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LITR 4632: Literature of the Future  |
Midterm Assignment 2011
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Links to recent midterms |
Relative weight: 30-40% of final grade
Format: In-class or email; open-book and open-notebook
Date: Thursday, 23 June, in or around regular class schedule.
Content: 2 essay questions
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Essay 1 (1.5-2 hours): Compare, contrast, and evaluate Narratives of the Future
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Essay 2 (1 hour): Isolate a personal topic in our readings (to be extended in final exam)
Special Requirements:
Both essays must have titles
Refer to at least one midterm answer from a previous class on course webpage's Model Assignments
Required textual references: You must refer to Revelation, Parable, and Time Machine + 3-4 stories somewhere in your exam.
You may also refer briefly to future-vision presentations
& outside readings but not required.
Texts relevant to midterm include Genesis and Revelation; Parable of the Sower; "Stone Lives"; "Bears Discover Fire"; Time Machine; "Somebody up there Likes Me"; "Garden of Forking Paths"; "Gernsback Continuum"; "Mozart in Mirrorshades"; "Better Be Ready 'bout Half Past Eight"
You may refer to texts in abbreviated form, e. g. Parable, “Garden,” “Gernsback.”
Timing: Email students spend 2-4 hours writing the exam any time after our Tuesday class (21 June) up to noon Friday, 24 June. Pauses & interruptions are okay.
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In-class students preview to instructor; start around 9am and finish by 11:59 23 June.
Prep time: Prepare as much as you like. Review notes and texts plus or minus outlining and drafting. Consult notes, outlines, drafts, and the course webpage (syllabus, objectives, model assignments) as you write.
In-class materials: Write in blue or black ink in a bluebook or on handy paper. Fronts and backs, single-spacing acceptable.
Email: email a copy of your answers to instructor at whitec@uhcl.edu.
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most common mistake: students send to “white” rather than “whitec”
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Attach appropriate word processing file(s) to an email for whitec@uhcl.edu. (Microsoft Word works, Microsoft Works doesn't)
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Copy and paste contents of your word processing file into an email message to me at whitec@uhcl.edu
Email acknowledgement: Instructor usually acknowledges receipt of your midterm within a few hours (unless you send it in at an odd time).
Email problems? A problem or two with email is normal in a class this size. Don't panic--we'll work things out.
Length(s): Essay 1 probably 5-8 paragraphs; Essay 2 probably 4-7 paragraphs.
Spacing: No need to double-space, but OK if you do.
All electronic submissions are converted to single-space for reading onscreen.
As in most Literature courses, quality of reading and writing distinguishes excellent work from competent work--not just reproducing data but organizing it into a unified, compelling essay.
Introducing and developing multiple examples from texts and relating texts to each other are standards for better exams.
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"Develop" means extending analysis, connecting to other examples (compare / contrast), and connecting to course objectives.
Audience:
- Share your experience in the course with future students who may read your writing in "Model Assignments."
- Or write so someone in our class could recognize your terms and explanations and enjoy your personal contributions or styles.
- Keep the instructor in sight. Connect through shared terms, texts, and objectives. "Write up" in terms of organization and ambition of thought.
Midterm Content Outline--Two Question Topics
Essay 1 (1.5-2 hours): Compare, contrast, and evaluate Narratives of the Future
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Describe and evaluate the three primary narratives for the future. How do they differ, and how might they combine?
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Refer to texts frequently. Move back and forth between ideas and examples.
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How does one narrative of the future turn into another? What implications for the future and for storytelling?
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Not required to go through 3 narratives one at a time; also possible to organize through "how they turn into each other"
Additional options: (You need not cover each item individually or in order.)
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What models of the future and human behavior or destiny follow from these narratives?
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What are the literary and cultural attractions or downsides of these narratives?
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Where or how do these narratives overlap or conflict?
Essay 2 (1 hour): Isolate a personal topic in our readings (to be extended in final exam)
Connect personal reactions to course contents, 1+ course objectives, and 2-3 texts.
Question: What element(s) of our course has intrigued you or mattered most? Why? What issue(s) seem important and worth reading and discussing?
Your emphasis may be literary, cultural/social, or both, but use examples from texts to illustrate and develop insights.
Optional prompts:
What difficulties naturally attend comprehension and expression regarding the future?
What difference do such stories make? Especially considering how long we've been telling them?
Returning your midterms
Receipt of your email midterm will be acknowledged by reply email within a few hours.
Around Sunday 26 June, check for your midterm note and grade emailed from instructor.
midterm preparation
how to prepare?--not much time!
review notes, scan texts--recall characters, events, situations, ideas relevant to 3 future narratives
take notes as review--jot down ideas, examples
review previous midterm samples--won't take long to find something to work with--models help kick-start thinking
recall examples from web highlights:
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using terms and texts
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expressing ideas also in your own terms and understandings
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reproduce content of class and add to it