A Brief Introduction to Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Some advice about approaching a science fiction/fantasy novel (particularly for those of you who are "REALISTS")

First off, you need to know that science fiction and fantasy are two genres often lumped together. They are considered special MARKETS in the publishing world. It has been found that people who like sci-fi & fantasy will read a lot of it. People who don't like it, rarely will. So the sci-fi/fantasy market is specific. In order for publishing companies to make money, they will advertise specifically TO markets.

Remember that sci-fi & fantasy are intended for FANTASIST readers. Readers who want to escape or forget their world and consider other things. They want strange events and weird characters. What you need to know is that these weird characters and strange events are just like normal events in real life, except that characters have neat names or take place in exotic locations, or deal with situations that are unlikely, but often, sometimes possible.

Fantasy really refers to anything that is NOT realistic or occurs in our natural world. Magic, talking animals, psychic phenomena, vampires--all of these things could be considered fantasy. Most fantasy novels involve a good portion of mythic archetype. Many deal with dualistic forces in conflict (good vs. evil, for example). We will discuss more about various literary archetypes in the upcoming classes. But first a note about sci-fi (remember Trekkies?) Most of this pertains to fantasy as well.

All sci-fi is what we call SPECULATIVE FICTION. A speculation is an idea or belief or thought that is developed. All speculative fiction hinges on a single question: "What if?"

What if the world were destroyed?
What if aliens landed on earth?
What if time travel were possible?

The speculative idea, then, is central to understanding a sci-fi novel. You should be able to answer: what is being examined as the central speculative idea in the story?

From this speculative idea (or perhaps because of it) writers of speculative (Sci-fi) writing use the idea to make a metaphor. They are suggesting that one thing represents another. Aliens, for example, represent outsiders (hence their popularity with a group of readers who, themselves, feel like outsiders). The end of the world represents the fact that all of us (and our societies...whether we like it or not) will come to an end. Many times sci-fi deals with themes of transcendence, religion or religious issues, and the flow of memory and time.

Realist fiction does the same thing, but they tackle these themes literally. The sci-fi, speculative fantasist does this FIGURATIVELY (or metaphorically).

So for you realists, don't be thrown with a story about Xygort from the planet Hegamelonia who has found that a secret weapon is being used to destroy the universe so he has to time travel to stop this from happening. This is just Steve, the pimply 9th grade wall-flower who can't get a date, until he uncovers the truth about himself by searching his past.

HOMEWORK: Begin reading your chosen book.

Documentary Project & Portfolio

Please prepare your documentaries and portfolios today. Use time in class to complete these projects.

Final Portfolio Rubric & Explanation

There are two (2) parts to your final portfolio.
A. A 4-6 page, double-spaced, typed self evaluation essay
B. A variety of your best work chosen from all your CW classes

Your final portfolio will count for both 9th grade creative writing classes and will be reviewed by Mr. Craddock & Ms. Gamzon. It will constitute 25% of your final grade.

Part A. Self Evaluation Essay

Part B. Portfolio

Select work that you created this year in Ms. Gamzon or Mr. Craddock’s classes. All work should be copies of original work. No journals will be accepted. Follow the guideline below.

Table of contents. Your table of contents should order your portfolio into the following parts:
a. Poetry
b. Fiction
c. Non-fiction
d. Scripts
e. Special projects

Poetry. Choose 5-7 of your best poems. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of poetry. Each poem’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Fiction. Choose 3-4 of your best fiction pieces. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of fiction. Each fiction piece’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Non-fiction. Choose 1-3 of your best non-fiction pieces. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of non-fiction. Each non-fiction piece’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Scripts: Choose 1-3 of your best scripts. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of script writing. Each script’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Special Projects: Choose and describe (DO NOT PRINT OUT) 3-4 of your special projects (newsletter, iMovie projects, brochure, literary magazine, blog, performance poetry/slam, etc.) which show your growth and creative ability. Each project should be listed on the table of contents. If you have been working on a project not assigned in class, you may include this work in your special projects. (Example: I am working on a novel, and I haven’t told my teachers or I have written a musical, etc.) Please do NOT print your special project, unless you already have an extra copy. Instead, please talk about these projects in your reflection.

Self Reflection Non Fiction - Creative Essay:

During the entire freshman year, we have thrown quite a bit of information, projects, and assignments your way. We did not do this to be cruel, but to see how you react to pressure, deadlines, writing & reading skills, and so that you had the opportunity to grow as a writer and a student. It is true that the most important qualification for writers is that they write. Apart from this, reading is also the most important way to improve your writing at this stage. These introductory courses are designed to get you to know yourself as a student and writer a little better. Part of this is the need to self-reflect. Examine the writing rubrics and the material in your portfolio. Reflect on your work this year.

