If you couldn’t make it to the Literary Arts Festival last week but would like to earn the extra credit, you may watch the ~2 hour long event video above, write 250-words about your experience (who did you hear speak? whose work resonated with you? what did you take away from the event?), and email your response to Prof. Ellis (jellis at citytech.cuny.edu).
Author: Jason W. Ellis
Lecture, Week 10
Weekly Writing Assignment, Week 10
After watching this week’s lecture on New Wave SF and completing the assigned readings, write at least 250 words summarizing your notes and copy-and-paste your summary into a comment made to this post. Focus on what stands out to you, what were some of the important points that I made, what were interesting elements in the readings, connections between the readings and other SF that you know, etc. Remember, the weekly writing assignment is graded on best effort. I would like to know what you find notable about each week’s class. As long as the posts relate to the class and you give me your best, you receive all the credit. Also, this serves as regular writing practice, which has been shown to improve your writing skills by simply doing this kind of work. It will help prepare you for the writing that you will do on your research essay and the final exam.
Lecture, Week 9
For your Research Essay projects:
- SF Definitions with Citations Handout
- Purdue OWL MLA Guide (use navigation menu on the left of page)
Weekly Writing Assignment, Week 9
After watching this week’s lecture on the Golden Age of SF, Part 2 and completing the assigned readings and viewings, write at least 250 words summarizing your notes and copy-and-paste your summary into a comment made to this post. Focus on what stands out to you, what were some of the important points that I made, what were interesting elements in the readings, connections between the readings and other SF that you know, etc. Remember, the weekly writing assignment is graded on best effort. I would like to know what you find notable about each week’s class. As long as the posts relate to the class and you give me your best, you receive all the credit. Also, this serves as regular writing practice, which has been shown to improve your writing skills by simply doing this kind of work. It will help prepare you for the writing that you will do on your research essay and the final exam.
Extra Credit: Literary Arts Festival
If you’d like to earn extra credit to apply toward a Weekly Writing Assignment or points to another assignment as needed, you can attend the Literary Arts Festival next week, write at least 250 words describing your experience of the event (naming the people you listened to, what you learned and liked, etc.), and email your event write-up to me at jellis at citytech.cuny.edu.
To attend the event, you will need to register at this website in advance to receive the Zoom Webinar link.
Lecture, Week 8
After watching and making your notes on this week’s lecture on the Golden Age of SF, John W. Campbell, Jr., Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury, scroll down to this week’s Weekly Writing Assignment, which is due by Wed., April 7 after Spring Recess.
Due to a meeting conflict, I won’t have office hours on Wednesday from 3:00-5:00pm, but I am available to talk over email (jellis at citytech.cuny.edu) or by appointment (email me with your availability over the next few days and we’ll coordinate a time when we can talk on Google Hangouts or Zoom).
Below, I’m including some links discussed in this week’s lecture:
- Notes on A Science Fiction Walking Tour in New York City
- Human Shadow Etched in Stone, Hiroshima
- Ladder and Soldier Shadow on Wall, Nagasaki (scroll down page)
- Sara, Teasdale, “There Will Come Soft Rains”
- Matthew Arnold, “Dover Beach”
- Archibald Macleish, “You, Andrew Marvell”
- Andrew Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”
Weekly Writing Assignment, Week 8
After watching this week’s lecture on the Golden Age of SF and completing the assigned readings, write at least 250 words summarizing your notes. Focus on what stands out to you, what were some of the important points that I made, what were interesting elements in the readings, connections between the readings and other SF that you know, etc. Remember, the weekly writing assignment is graded on best effort. I would like to know what you find notable about each week’s class. As long as the posts relate to the class and you give me your best, you receive all the credit. Also, this serves as regular writing practice, which has been shown to improve your writing skills by simply doing this kind of work. It will help prepare you for the writing that you will do on your research essay and the final exam.
As discussed in this week’s lecture, it’s time to up your game on these regular writing assignments. In particular, use correct spelling and accurate dates for the names of writers and publications. If you are unsure of a spelling, refer back to the lecture or use the Encyclopedia of SF as an invaluable reference.
And, as I’ve talked about before, read what others are writing about and feel welcome to respond to the writing of others. Since we can’t interact in class as we normally would, you may use the comments as a place to share ideas and interests.
Finally, this week’s assignment isn’t due until Wednesday, Apr. 7 since next week is Spring Recess.
Lecture, Week 7
This week, we talked about SF Film Serials, Buck Rogers, and Flash Gordon. I am including some links below to the works that I showed or mentioned during the lecture.
- Buck Rogers Comic Strips
- Flash Gordon Comic Strips
- Buck Rogers Film Serial
- Flash Gordon: Space Rangers Film Serial
Besides the library’s resources and the list of SF Definitions linked on the syllabus, use your free New York Times digital subscription as a resource in your research.
Weekly Writing Assignment, Week 7
After watching this week’s lecture on SF Film Serials, Buck Rogers, and Flash Gordon, and completing the assigned viewings, write at least 250 words summarizing your notes. Focus on what stands out to you, what were some of the important points that I made, what were interesting elements in the readings, connections between the readings and other SF that you know, etc. Remember, the weekly writing assignment is graded on best effort. I would like to know what you find notable about each week’s class. As long as the posts relate to the class and you give me your best, you receive all the credit. Also, this serves as regular writing practice, which has been shown to improve your writing skills by simply doing this kind of work. It will help prepare you for the writing that you will do on your research essay and the final exam.
I don’t want anyone to feel that they can’t catch up in our class. If you get behind, let me know over email, and when you turn in an assignment late, send me an email to let me know to grade it for you. While the end of the semester is the hard deadline for everything in the class, you may turn any work in up to that point to receive credit. Remember: it’s always better to turn in something rather than nothing!
