LITR 4632: Literature of the Future, UHCL, 2005

Date: Monday, 20 June  Relative weight: app. 30- 40% of final grade

Format: open-book and open-notebook

In-class: Write in blue or black ink in a bluebook or on handy paper

Email: email a copy of your answers to instructor at whitec@uhcl.edu.

·        The mistake students are most likely to make is to send it to “white” rather than “whitec”; if you send it to “white,” it doesn’t reach me.

Please try both of the following approaches.

·        Attach appropriate word processing file(s) to an email for whitec@uhcl.edu.

·        Copy the contents of your word processing file, then paste them into an email message to me at whitec@uhcl.edu

·        If you have trouble with email, save your word processing file to a 3 & ½ “ floppy disk and give it to me. If your name is on the disk, I’ll return it to you.

Time: Spend at least two hours writing. You may use the entire class period (2 hours and 59 minutes).

·        In-class students will be given the exam at 9am and must turn it in by 11:59.

·        All students will be emailed the exam at approximately 8:50am, at which time the exam will also be posted on the course webpage. Email students must mail in the exam by 2pm. However, email students should spend no more than 2 hours and 59 minutes in writing the exam, and they should keep a log indicating when they start and stop. (Pauses or interruptions are okay.)

Length: Given different people's writing styles, length is hard to estimate, but generally the best exams have more writing, while the less impressive exams look scanty.

Texts: Genesis and Revelation; Parable of the Sower; Time Machine; "Stone Lives"; "Bears Discover Fire"; "Somebody up there Likes Me"; "Garden of Forking Paths"; "Gernsback Continuum"; "Mozart in Mirrorshades"; "Better Be Ready 'bout Half Past Eight."

Welcome to refer to texts in abbreviated form, e. g. Parable, “Garden,” “Gernsback.”

Refer to at least one student presentation or student-led discussion that is relevant to your themes

Refer to the course webpage at least once—either a previous midterm or a presentation from a previous class.

You are also welcome to refer briefly to outside readings.

Organization: Write a complete essay covering the following topics and subtopics. Though these contents are “broken down” for clarity, do not treat them as a simple checklist. As far as possible, connect the parts. Relate what you’re writing to what you’ve already written. Summarize your points. Explain your examples.

Midterm Content:

Introduction (15-20 minutes)

What is Literature of the Future? Here are some options:

·        How has your impression of the course developed or changed?

·        What did you expect, and what has the course offered in both contents and methods?

·        How would you describe the course to another student?

·        Compare and contrast the content & methods to other Literature courses.

·        Look ahead to the conclusion as means of unifying your essay.

(Personal references, experiences, opinions are welcome as long as you support, explain, and relate. Evaluate critically according to personal standards and standards of higher education.)

Body: Narrative & Narratives of the Future (at least 1 hour)

·        Transition to the concept of “narrative.” Define and explain the significance of narratives as models for human behavior, senses of time, values.

·        Moving from the broad concept of narrative, describe and evaluate the three primary narratives for the future.

·        Refer to texts frequently. Move back and forth between ideas and examples.

Body content options: (You need not cover each item individually or in order.)

·        What models of the future and of human behavior or destiny do the narratives offer?

·        What are the literary and cultural attractions or downsides of these narratives?

·        Where do these narratives overlap or conflict?

·        Again, you may look ahead to your conclusion.

Conclusion: Options (20-30 minutes)

Write on any or all of these options in concluding your essay.

·        Is the future written or being written?

·        How has the course altered either your perception of the future or of the literature pertaining to it?

·        If there is one idea or insight that this course has given you regarding literature or the future, what is it? What do or will you keep thinking about regarding your or our future? (Explain.)

Style points:

·        You needn’t wait for the conclusion to begin discussing these issues, but at least use the conclusion to summarize.

·        Review your essay's main points in terms of your conclusion. Indicate what you’ve learned about Literature and / or the Future.