Natural Science 310                 Science and Science Fiction              Spring 2008

 

Location / Time : P-148(Physics) / TuTh 9:30-10:45 am

Instructor: Prof. Calvin Johnson

Office: P-135                       Phone: 4-1284                  E-mail: cjohnson@scienes.sdsu.edu

Class web page: http://www.physics.sdsu.edu/~johnson/ns310/

Official Office hours: TuTh 11:00 am – noon. You are welcome to drop in at any time

 

Course objectives:  This class will expose you to broad scientific frameworks and their portrayal in fiction, and will place science fiction properly against known scientific context and methodologies. The class will compare science with mythology and how science is viewed as mythology both in fiction and by non-scientists. We will discuss tools and paradigms for analysis and criticism of fictive portrayals of science; we will also emphasize basic science literacy as background for these stories.

 

Prerequisites: You must have fulfilled your General Education requirements in Foundations II.A, Natural Sciences. It is strongly recommended that you have (a) satisfied the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement,  and (b) fulfilled your General Education requirements in Communication and Critical Thinking 2 (Composition) and 3 (Intermediate composition and critical thinking).

 

Required Course Texts: The Year's Best Science Fiction, 24th Annual Collection, Gardner Dozois, ed. (2006); Timescape, Gregory Benford (1980); The Dispossessed, Ursula  LeGuin, (1974); Red Mars, Kim Stanley Robinson, (1993); Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, (1932).

Recommended Text:  Ringworld,  Larry Niven, (1970); 

 

Grading:  90%= A, 87%=A-, 83%=B+, 80%= B, 77%=B-, 73%=C+, 70%=C, 67% C- ,

63%=D+, 60%=D, 57%=D-, 50%=F. 

Quizzes: 25%

Midterm exam 15%

Final exam 30%

Paper 30%

 

Quizzes:  Quizzes will (a) test basic science literacy from class lectures and (b) cover basic facts about assigned novels: names and roles of major characters, major plot events, and basic science and technology in the novel. Quizzes are closed books, closed notes. There will be 10 quizzes + 1 extra credit quiz; your best 8 scores are automatically taken. No makeups.

 

Exams: Closed notes; you may bring the required/recommended texts, notes in margins allowed. Exams will cover: basic concepts in science covered in class; history, concepts, classification, and analysis of science fiction as covered in class; and brief analyses of assigned readings. Rather than basic facts about the assigned readings, you will be asked to provided short analyses of the texts. You may also be given hypothetical examples to analyze. Sample questions will be given beforehand.

 

The Mid-term, tentatively set for Tuesday, March 25, 2008 (may change) will include Timescape and The Dispossessed, plus two to three short stories to be announced.

The Final exam is Tuesday May 13, 2008, 10:30-12:30. will include the other three assigned novels, plus three to four  short stories to be announced (plus extra credit questions on the optional reading Ringworld).

 

Paper:  You are required to write an 6-14 page (1,500-3,500 word) term paper. The paper will compare and contrast depictions of science in two novels; the first novel must be one of the six assigned novels read by everyone and discussed in lecture, while the other must be from an approved list of novels. In preparation for the paper, students will form small groups (4-6 students each). We will spend much of the second half of the semester working on the paper, beginning the end of March. Each student will provide to the small group, and the group will critique at appropriate times during the semester, a thesis statement, a one-page outline, and a first draft. Students will turn in to the instructor a portfolio that includes not only the final draft but also the thesis statement, outline, and first draft, along with comments from the small group. Only the final draft will be graded by the instructor, but for full credit  you must include the prior steps plus the final draft must show evidence of responding to the critiques. I will provide more details in a separate handout.

 

Class web page: All this information and all handouts will be posted on the class web page: http://www.physics.sdsu.edu/~johnson/ns310/ . A summary of each lecture will also be posted there, usually before class. Attendance of lectures is strongly recommended as posted lecture notes will not cover all details.

 

This class requires a lot of reading.  When you read, take notes, especially on the role of and attitude towards science and scientists.