FUTURISTIC LITERATURE SYLLABUS 

(Revised July 2023)

Instagram: Transcendental_teacher

Email: simmins_c@fairfieldcityschools.com

Phone: 513-942-2999 Ext 512

How to instructions for Google Classroom:

• https://sites.google.com/fairfieldcityschools.com/fcsd-staff-tech-faqs/google-classroom?authuser=0#h.5fmkgelodfxl 

Course Description: This is a college preparatory class. The literature that will be covered will span the annals of the 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries. The bulk of the science-fiction will range from 1890-1950; the purpose is to demonstrate how the pontificators of their age predicted the circumstances of our age. My goal is for students to learn from the past, assess their present, and prepare for their future in a 21st century global economy. Along with these studies, students will be exposed to a variety of non-fiction news articles all to reinforce the direction of class. And, just when I think they are about to snap under the strain of this educational typhoon, I will unleash a 21st century internet research project the likes American high schools have rarely seen: we teachers call it the senior capstone project. Though I have high expectations, all students can pass this course with diligent effort. For my students that are not planning on attending a university, vocational school, or community college, all the material involved (including the literature) has been picked for relevance in the “real” world.  There are many paths after high school (all good btw); therefore, as a class, we will explore them all.  

Material Needed: I bought you a computer.  USE IT!!!!  Okay, I didn't buy it:  your parents did.  So now you really need to use it.  Get used to organizing your life on the laptop.  It will be a must in college.

Grading System: The class has a simple point system. There will be reading quizzes, participation grades, vocabulary tests, and essays. Students will receive 3-5 grades per week; attendance is vital. Parents! Your student will have his/her grades posted on-line daily. You can follow his/her progress constantly. Feel free to email me anytime concerning anything.

Discipline: Electronics and tardy issues will be covered in the rules.

Parental Contact: I have an email address and a school Remind account; my email is open all day long. If you are concerned about your child, send me a message; we can handle any issue very quickly.  My students always know their grades.

Classroom Procedure: Being a course that prepares students to be ready to make a decision as to their individual post-secondary direction, all readings and lessons are geared to help students succeed, not only in their immediate future, but also for their adult careers.

Pool of Novels (School will provide all):

Bolded novels will be studied by all students:

19th Century

Dracula by Bram Stoker – possible

Time Machine by H.G. Wells - Partial Read / film

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - Partial Read / film

20th Century

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

I, Robot - Isaac Asimov - Partial Reading / film

Starship Troopers - Robert A Heinlein - Full Read / Partial film

Ender’s Game - Orson Scott Card

Earth Abides - George R Stewart 

Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank - Full read via student copy

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton - Partial Reading / film

A Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood

21st Century

Ameritopia 2075 - Corey L. Simmins (for those who dare!)

Book of LOFI - Corey L. Simmins (for those who dare!)

Warning!: In the process of developing literature’s greatest class, attempting to save the world, solving Earth’s problems, becoming a mountain climber and pseudo astronomer, composing novels, desiring to be a drag strip race car driver, and maintaining my secret identity, I sometimes have a mental lapse between my frontal lobe and typing hand. Any typo must be construed as purposeful, a faux pas, or God’s will. I am partial to the latter.

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CLASS RULES FOR MR. SIMMINS (Revised 2023)

Class will consist of the following:

A) Close Reading Students are expected to "close read" nearly every article given to them throughout the course of the school year. Also, each student will receive one novel that will be "close read." This skill is indispensable for college success and critical for comprehension. Grades are given frequently in an attempt to master this skill.

B) End of Novel Essays There could be a “college essay” test given at the end of some novels. These are geared to prepare students for post-secondary education.

C) Participation Grade Quite frequently participation grades will be given; such as when watching an educational film, taking notes through lecture or PowerPoint presentation, or reading in class. A student who sits up, is attentive and participates in the activity will receive full credit. Anyone attempting to sleep or misbehave will receive a zero. Much of life’s success is dedication. 

D) Quizzes Quizzes will usually be given after material is read in class or read at home. All quizzes will be scheduled. This includes vocabulary and reading quizzes. Any phone usage during a quiz will result in a zero--no matter if the student has finished.

E) Tests All tests are announced and cover all the material discussed in class-especially material presented upon the Smartboard. Tests consist of fill in the blanks, multiple choice, open-ended questions, open-response, and essays. Any phone usage during a test will result in a zero--no matter if the student has finished. Many tests are "formative" in nature and scores are curved.

F) ELECTRONIC DEVICES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These diseases of the 21st century will be placed in a phone pocket everyday.  Students need to learn to unplug. Head phones: If I see headphones in the ear or around the neck, I will take the headphones till the end of class (like the phone) and a zero will be given for the day. Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness does not mean constant K-Pop streaming through your skulls of mush.  

G) Hats....ok.  I relent.  Hoods...no way!  Those hide earbuds.  

H) Destroy your phone; it is rotting your brain.

I) Read H one more time.  

My Policy on.......(are you really going to make me go over this?)

1) Make up work: If you are absent, it will be your responsibility to find out what we did during your absence. If there was an assignment given, ask me for the assignment. Rules for make up work are the same as the school rules in the agenda (do we still have those?). Feel free to email or message me when out sick.

2) Missing a quiz or a test: If you are absent during a quiz or test, you will be expected to make up the quiz or test when you return. It will be your responsibility to ask to make up the quiz or test.

3) Handing in assignments: The world expects you to be a responsible adult.  Pay bills on time; arrive at work on time.  Therefore, turn your work in on time.  

4) Grades: All grades given are based on points. All points are simply added up, and then divided by the maximum number. Tests, quizzes and papers are worth the most.

5) Extra Credit: A minimum of extra credit is given. Usually, extra credit is spontaneous.

6) Cheating: Cheating, such as copying homework, looking at another student’s paper during a test or quiz, using a “cheat sheet,” giving answers to other students, plagiarism, including sharing homework with one another, will result in a zero for the students involved. “Texting” during a quiz will be considered cheating; this includes texting when you are finished with your test and other students are not finished, but that cannot happen if your phone is in the bag hanging on the wall.  :-) 

7) Tardies: Any time a student is late for class it will be recorded in the teacher’s log. Students lose participation points for every tardy. Habitual tardiness will be dealt with using discipline. Tardiness is defined as not being in the room when the bell rings.

8) Disrespectfulness: Any actions such as profanity or any other form of disrespectfulness to the teacher or fellow student will result in being held after class, immediate disciplinary referral, or sent to the principal--depending on the severity of the act. 

9) Restroom Breaks: When it comes to restroom breaks, I am aware that at times one must be granted a pass during class.  One a week!  Privileges can be revoked if abused.  I am keeping track.

10) Sleeping: There is no sleeping in class. Sleeping is defined as putting one’s head down on the desk with or without the eyes open. You cannot focus lying down. You are a senior about to step out into the world as an adult; therefore, this rule should be superfluous. Incidentally, I have a call into my congressperson to make sleeping in school a felony.  I am confident in our lawmakers ability to see my rationale.  

11) Phones:  They belong at home, in your car duct taped to the engine block, at the bottom of your locker under the heaviest books, tossed into an active volcano, placed in the middle of Route 4, or in the pouch hanging on the wall all period long.  Phones are re-wiring your brain; give them a rest.

12) Participation: Every week a student gets participation based upon activity and presence in class (locker runs, tardy to class, the sleeping felony, and restroom breaks factor into this.  The world shines brightly for the alert, the vigilant, the engaged!)

13) Computers: These new computers are EGGS; treat them like eggs. Take care of that which was purchased for you and your education.