Stevens Institute of TechnologyCollege of Arts and Letters

Program in Literature and Communications 

 Course Number and Section:          HLI 220A, Carnegie 315Title:                                                  Images of Science in LiteratureSemester and Year:                          Fall 2015Class days and times:                       T (2-2:50) & Th (2-3:40)Name of instructor:                          Dr. Catalina F. FlorescuOffice & office hrs: Tuesday 1-2 pm in Morton 305                                              Email address:                                  cfloresc@stevens.edu

Course description: This course investigates the views man has expressed about the advent impact of technology and science across recorded history. Questions that might be addressed include: What is the relationship between religion and technology? Has man always viewed technological innovations as positive? What relationship is there between man’s vision of utopian society and technology? Readings may include, but are not limited to novels, philosophical treatises, and the literature of various societies.Prerequisites:  None.  

Goals:  This course engages core texts of literature to:1)Promote awareness of the importance of literature in creating and maintaining the social,

political, ethical and religious systems by which we live.2) Foster an appreciation of the pleasures of reading. 3) Improve writing and communication skills.4) Consider how humans have discussed the impact of technology and science on society.

 Course objectives: As a result of taking this course you should be able to: 1) Appreciate and understand literature through science/technology, art, and cinema. 2) Engage your connective thinking among texts.3) Produce analytical responses to texts/passages outside of the required texts (“in class

unannounced mini-tests”).4) Be creative (“What If…” Project).5) Analyze what and how texts signify. Foster oral discussions. 6) Write a coherent draft. Compose a revised essay.

Required Kindle editions:Utopia; Brave New World; Rhinoceros; Dead Man’s Cell PhoneNota Bene: To all the other readings, you will either receive a link or an attachment. Mandatory: Have the texts with you at all times unless otherwise directed. Our discussions are text-related, so quoting from the primary source is important.

 Grading policies: 2 Reading/Research Writing Prompts 20% (15% - writing + 5% - oral presentations)Mini-test 10%

Test 20 %Paper 20 % (3 pages)Unannounced in class writing responses 10 %“What If…” in class project 10% (1 ½ page)Leading Discussions 10%

 Attendance -- Regular and punctual attendance is expected. Remember: at least 95% of success in life depends on showing up! -- If you are absent more than 3 times you will receive a lower grade (leaving halfway through class counts as an absence). -- Lateness of more than 10 minutes counts as 1/3 of an absence. -- It is your responsibility to remind me of your presence (tell me at the end of class) if you come in after I take attendance. -- More than 6 absences result in failure.

Policies Students are not permitted to take notes on their laptops, tablets, etc. -- The usage of cell phone is PROHIBITED. Do not text during class time. If you do, that means you do not either participate or listen to what others have to say. I mark absent those who text in class! -- In class unannounced mini-writing responses will be on passages from new readings and/or images (never discussed in class). These will test your ability to interact with a reading/visual without mediated discussions. The writing activities are meant to develop your awareness toward raising questions and providing critical answers.

WCC tutoring: Students should take advantage of this free service.  See www.stevens.edu/wci.  Adding and/or dropping the course: Consult the registrar’s website (http://www.stevens.edu/registrar/) for information re: add/drop policies. Honor board policies: Enrollment into the undergraduate class of Stevens Institute of Technology signifies a student’s commitment to the Honor System. It is the responsibility of each student to become acquainted with and to uphold the ideals set forth in the Honor System Constitution. Specific student responsibilities include: Maintaining honesty and fair play in all aspects of academic life at Stevens; Writing and signing the pledge, in full, on all submitted academic work; Reporting any suspected violations to an Honor Board member or to the Dean of Student Development; Cooperating with the Honor Board during investigations and hearings.The pledge signifies that the work submitted by a student is indeed his/her own. There is one designated pledge to be used for tests, homework assignments, lab reports, and computer projects. The pledge shall be written in full and signed by the student on all submitted academic work. Any references used (including texts, tutors, classmates, etc.) should be listed below the written pledge: “I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor System.”

 Students with disabilities: If you require special accommodations due to a disability, or if you need individual arrangements should the building be evacuated, you must inform the office of Student Counseling and

Psychological Services, Dr. Streich, Director, in the Howe Center, 7th floor (x5177), and ask that she inform the instructor as early as possible.

 Changes in the syllabus: I may modify or alter the syllabus to make up for lost classes due to weather conditions, health, or other reasons or when I believe it will help to attain course objectives, or for any other such reasons.  

~~~Schedule of Classes~~~09-01 Syllabus (introduction) and clips from the creation of ancient civilizations/tribes (Inca, Zulu, Navajo)09-03 The Bible (Genesis 1-12) and definition of images vs. imageries09-08 Research/Library Day # 1: Topic: Aboriginal myths of creation09-10 Research day # 1 writing prompt due; Oral presentations; and Ovid (Metamorphoses)09-15 Oral presentations (cont’d); and Utopia09-17 Brave New World and projection of movie adaptation (selection)09-22 Cont’d BNW09-24 Mini-test (1 hour long)09-29 Krapp’s Last Tape10-01 Cont’d KLP and video projection 10-06 Dead Man’s Cell Phone10-08 Cont’d DMCP10-13 Rhinoceros No class (Monday schedule) 10-15 Research /Library Day # 2: Topic: Let there be light, inside my body! (Transacting Sites of

the Liminal Bodily Spaces)10-20 Research day # 2 writing prompt due; Oral presentations; and “The Machine Stops”10-22 Oral presentations (cont’d); and Rhinoceros10-27 “The One Who Walked Away from Omelas” and “The Lottery” and “The Nine Billion

Names of God”10-29 “The Balloon” and “The Sound Machine”; projection of short movies/adaptations11-03 Big Hero 6 (clips and in class discussions)11-05 Test (1 hour 30 minute long)11-10 Creations Stories from around the World (“The Four Creations”; “Odin and Ymir”; “The

Separation of Heaven and Earth”)11-12 “The Story of Corn and Medicine”; “The Origin of Japan and Her People”; “The Golden

Chain”; The Menominee and Manabush”) and handout for paper distributed11-17 “Pan Gu and Nü Wa”; “Yahweh”; and “A Potawatomi Story”11-22 “Birth in the Dawn”; “Life from Moon and the Stars”; “Two Brothers and Their Grandmother”; and “Gaia”11-24 Paper due ***!!11-26 NO CLASS (Thanksgiving) 12-01 Einstein’s Dreams12-03 ED + “What If” in class project12-08 Oral presentations (“What If…” project) and revised papers due! 12-10 Activities TBD