Science Fiction Science Fact
ONPS2507 – Science Fiction Science Fact
Assignment Information 2020 (1) Description
You are required to write an essay on a technology (e.g. hand-held communicators, faster than light travel, time-travel, etc.) which was introduced as a concept in science fiction, focusing on its plausibility and appearance in popular media. This technology may or may not have already been developed. A list of additional suggested topics will be provided in the Major Essay Discussion Forum.
You must have the following section headings in your essay: 1. Title Page– Descriptive and creative title of the topic (including name, course, etc.) 2. Introduction and History – Describe the technology in terms of what it does and its
potential benefits and/or problems. Include historical references to the first and early appearance of the technology in science fiction literature/media, as well as from recent literature/media. Two detailed examples (1 classic, 1 modern) should be given; the remaining (at least 4 for full marks) need only be mentioned but must be cited correctly.
3. Current Status/Recent Developments – If the technology has been developed then explain the following: when it was developed, by whom and its current status. If it has not yet been developed: outline theoretical and/or experimental work currently underway to make the technology a reality.
4. Technological Limitations and Future Potential – If already developed: what does the future of the technology hold? If not already developed: describe what technologies must be developed and/or scientific discoveries made in order to make the technology a reality. Include predictions on the likelihood of the technology coming to fruition and realistic potential timelines or if too far in the future, compile a detailed timeline from sci-fi sources, listing at least 3 specific examples when the technology was developed or was already available in different sci-fi offerings.
5. References – including in-text citations and a full reference list.
(2) Readability
Proper formatting specific to an essay is required. Your essay should be uncumbersome to read and engaging to the reader. Consider your audience (me, someone with a PhD); the basic physics and ideas are assumed knowledge, hence need only be mentioned and not elaborated on, i.e. do not detail what was covered in class, focus on the research you have conducted. Aspects of science fiction should be tied into the body of the essay, i.e. specific examples for media/literature. An appropriate level of orthography and grammar characteristic of a university student is expected.
(3) Length
Essays must be between 1200 to 1500 words in length not including references.
(4) Assessment
All essays will be marked according to the attach Rubric. This assignment will be worth 44% of your mark for this course.
(5) Due date
All assignments must be submitted by uploading them as PDFs to Canvas via turn-it- in by 11 pm Sunday the 31st of May.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
FURTHER SUGGESTED TOPICS AND CONTENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Anti-gravity – including but not limited to levitation (e.g. flying cars, hover-boards), inertia dampens, tractor-beams, ratification gravity (i.e. gravity-plating in spacecraft).
Cloning – Albeit already developed, focusing on the ethical aspects if permitted in the future.
Colonialization – Permanently Habitable Space Stations, moon-bases, Space Colonies, Terraforming.
Cybernetics – Everything from robots and androids, to prosthetics, biomech, cyborgs and A.I (what was the ‘A’ again?)
Exo-suits – Areas like body armour, life-support, Mechs and Jaegers.
Force Fields – shields and cloaking; exploring also how variable these are across different sci-fi universes.
Orbital Launch Systems – Space Elevator (Going up… next stop High earth orbit), Super Heavy Lifters, Space (Verne) Guns. Consider ‘off-world’ spaceport or construction yards.
The following topics have little to no immediate technological basis, they are thus not recommended.
Blackholes – In general; unless you can find some kind of use for them (a Black Hole Drive, or the Penrose Trash Converter come to mind) but you’ll struggle to find many sci-fi examples to use.
Time Travel – While the idea of the time ‘machine’ clearly exists, there is little to no science as yet; Tipler Cylinders and Ring Lasers are mere hypotheses. You could also write about forward time travel by way of relativity (both types) but the cost to benefit ratio is almost infinitely high and as such is not being considered by science.
Rubric for Science Fiction Science Fact Essay: TOTAL / 44 (Sub-section values in parenthesis)
4 – Exemplary 3 – Proficient 2 – Satisfactory 1 – Developing 0 – Unacceptable
Title Page (4)
A creative and concise title is given. A descriptive title is given. An unimaginative title is provided. A derivative title is provided. Title is missing.
Introduction and History (8)
The technology/concept is clearly defined in terms of how it works and benefits humanity were it to exist.
Contains many (≥3) references to the first (or early) appearance of the technology in literature/media, as well as more recent media (≥3).
The technology/concept is somewhat defined in terms of how it works and benefits humanity were it to exist.
Contains some (≥2) references to the early appearance of the technology in literature/media, as well as more recent media (≥2).
The technology/concept is loosely defined in terms of how it works and benefits humanity were it to exist.
Contains a few (≥2) references to the appearance of the technology in early literature/media and/or more recent media.
The technology/concept is barely defined in terms of how it works and benefits humanity were it to exist.
Contains little (<2) references to the appearance of the technology in early literature/media or more recent media.
The technology/concept is poorly defined in terms of how it works and benefits humanity were it to exist.
The section contains no references to the technology in literature/media.
