The final exam will cover all the material we've discussed in class and will be closed book. It will consist of the following questions:
- 10 content questions worth 10 marks (similar to the quizzes). The answers can be single words or in point form, as is appropriate. Grammar will not count, although spelling will!
- 5 short answer questions (no more than 1 page) worth 5 marks each. Your answer should be a complete paragraph with grammatically correct sentences and have appropriate formatting - page citations are not required.
- 1 longer essay question (3-4 pages), worth 20 marks. This should be a complete essay, with an introduction, thesis statement, conclusion, and two to three body paragraphs, each of which addresses a sub-topic and provides concrete examples from the assigned readings to support your thesis. Your answer should also be in grammatically correct sentences and have appropriate formatting - page citations are not required.
For the exam I will select questions from the lists below. There will not be a choice of questions (you have to answer all the questions I give you!), so you might want to sketch out answers to all these questions beforehand to prepare for the exam. I'm also happy to answer any questions you might have or to have a quick look at a point form answer you draw up to any of these questions - as long as you send it to me before exam week.
Short Answer Questions
- Identify the major characteristics of "Golden Age" SF. Illustrate your points by referring to one of the assigned readings.
- Identify the major characteristics of "New Wave" SF. Illustrate your points by referring to one of the assigned readings.
- Identify the major characteristics of "Cyberpunk" SF. Illustrate your points by referring to one of the assigned readings.
- Identify the major characteristics of "New space Opera" SF. Illustrate your points by referring to one of the assigned readings.
- Identify the major characteristics of "Hard" SF. Illustrate your points by referring to one of the assigned readings.
- Identify the major characteristics of "Social" SF. Illustrate your points by referring to one of the assigned readings.
- Science fiction stories often have to deliver a lot of information to the reader, but don't want to deliver it in a tedious way (i.e. as a dry lecture). Describe the techniques used to do this in one of the assigned readings.
- Homelessness is a theme in "Aye, and Gomorrah". Explain. Cite concrete examples from the story to support your explanation.
- Why did Tiptree choose to make her narrator, and main character, a "strong" male character?
- Does the punishment fit the crime in "I Have No Mouth and Must Scream"? Support your argument by referring to concrete examples from the story.
- What is Gibson saying about the place of the individual in a corporate-run society? Support your argument by referring to concrete examples from the story.
- Does Ender represent "Good" in Ender's Game? Support your argument by referring to concrete examples from the story.
- Does Peter represent "Bad" in Ender's Game? Support your argument by referring to concrete examples from the story.
- Communication, or lack of communication, is important in Ender's Game. Explain. Cite concrete examples from the story to support your explanation.
- In Ender's Game, does Ender come to terms with the destruction of the buggers? Support your argument by referring to concrete examples from the story.
Longer Essay Questions
- "By scientification,... I mean the Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and Edgar Allan Poe type of story---a charming romance intermingled with scientific fact and prophetic vision" - Hugo Gernsback. Is the above a good definition of SF? Defend your answer by citing concrete examples from Ender's Game and at least three of the other readings.
- "Science Fiction is the branch of literature that deals with the effects of change on people in the real world as it can be projected into the past, the future, or to distant places. It often concerns itself with scientific or technological change, and it usually involves matters whose importance is greater than the individual or the community; often civilization or the race itself is in danger." - James E. Gunn. Is the above a good definition of SF? Defend your answer by citing concrete examples from Ender's Game and at least three of the other readings.
- "A science fiction story is a story built around human beings, with a human problem and a human solution, which would not have happened at all without its scientific content." Theodore Sturgeon. Is the above a good definition of SF? Defend your answer by citing concrete examples from Ender's Game and at least three of the other readings.
- "A handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method." Robert A. Heinlein. Is the above a good definition of SF? Defend your answer by citing concrete examples from Ender's Game and at least three of the other readings.