Reflective piece: 4-6 pages, double-spaced. Write about how you’ve grown as a writer this year, what has been easy/hard for you, what areas you feel you need more work in; reflect on your progress as a writer, a reader, and as a student. Write about each selected piece you have chosen to include in your portfolio (per genre): why did you include these pieces in your portfolio? How does the piece show your growth and development as a writer in this particular genre? What did you learn about yourself concerning writing from this assignment or project? Discuss the writing process you used to create the work, where you got your ideas, what you learned about the form or genre of the work as you wrote and revised it, what you learned about yourself as a writer, etc. Discuss special projects and reading that had an impact on you. What did you learn about writing and about yourself through these assignments this year? (Enough questions to get you started?)

Rubric

_____ Table of Contents 10 points
_____ Reflective Essay (4-6 pages) 30 points
_____ Poetry (5-7 poems) 10 points
_____ Fiction (3-4 short stories) 10 points
_____ Non Fiction (1-3 creative essays) 10 points
_____ Special Projects (1-3 special projects) 10 points
_____ Grammar (Work is clean, copy-edited, free of errors) 10 points
Penalty: (-1/2 point for each grammar error. Up to -10 points)
_____ Portfolio turned in complete and on time 10 points

Penalties:
• Late portfolios (-10 points per day late)
• Handwritten work (-1 for each handwritten page)
• Grammar errors (see above)

The final portfolio is due Friday, June 10

Documentaries & Name All the Animals

Please post a comment/response on your blog on the following:
1. How is the book reading going? What parts of the book have been easy or difficult for you as a reader? Why? (please reflect)
2. Pick a character in the memoir that you find yourself liking. What is the role of this character? Why does the author include this character in the plot, setting, or story?
3. (optional) Pick a character to contrast with #2 above. Pick a character that you do not like and explain what is bothering you. How would you do it if you were the author?

Please finish reading Name All the Animals for Thursday. We will have a discussion and a quiz on the book.

After posting, please continue to work on your documentary projects.

HOMEWORK: Complete Name All the Animals. Work on and film documentary.

Friday, May 20

During 3rd period, please assist the substitute in watching the rest of Trekkies. We left off on chapter 13. After the film, please continue to work, plan, and research your documentary projects.

For those of you interested, here's some info on Star Trek.

The original Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry, debuted in 1966 and ran for three seasons, following the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Federation Starship Enterprise. These adventures were continued in an animated television series and six feature films. Four more television series were produced, based in the same universe but following other characters: Star Trek: The Next Generation, following the crew of a new Starship Enterprise set several decades after the original series; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager set contemporaneously with The Next Generation; and Star Trek: Enterprise, set in the early days of human interstellar travel. Four additional feature films were produced, following the crew of The Next Generation, and most recently a 2009 movie reboot of the series featuring a young crew of the original Enterprise set in a parallel universe.

Check here for the "official" Star Trek website.

Some fans have too much time on their hands. Here's a time line for the Star Trek world.

Here's a few clips of some of the more interesting moments:

Amok Time (1967) - fight scene

The Introduction to the Animated Series
Animated Series - More Trouble with Tribbles

The Original Movie trailer (1978)
Wrath of Khan (19
The Search For Spock
The Voyage Home (
The Final Frontier
The Undiscovered Country

The Next Generation (1987)

Generations (
First Contact - Star Trek VIII
Insurrection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ql0jnp1cyg
New Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek beats the race barrier... Deep Space Nine
Star Trek beats the gender barrier... Voyager
Enterprise

And some full episodes of the original:

Space Seed (1966)
Arena (1966)
The Trouble With Tribbles(1966)

William Shatner Sings Rocket Man
Leonard Nimoy sings The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

And the parodies:

Simpsons
Futurama
Futurama - part 2

HOMEWORK: Read Name All the Animals. Plan to complete your reading by next week.

Documentaries: Trekkies

As we watch the film Trekkies (period 3), please note various camera work and skill involved in making this interactive documentary. After viewing, we will spend some time today researching our ideas for our own documentaries and getting ready (a shooting plan) to film.

HOMEWORK: Don't forget to continue reading Name All the Animals. Press ahead and read. Test on this book next week!

Documentaries

The creative impulse to hold a mirror up to nature to see the reflection of ourselves has always been strong. Since the beginning of film history, filmmakers have enjoyed capturing real life. This basic style of film falls under the category of REALISM. Documentaries are generally considered the most "realistic" of all films.

All documentaries have similar basic principals and/or qualities:
1. The events depicted in the film are unstaged; the events exist above and beyond the diegesis (the film world) or the act of filming them. The unstaged nature of the events suggest that the events or subjects have an existence independent of the cinema, thus granting them an air of authenticity or "realism".

2. Documentaries are understood to be non-fiction films. The world or diegesis of what appears on screen is considered real, not imaginary (as in fiction films).

3. It is often assumed that the documentary film maker observes, recording events or subject matter objectively. This is, of course, an untrue or uninformed statement.

There are Five different TYPES of documentary:

A. Expository documentary: the film maker's commentary acts as the "voice-of-God", often giving information or perspectives external to the filmed world in order to "see the world afresh, even if the world seems romantic (idealized) and/or didactic. Here's an example: the Last Lions (2011)

B. Observational documentary: The film maker records events depicted in the film unobtrusively, without intervention from the film-maker, capturing "real life" without commentary, intertitles, or interviews. The documentary type depicts a "slice of life" or direct representation without comment or subjectivity of the film maker. The film maker is completely invisible and/or uninvolved. the French film: Etre et Avoir about elementary schools in France.

