ATTENTION:

Since wiki pages, by definition, are subject to revision, this wiki page is for reference only. The official version of the syllabus is available here in PDF form.

Required Readings

• Doctorow, Cory. LIttle Brother. Tor, 2008.
• Gibson, William. Neuromancer. Ace Trade, 2000.
• Piercy, Marge. He, She and It. Fawcett, 1993.
• Stephenson, Neal. The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. Spectra, 2000.
• Sterling, Bruce. Distraction. Spectra, 1999.

Catalog Description

(O) Selected topics. May be taken more than once as subtitle changes. Prerequisites: Designated by department as appropriate for content and academic level of credit (1-4 cr. hr.)

Additional Course Description

This course will examine a subgenre of science fiction termed “cyberpunk.” As we will explore, cyberpunk has a range of influences including early forms of science fiction (e.g. Asimov, Clarke, P.K. Dick), detective/crime fiction (e.g. Chandler), and experimental fiction (e.g. Burroughs, Pynchon). We will begin the course with William Gibson’s Neuromancer, widely regarded as the seminal and founding novel in the genre. We will then move in a roughly chronological fashion. Along with Gibson, Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson are generally identified as the major authors in cyberpunk. Marge Piercy’s He, She, and It offers a valuable feminist perspective on science fiction and cyberpunk.  Cory Doctorow’s LIttle Brother is a recent YA novel that explore some of the intersections between cyberpunk themes and everyday life.

Learning in an Online Environment

As you know, this is an online course. I imagine most of you have had some experience with course work online on Web CT or something similar, though for many of you this may be your first fully online course. One of the clear advantages of learning online is the flexibility we are offered in terms of time. The price we pay for that flexibility is that online courses demand greater self-discipline. Summer courses generally meet for five weeks and 7.5 hours of class-time per week. In addition, in a conventional course, you would spend 15 hours a week doing course readings, writing assignments, and so on. If you add those together, you should plan on spending 20-25 hours per week on a summer session course. My expectation is that time will be about equally divided between reading the novels and completing other assignments for the course (including writing the final paper).

Grading

Final Paper    40%

Book Reviews    30%

Online Participation    30%

Final Paper

After conducting some research and in consultation with me, you will compose a final paper about ten pages in length, which might be a suitable text for a conference presentation on the subject of cyberpunk literature.

Book Reviews

You will write three book reviews on cyberpunk novels. You may choose three texts from this course or, with my approval, write about other texts or movies. Reviews should be approximately 1000 words in length and written for a general audience.

Online Participation

There will be regular assignments for you to complete online. I will evaluate you on your regular participation in our discussion forums. Our discussion will take place in two main sites: digitalage.ning.com and thedigitalage.pbwiki.com. Remember participating in online discussion is equivalent to coming to class. It is absolutely essential. I expect that you will spend a minimum of five hours per week online reading my comments, your classmates’ writing, and responding.

Policies

Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism, the act of claiming another’s writing as your own, is a serious form of academic dishonesty.  Students found guilty of plagiarism may expect to face the consequences described in the College Handbook.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and wish to request accommodations, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services located in B-40 Van Hoesen Hall or call (607) 753-2066 for an appointment.  Information regarding your disability will be treated in a confidential manner.  Because many accommodations require early planning, requests for accommodations should be made as early as possible.