Major Projects

Over the course of the semester, you will develop a major project which expands or develops one of the themes of the course.  Projects may take many forms; the particular form will be determined in consultation with the professor. Projects may be done by individuals or by groups. 

Timeline

• Projects must be underway no later than November 10. Individuals and groups will schedule a consultation with the professor before this time to discuss the project.

•  Substantial progress must have been made by the end of Thanksgiving break, at which time the individual or group will meet with the professor to discuss what has been done and what remains to be done.

•  Projects must be completed by December 12..

• Presentations and/or oral defenses will take place no later than the scheduled final exam day.
   

Criteria

Any project must meet the following criteria:

•  It must consider the effects of technological change on the scope and consequences of human action and/or on the nature of ethical responsibility.   

• It must demonstrate thoughtful reflection on the consequences of human choice in a technologically empowered or limited world.

• It must be accompanied by a detailed response to an evaluation rubric, which will be prepared in consultation with the professor.

• It must be followed by an oral "defense" or presentation, during which other students in the class have the opportunity to discuss the project and question the creator(s).

• It must be an undertaking of significant scope--i.e., a 5-page paper or a ten-minute impromptu skit will not suffice.

Possible Types of Projects

Project choices are extremely open, but must be developed in consultation with the professor.  The following are simply some possible options:

• World-building simulation:  This is definitely a group project, rather than an individual one.  The task would be to design a planet, and then explore some aspect of the human challenges which it presents.  The project would be multi-disciplinary.  The design team would have to designate a primary star system, determine its habitable zone, determine the probable geological, atmospheric and environmental characteristics of a planet within that zone, extrapolate possible life forms and ecosystems, etc.  The team would then have to determine what human problem was going to be posed:  e.g., first contact with an intelligent species, or the determination of human responsibilities toward an alien ecosystem, or the design of a viable human society within the constraints of an alien environment, etc.  The final presentation of the project should include graphic as well as textual elements; if the team is up to it, it might include interactive elements and be suitable for posting on the web.  There are a number of Resources Useful for World Building available on the web.
    

• Radio Play:  This is almost certainly a group project as well.  The task would be to write, produce and record a 30-minute radio play, suitable for broadcast on a local radio station like WORT.  The play should highlight some aspect of human response to technological change.  Team members would have to outline or storyboard the plot, write the dialogue, develop appropriate sound effects, rehearse the play, and produce a recording of it. Plays might take the form of a sci-fi adventure, a "problem" story like the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, a mock documentary, a mock live-coverage newscast, etc.
    

• Video Production:  This is also a group project.  The task would be to develop, produce and record a 15-30 minute video production, or a series of shorter video segments suitable for download on the web.  The production should highlight some aspect of human response to technological change.  The team would have to storyboard the production, write the dialogue or narration, develop appropriate sound and visual effects, and produce the video.  Videos might take the form of traditional story-driven fiction, a mock documentary, a speculative science feature, etc.  Here are a few of the Resources Useful for Video Projects that are available on the web.
    

• Theatrical Montage:  This is a performance project which may be undertaken either by an individual or a group.  The task would be to dramatize passages from science fiction works, at least one of which is included in the course syllabus, either as a series of monologues (a one-person show) or as a series of vignettes with multiple characters.  The passages should be selected to explore, from multiple points of view, some aspect of human response to technological change.  The individual or team would have to select the passages, adapt them into dramatic form, determine appropriate props, blocking, stage business, etc., rehearse the performance, and produce it for the class. 
    

• Web Site Presentation:  This is most likely to be an individual project, but could be done by a small group.  The task would be to design and produce a web site presenting material which is appropriate for some aspect of the course.  The individual or team would have to storyboard the site, produce all textual and graphic elements for it, produce the site, and present it in its final form on disk or CD (or via a web server if that is easier).  The content of the web site is rather wide open.  It might be a presentation of interpretive and historical material on a particular science fiction novel, film, or author; it could take the form of a weblog devoted to the consideration of a particular aspect of human response to technological change; it could be an extensive resource site for a particular novel, film or author--in fact, it could cover almost anything that is appropriate to the concerns of the course.
    

• Research Paper:  This is an individual project.  The task should already be familiar:  to produce a well-written essay which analyzes a work or works of science fiction (at least one of which is included in the course syllabus), and which incorporates outside sources as supporting material for an original thesis.  The paper should be 12-15 pages in length and should incorporate material from at least 10 outside sources in addition to the science fiction works themselves.  Documentation of sources must be thorough and complete, and citation must be in MLA format.  

Right-hand image credit:  Jupiter's Great Red Spot and the Galilean Satellites, NASA (Planetary Photjournal)
Page background image credit:  Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (partial image), NASA (Planetary Photjournal)