dead Screen Shot
Analysis
Watch Scene from Total Recall in
class; Blog entry: The Film Review Assignment; Tweet a question for the day
For Next Time: - Read Chapter 3 of Corrigan
- Locate several film reviews of a sci-fi film that you would like to view (not the
same as informal response; read those and bring them to class
M 12/10 Write an Intro to your film review; discuss titles
Blog 6: What are your expectations of this film based on these reviews? What will probably be the film's most important features? Specific characters? Sound? Do these
expectations lead you to expect certain themes or types of stories? Quiz 4
For Next Time:
- Take detailed notes about video (outline) and post to your blog
- 1st Version of Film Review Assignment Due
- Bring draft and all viewing notes to class to work on draft
WEEK 3
W 12/12 1st Version of Film Review Assignment Due; Tweet a question for the day
Why and How Do You Respond to a Peer's Paper? Respond to group members; Work
on Film Review paper
For Next Time:
- Work on/revise draft of film review
- Complete Peer Critique of your partner's film review and post to Ulearn.
- Group A, Atwood: Read 1-43
Group B, Card: Read 1-36
Group C, Gibson: Read 1-53
Group D, Bradbury: Read 1-42
- Complete Quiz in Blackboard
M 12/17 Tweet a question for the day;
Tweet a question for the day; Discuss peer critique of film review with partner; Discuss What is Due with
Final Draft; Reading Discussion Group/Blog entry 7; Time to work on papers?
For Next Time: - Final Draft of Film Review Assignment Due with Reflection
WEEK 4
1 of The Walking Dead; Analyze a Scene; Discuss Film Matrix Assignment;
Heffernan painting; analyzing an image
For Next Time:
- Submit topic proposal for Scene Analysis Essay & Film Matrix Assignment (1-2
paragraphs) to Ulearn. by 11:40 on Monday, 12/24.
- Group A, Atwood: Read 44-87
Group B, Card: Read 37-65
Group C, Gibson, Read 54-93
Group D, Bradbury: Read 43-85
- Complete Quiz in Blackboard
- Complete Twitter post.
M 1/7 Topic proposal for film matrix assignment due; Reading Discussion Group/Blog entry;
Watch Opening Sequence of 12 Monkeys
For Next Time:
- Group A, Atwood: Read 88-131
Group B, Card: Read 66-96
Group C, Gibson: Read 94-129
Group D, Bradbury: Read 86-128
- Complete Quiz in Blackboard
- Watch Video: Film Matrix Assignment
- Complete Film Matrix Assignment
WEEK 5
W 1/9 Film Matrix Assignment Due; Blog entry; Watch The Fifth Element
For Next Time:
- Group A, Atwood: Read 132-177
Group B, Card: Read 97-133
Group C, Gibson: Read 133-176
Group D, Bradbury: Read 129-158
- Complete Reading Quiz in Blackboard
- Complete your intial 300 word min. post to discussion forum (see assignments
link in Ulearn)
- First Draft of Scene Analysis Due on W 1/16;
- Watch Scene Analysis Video
M 1/14 CLASS MEETS ONLINE ONLY, NOT IN REGULAR CLASSROOM;
Participate in Reading Discussion Group in online forum; initial post due by class time
For Next Time:
- Complete Midterm Evaluation; Bring written comments to class
Bring a copy of this model essay to class on Wed.; be prepared to discuss in detail
- First Draft of Scene Analysis Due;
- Group A, Atwood: Read 178-218
Group B, Card: Read 134-172
Group C, Gibson: Read 177-214
Group D, Androids Dream: Read 1-47
- Complete Reading Quiz in Blackboard
- Respond to the posts of two others students in your reading group's online
discussion forum; each post should be a min. of 150 words (300 words total).
WEEK 6
W 1/16
First Draft of Scene Analysis Due; Reading Discussion Group/Blog entry
Fifth Element Scene Analysis; Fifth Element Plot Summary
For Next Time: - Complete Peer Critique of your partner's Scene Analysis Essay; Post to Ulearn
before class
- Group A, Atwood: Read 221-261
Group B, Card: Read 173-206
Group C, Gibson: Read 215-261
Group D, Androids Dream: Read 48-96
- Complete Reading Quiz in Blackboard
- Read Chapter 4 of film text: 6 approaches to writing about film
M 1/21 NO CLASS, MLK, JR. DAY
WEEK 7
W 1/23 Day to Work on Papers; Reading Discussion Group/Blog entry
Day to Work on Papers; Reading Discussion Group/Blog entryFor Next Time: - Complete Portfolio Pages Set-up
- Group A, Atwood: Read 265-306
Group B, Card: Read 207-242
Group C, Gibson: Read 262-315
Group D, Androids Dream: Read 97-144
- Complete Reading Quiz in Blackboard
M 1/28 Class Cancelled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
entry; Intro to Group Project/Research Assignment; Choose topics; Portfolio
For Next Time:
- Watch Video: Tips for Essay Exam Success
- Complete MLA Quiz in Ulearn
WEEK 8
W 1/30 GWR EXAM
For Next Time:
- Group A, Atwood: Read 307-347
Group B, Card: Read 243-275
Group C, Gibson: Read 316-343
Group D, Androids Dream: Read 145-195
- Topic Proposal Due (ONE PER GROUP)
- Set up portfolio pages on your blog
- Review MLA videos (homework for Monday, 1/28)
For Next Time: - Group A, Atwood: Read 348-376
Group B, Card: Read 276-324
Group C, Gibson: Read 347-371
Group D, Androids Dream: Read 196-244
- Watch Video: The Most Common MLA Citations & the Works Cited Page
- Complete MLA QUIZ #2
- Work on Annotated Bibliography
WEEK 9
Reading Discussion Group/Blog entry; Group Exercise:
For Next Time: For Next Time: - First Draft of Group Project/Research Assignment Due
WEEK 10
and/or Portfolio
For Next Time: - Complete Peer Critique of partner's draft; upload copy to Ulearn and provide the author with a copy
For Next Time:
- Final Draft of Research Essay Due
WEEK 11
final draft to Blackboard; Submit only one copy of the essay for your group; everyone
does their own individual reflection as explained in class (be sure you include the
grades for your group members); the reflection is submitted to Blackboard in the folder
for the reflection only
