281 is an intermediate composition course designed to help students develop essential writing skills such as analysis, intertextual awareness, genre awareness, and revision. This section of 281 focuses on science fiction texts. You will read science fiction novels, watch a sci-fi movie, and read literary criticism of sci-fi texts while honing your own writing skills with both short and longer assignments.While 281 has no formal prerequisite, this is an intermediate writing course, and instructors expect entering students to know how to formulate claims, integrate evidence, demonstrate awareness of audience, and structure coherent sentences, paragraphs and essays. Thus we strongly encourage

students to complete an introductory (100 level) writing course before enrolling in English 281.

Texts will include:
Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake
Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Paolo Bacigalupi, The Windup Girl
Saga Volume 1

Prerequisites:

While 281 has no formal prerequisite, this is an intermediate writing course, and instructors expect entering students to know how to formulate claims, integrate evidence, demonstrate awareness of audience, and structure coherent sentences, paragraphs and essays. Thus we strongly encourage students to complete an introductory (100 level) writing course before enrolling in English 281.