The Rhetoric of Science (Fiction) Writing

In this course we will look at both popular science writing and science fiction as genres with the same goals—to make sense of a world that increasingly does not make sense. Rather than reading science fiction as a precursor to scientific innovation, or reading popular science writing as interested only in education rather than the more fantastical implications of science, we will look at how these genres overlap and how they diverge. Considering both under the name Science Writing, we will ask questions such as: What does Science Writing say about cloning? About genetic engineering? About exploration? About politics? About nuclear proliferation? About war? About the environment? About psychotherapeutic drugs? Our investigations will look at how Science Writing does not always present the promise of the imagined world of the future, but often works as a reaction to the very real and very unavoidable world of today. We will consider the origins of both genres, the definitions of the genres, how texts work within and against these genres, and what role these genres play in the cultures that produce them. By semester's end, you will be able to read Science Writing as it responds to specific needs of a culture, and use Science Writing to understand the culture that it represents. You will also be able to employ a rhetoric that explains the importance of genre—both how the expectations of genre inform our reading, and how to meet the expectations of genre in our writing.

We will do much reading and much writing as we work to achieve these goals. Assignments include: a reading journal and short responses; a presentation; 3 essays closely analyzing an essay or a story; a narrative of your research for your final paper; and a final paper incorporating literary or rhetorical analysis and a topic of scientific interest.

Required Texts:

Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake.
Card, Orson Scott. Masterpieces of Science Fiction.
Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. (Bantam Edition)
Sobel, Dana, ed. The Best American Science Writing 2004.
A course packet.
Readings from E-Reserves.