So Long and Thanks for All the Fish

It's been a great year, everyone.

I hope as you go on to do great and interesting things, you'll keep in touch. And of course, if you come across any great SF recommendations, do share.

Wherever I am, wherever you are, you can find me through email here: smkitsis (at) gmail.com.

Writing Exercise

Note: If you are out of class today, take a little time to try the exercise below for make up.

Directions: Today's class is devoted to your final projects (this might facilitate some people working together who otherwise would have a hard time meeting up*). I'd like you to explore Jeffrey Carver's "Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy" site, trying a few exercises.

1. Go to the main site: http://www.writesf.com/
2. Start with the "World Building" section and complete two of the exercises on the "Approaches" page when you get there (read what he has to say, first!)
3. Continue reading and playing around with your own ideas ... as long as you're on task, I'm happy (just don't tell me you're "done" before the end of the period as there is WAY more than an hour of good content here!)

Have fun and, when you're done, have a good weekend!

*You can also get creative about tools that allow for asynchronous collaboration, like wikis or Google docs, just so long as you're really collaborating, not just dividing the work in half.

Class Calendar: May 18th to May 28th

Monday, May 18th (T)
• Due: Read Dune to p. 309 with sticky note annotations.
• Class: Discussion: making connections, identifying themes, charting the hero’s journey.

Tuesday, May 19th (W)
• Class does not meet.

Wednesday, May 20th (H)
• Due: Keep reading Dune; work on final projects.
• Class: The science of Dune by Owen in Room 321.

Thursday, May 21st (F)
• Due: Keep reading Dune; work on final projects.
• Class: Jeffery Carver exercise (make up from last week); room to be announced.

Friday, May 22nd (S)
• Due: Read Dune to p. 362 with sticky note annotations.
• Class: Biopoems and the abysmal failure of Dune film adaptations.

Monday, May 25th
• No school today.

Tuesday, May 26th (U)
• Due: Read Dune to p. 489 (the end!) with Socratic seminar questions.
• Class: Socratic seminar on Dune; you bring the discussion questions (see above).

Wednesday, May 27th (M)
• Due: Creative proposal projects due.
• Class: Share final projects.

Thursday, May 28th (T)
• Exam period for students with below a B+ average.

Annotated Bibliographies

Please use the comments section to share your annotated bibliography with the class. You are by no means required to base your "last assignment" in this scientific research, but I thought it would be fun to have the option. Enjoy!

Class Calendar: May 4th to May 18th

Note: I've adjusted the schedule for the week of May 11th to better accommodate the AP exams. See changes in yellow.

Monday, May 4th (S)
• Due: Finish reading Clockwork and post to blog.
• Class: Discussion on the science in science fiction.

Tuesday, May 5th (U)
• Due: Rough outline or draft of short story literary analysis paper.
• Class: Peer review of outlines; discussion of Clockwork; sign up for science topics.

Wednesday, May 6th (M)
• Due: Work on short story paper.
• Class: Work on annotated bibliography in Room 322.

Thursday, May 7th (T)
• Due: Short story paper. If you’re taking a late day, I need it on Friday.
• Class: Work on annotated bibliography in Room 322.

Friday, May 8th (W)
• Class does not meet.

Monday, May 11th (H)
• Due: Read Dune to p. 105 with sticky note annotations: at least 5 per 100 pages of reading, spread throughout, with meaningful reflections, questions, connections, etc.
• Class: Discussion of Dune: first reactions, who’s who, etc. Introduction to the hero's journey.

Tuesday, May 12th (F)
• Due: Annotated bibliography assignment. Work on annotated bibliography assignment.
• Class: Introduce final project; share annotated bibliographies. Wrap up the hero's journey, followed by reading time (so bring your books!).

Wednesday, May 13th (S)
• Due: Keep reading Dune. Annotated bibliography assignment.
• Class: Lesson on the hero’s journey. Introduce final project; share annotated bibliographies.

Thursday, May 14th (U)
• Due: Read Dune to p. 199 with sticky note annotations.
• Class: Discussion of Dune: charting power dynamics.

Friday, May 15th (M)
• Due: Keep reading Dune.
• Class: Jeffrey Carver creative writing exercises.

Monday, May 18th (T)
• Due: Read Dune to p. 309 with sticky note annotations.
• Class: Discussion of Dune: connections and themes; revisiting the hero’s journey and power dynamics.

Note: Owen’s lesson on the science of Dune is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20th; the last two reading deadlines will be Thursday, May 21st and Tuesday, May 26th.

Annotated Bibliography Materials

Have I got goodies for you! Here goes:

• Click here for the Cornel University Library site on preparing an annotated bibliography.
• Click here for the Cornel University Library site on evaluating research sources.
• Click here for the Diana Hacker site on MLA format for citations.

See the comments for the list of topics brainstormed by the class.

Class Calendar: April 27th to May 4th

Monday, April 27th (M)
• Due: Finish reading first half of A Clockwork Orange. Have a great vacation!
• Class: Intro to mini unit on gender in science fiction; Turnabout Intruder.

Tuesday, April 28th (T)
• Due: Complete first blog post on Clockwork if you haven’t already (honors only); read and annotate “That Only a Mother” (all students).
• Class: Wrap up from yesterday; discussion of “That Only a Mother.”

Wednesday, April 29th (W)
• Class does not meet.

Thursday, April 30th (H)
• Due: Read and annotate “The Ship Who Sang”; keep reading Clockwork (honors only).
• Class: Discussion of “The Ship Who Sang.”

Friday, May 1st (F)
• Due: Read and annotate “The Heat Death of the Universe.”
• Class: Lesson on “The Heat Death of the Universe” by Henrietta; assign short story analytic paper.

Monday, May 4th (S)
• Due: Assigned reading and second blog post on Clockwork.
• Class: Discussion of Clockwork; wrapping up the mini gender unit; brainstorming ideas for upcoming short story analytic paper.