Exploring the World of Science Fiction

Introduction

Science fiction is everywhere around us.  We are seeing more and more science fiction movies coming out then biography or even action movies.  Where are all of these ideas coming from?  What is science fiction?  Science fiction is a genre of fiction that has to do with anything that is imaginary.  This can include different worlds, talking animals, or even space travel.  Those three discriptions probably already spark some familiar ideas, right?  "Plant of the Apes", "Star Wars", "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy", these are all different types of science fiction both written and movies adaptations. 

    Now, my 11th graders, are you ready to do some exploring?  

Task

Your task for this exploration is to discover some science fiction authors and stories from around the world you may have not heard of.  You will be given three options of stories to explore and you will answer a few questions about it.  

Process

Here is a list of author's and works that you can use for your exploration:

Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Rappaccini's Daughter 

Judith Merril, That Only a Mother

These three will be your map into the world of science fiction, use them wisely.  Remember, science fiction is whatever and where ever your imagaination takes you. 

  • Once you have picked your chocie of science fiction answer these questions about the author and story:
    1. Author and story chosen
    2. State the year the story was written/published.
  • Please answer these questions about the story you chose:
    1. What parts of the story expressed science fiction in your own meaning?
    2. What is the setting of the story?
    3. Is the story very imaginative or is there some reality to it?
    4. Was the ending of the story something that was expected or was there a twist?
    5. Why did you chose this particular story?
  • Now you will continue your exploration by writing your own short science fiction story.  You will need to write a short 500 word story.  Remember to use your imagination when it comes to the setting and the plot.  I will be looking for innovation, flow, and suprise factor in your stories. 
Evaluation


Exploring Science Fiction Rubric

 

Below Basic

Basic

Proficient

 

Responses to Questions

Did not answer questions correctly or with any effort

Answered questions in brief with no details

Answered questions using thoughtful responses and included details

 

Finished Science Fiction Story

Story lacked innovation, thought, and/or did not meet word count.

Story was innovative, but lacked thought process and/or flow. Had an interesting idea, but needed more to get point across.

Story was innovation, flowed, included a surprise factor. Story was well thought out.

 

Effort into Questions and Story

Student did not show any effort in either the questions and/or story

Student put little effort into questions and/or story. Got their point across, but lacked details or enthusiasm.

Student put a lot of effort into answering the questions and writing the story. Used detail and was creative with both questions and story.

 

 

 

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed exploring the world of science fiction!  Did you learn something new?  Are you going to see science fiction in a new light now?  I sure hope so!  I also hope this encouraged you to explore more science fiction works out there.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Bram Stoker, Dracula

Mary Shelley, Frankenstien 

George Orwell, 1984

Ray Bradbury, Ferigheant 451

Orsen Scott Card, Ender's Game

For my hardcore science fiction enthusiast I suggest you look into getting The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction.  It includes about 100+ short science fiction stories from various authors.  It even includes Rappaccini's Daughter and That Only a Mother.

Credits

The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley