COURSE UNIT TITLE

: THE FANTASTIC IN AMERICAN LITERATURE

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
AKE 5049 THE FANTASTIC IN AMERICAN LITERATURE ELECTIVE 3 0 0 5

Offered By

American Culture and Literature

Level of Course Unit

Second Cycle Programmes (Master's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ESRA ÇÖKER

Offered to

American Culture and Literature

Course Objective

By introducing students to the forms and functions of fantastic literature, this course aims to help students understand the theoretical foundations of this genre and its socio-political contexts.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   To be well-informed with the works of major American authors who have either written science fiction novels or employed fabulist or speculative elements in their works.
2   Compare and distinguish fantastic and science fiction literature in theory and form.
3   Question the meaning and nature of reality.
4   Critique the alternative worldviews that are generated in fantastic and science fiction novels.
5   Comment on the different ideologies inherent in fantastic literature and science fiction.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 The Theoretical Foundations of Fantastic Literature Class Discussion
2 Fantasy and Science Fiction Class Discussion
3 Ideology , Politics and Alternative Worldviews Class Discussion
4 Worlds of Fantasy: Dragonflight- Anne MacCaffrey Class Discussion
5 Dragonflight- Anne MacCaffrey Class Discussion
6 Dragonflight- Anne MacCaffrey Class Discussion
7 Post-Acapolyptic Insights: Sheri Tepper, The Margarets Class Discussion
8 Class Discussion Class Discussion
9 Sheri Tepper, The Margarets Class Discussion
10 Sheri Tepper, The Margarets Class Discussion
11 Future of Sex and Gender: Marge Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time Class Discussion
12 Marge Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time Class Discussion
13 Marge Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time Class Discussion
14 Ecology and Nature: Ursula LeGuin The Word for World is Forest Class Discussion

Recomended or Required Reading

Textbook(s):

LeGuin, Ursula. The Word for World is Forest. 1972. New York; Tor, 2010.

MacCaffrey, Anne. Dragonflight. 1968. New York: Del Rey-Random, 2005.

Pierce, Marge. Women on the Edge of Time. New York: Ballantine-Random, 1976.

Tepper, Sheri S. The Margarets. New York; HarperCollins, 2007.

Supplementary Book(s):
Freedman, Carl. Critical Theory and Science Fiction. Hanover; Wesleyan UP, 2000

Jackson, Rosmary. Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion. London: Methuen, 1981.

James, Edward and Farah Mendlesoh, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction.
Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2004.

Le Guin, Ursula and Brian Attebery, eds. The Norton Book of Science Fiction. New York;
Norton, 1997.

Myers, Robert E, ed. The Intersection of Science Fiction and Philosophy. Westport;
Greenwood, 1983.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Courses: Courses are the primary components of instruction among teaching strategies to lay the theoretical basis of subject and introduce the reading material relevant to the studied topic. Courses display a central role in getting to know the terms and concepts defining the topic.
2. In-Class discussions: In-class discussions aim at questioning the applicability of course material to diverse situations and thus increasing the factual tangibility of the information. The last hour of each weekly lecture is reserved for discussions.
3. Visual presentations and films: It includes the in-class projection of visual data such as pictures, illustrations, photographs, and maps as well as films and documentaries complementing the topic.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE
3 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE * 0.40 + FCG* 0.60
4 RST RESIT
5 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.40 + RST* 0.60


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

Will be announced.

Assessment Criteria

1. Midterm exam covers the topics instructed in class from the beginning of semester to the day of the exam.
2. Final exam covers the topics instructed in class after the midterm exam to the end of the semester, with some vital references to the content of the midterm exam.
3.Some exam questions are essay type questions that require students to use their analytical and comprehension skills.
4. Students are expected to give reference to the primary sources that they use.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Students are required to attend 70% of the course schedule.
2. No dictionaries are allowed during the exam. All vocabulary used in the exam are covered previously in the class and expected to be familiar to the student.
3. Any form of cheating in the exam will result in a zero grade and also in disciplinary action.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

korpez@hotmail.com veya esra.coker@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

Tuesdays: 14:00-16:00

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 13 3 39
Preparation for midterm exam 1 10 10
Preparation for final exam 1 15 15
Preparing presentations 1 15 15
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 13 4 52
Final 1 3 3
Midterm 1 3 3
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 137

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13PO.14PO.15PO.16
LO.14544355454
LO.234343555454
LO.35254435555
LO.45254435555
LO.55254435555