C. Interactive documentary: The filmmaker's perspective and opinion is more evident. Interview styles allow the film maker to participate actively in presenting of events. It is sort of the opposite of the observational documentary. Sometimes the film maker him/herself is present in the film, asking questions or juxtaposing their opinion with others. Unlike expository documentaries, the film maker is present instead of a disembodied voice of authority (god).
Roger & Me (1989) but also Bowling For Columbine

Capitalism a Love Story (2009)

D. Reflexive documentary: Going one step further from interactive documentary, the film maker of reflexive documentary does not attempt to hide the convention of film making. You know you are "watching a film" about "making a film." While documentaries are usually considered realistic, the camera work in a reflexive documentary are much more similar to formalism (the opposite style to realism). Example "Man with a Movie Camera" (1928)

E. Performative documentary: Going beyond the reflexive documentary, the performative documentary seeks to evoke mood or atmosphere traditionally found in fiction films. It can be downright avant garde and formalistic. Its purpose is more metaphorical than literal.

example of performative documentary:
Survivors
One of the most famous performative documentaries is Koyaanisqatsi. Here's a clip.

Quiz: Please watch the following clips and decide what kind of documentary the film would be classified as:

1. Charlie Bit Me
2. Super Size Me
3. March of the Penguins
4. Regen (1929)
5. American Movie

Turn in your answers by the end of period 3 today.

HOMEWORK: If you have not yet completed your non-fiction story project, please do so at home and turn it in ASAP. It is past due. Please continue reading through part II of Name All the Animals: pp. 156.

Rubric for your Documentary Project

A/A+: Video theme is compelling, significant, and well supported by effective camera work and transitions. The subject and portrayal/coverage of the subject raises and evokes questions, while attempting to move deeper into the subject. Video includes effective music/sound track, credits, title, and cinematography. Project was obviously a group effort. Film turned in on time and in correct format.

B/B+: Video is important and supported by camera work; transitions are appropriate and useful. The subject may raise or evoke questions, but film may have some gaps or weaknesses. Video includes music/sound track, credits, title and cinematography, but may have some mistakes or weaknesses. Project was probably a group effort. Film turned in on time.

C/C+: Video approaches film subject, but without much inspiration or effective analysis. Subject may have some gaps that would be improved with reediting or more effort, but overall the film project was completed. Video may be missing any of the following: music/sound, credits, title. Camera work may have some problems or weaknesses that affect the success of the film. Film turned in late.

D: Film was a C/C+ level, but turned in rather late or the project was attempted, but not completed.

F: Film incomplete or not turned in.

Name All the Animals/Bell Jar Project Due

After our quiz and posting a response to the book Name All the Animals (see below), we will complete and proofread our non-fiction stories. These are due at the end of class.

Name All the Animals Response: Please respond to one or more of the following:
1. examine how the author describes characters or people. How does she make them "real", "approachable", or use CHARACTERIZATION to allow the reader to sympathize or empathize with the character? Pick one character and examine him/her.

2. Choose one episode or event from your reading so far and examine the scene for its dramatic effect. What is the author doing in the passage that you identify as "fine writing." What makes the writing effective in this passage? Examine.

3. Examine dialogue. How does the author provide a narrative story, move a plot along, engage in full characterization of a character through effective use of dialogue? Choose a scene in which dialogue plays an important part in the narrative and examine its effectiveness.

PROOFREADING:
Before you turn in your non-fiction story, please read your work again and add details where you are vague and uninteresting. Add similes/metaphors, anaphora, and other rhetorical devices. Examine your verbs and make them interesting. Always move toward the specific rather than the general. Add dialogue (if you don't have any) and slow down time in sections that you think are important. Give your story a title.

HOMEWORK: Please read through pg. 139 (up to Chapter 23)

Marking Period Ends: Bell Jar Project

Please work toward a conclusion for your Bell Jar Projects. The stories are not due today, but will be due Tuesday and count for our last marking period.

All missing or late work should be completed by the end of class today for minimal credit.

Please read to page 105 (through chapter 17): in Name All the Animals today and for Tuesday.

Name All the Animals/Bell Jar Project

Today, after our quiz, we will continue reading from page 30.

During 4th period, please do the following:
1. Continue working on your non-fiction project(s).
2. Post a comment about the book Name All the Animals on your BLOG.

HOMEWORK: Please read to page 75 for Friday. This concludes part one.

Memoir: Name All the Animals & the Bell Jar Project

Today, let's pick up Alison Smith's Name All the Animals from the library. This is a contemporary memoir that was on the best-seller list for many months. You can find information about the book and author here.

When we return from the library, we'll start reading together. During the second half of our class, please go back to writing your Bell Jar projects.

HOMEWORK: Read through Page: 30 for Wednesday. Perhaps there will be a quiz?