#What do “Flowers for Algernon” and “Nightfall” say about the role of science in society? ()#Several of the assigned readings we looked at were considered to be “ground-breaking”. Pick two stories and explain how they broke new ground in SF.()#How has SF grown and matured as a literary genre? Use two of the assigned readings to illustrate the growth – you may also refer to works that preceded the ones you are talking about to illustrate the growth. ()#Is science a necessary element of a science fiction story? Defend your argument using at least two of the assigned readings. ()#What is the author saying about men's expectation of women in “Helen O'Loy” and “The Perfect Woman”? ()#Why did the author choose the narrator he did in “Helen O'Loy” and “Flowers for Algernon”?()#Ideas often take precedence over characterization in SF stories. Illustrate this using two of the assigned readings.( )#SF stories often turn things around so that we see them in a new way. Describe how this technique is used in two of the assigned readings.()#Since SF stories can be set in any place or time, most begin by establishing the setting. Illustrate how this is done in four of the assigned readings. ()#By setting stories on other planets or using other races, the author is often holding a mirror up to our society or to human psychology. What is Asimov saying about us in “Nightfall”? ()#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 and illustrate the techniques used to do this in four of the assigned readings. ()#Is "Helen O'Loy" a sexist story? Be sure to explain any terms you might use, especially the term "sexist". ()#Wiki madness! In lieu of a formal essay, I will allow some people to put together wiki pages on some of the assigned readings. See me for more details. Stories eligible for this include "Helen O'Loy", "It's a Good Life", "The Cold Equations" "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" or "Aye, and Gomorrah". ()