Course Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the major themes, scenarios, and textual concerns of the genres.

2. Analyze individual texts in relation to the significant historical, cultural, and social contexts.

3. Analyze the content and formal structures of specific science fiction and fantasy works.

4. Integrate textual evidence and literary criticism when writing essays on key works of science fiction and fantasy.

Instructor Contact

Before the course begins, please email me at sdenney@ccsf.edu. Once we are in the class, please use the Canvas inbox.

While class is in session, I will respond to course email within 48 hours Monday-Friday, not including school holidays. For a more immediate response, remember our additional Online Help & your classmates as resources.

Course Texts and Required Software

The required texts may be purchased through the CCSF Bookstore:

1. The Big Book of Science Fiction - Jeff Vandermeer and Ann Vandermeer (ISBN: 978-1101910092)

2. New Voices of Fantasy - Peter S. Beagle and Jacob Weisman (ISBN: 978-1-61696-257-9)

3. The Fifth Season - N. K. Jemisin (ISBN: 978-0-316-22929-6)

In addition, you will need the following software for this course.

• Adobe Reader

• QuickTime Player

• Flash Player

• A word processor such as MS Word or Google Docs

• An updated browser

Important Dates

This class is experienced entirely online through the almost magical world of Canvas - an experience appropriate to some of the cyberpunk and other technological futures imagined in the texts we will read. The class has no required meetings.

The class begins on 1/27/2020 and ends on 5/20/2020.

Attendance

Once class starts, I need to determine whether or not you're actually still interested in the class. If not, I want to let in other students who are interested! Therefore, I have set up a Census Assignment in Week 1. Students who do not complete the Census Assignment or reach out to me via email by the deadline will be dropped as "no shows" and their spots given to other interested students.

After that, I recommend that if you need to miss more than two homework deadlines in a row that you contact me and let me know what's up to avoid being dropped from the class. I understand that sometimes things happen and we get behind! So just keep in touch with me so I know what's up. If I don't hear from you, I'll assume you are no longer taking the course and will drop you.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at the date and time posted in Canvas. Late assignments may or may not be accepted, depending on what the assignment is and how late it is. This course happens in real time! Once a discussion has been completed, much like in a face to face discussion, everyone else has moved on.

Grades/Evaluation

• Essay #1: 1,000 points

• Essay #2: 1,000 points

• Midterm: 1,000 points

• Final: 1,000 points

• Discussions, quizzes, other assignments: approximately 560 points (subject to change based on the needs of the class)

Visit the “Grades” page in Canvas to keep track of your grades.

Information and Help for Online Classes

Online classes can be a little different in some ways from face-to-face classes. But Canvas and CCSF have lot of resources to help you out:

• Canvas Login

• Canvas Support Hotline (844) 592-2198 available 24/7

• CCSF Virtual Campus

• Succeeding in Online Classes

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in CCSF classes are required to abide by the CCSF Student Code of Conduct. Violation of the code is basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Office of Student Affairs and Wellness.

Copying essays or homework in whole or in part or submitting work that is not originally your own will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that assignment. We collaborate in this course weekly as it is a workshop based course, but your work must be your own.

See these links on Plagiarism:

Encourage Academic Integrity and Prevent Plagiarism

Citing Information Sources

Academic Accommodations

If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, or have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. Students seeking disability related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website for more information and alternate locations.