GH 101: Science Fiction as Social Criticism Hour Exam #2 [200 Points]

Your examination will consist of two parts: a matching section worth 25 points and an essay on Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow worth 75 points. You will receive a possible score out of 100 points, and then that score will be doubled to achieve the weighted score out of 200 points or 20% of your course grade.

Part I. Matching.

Part I: 20 Matching Items @ 2 Points each for a total of 40 Points.

Following the format of Examination #1, I will project a list of stories in their assigned order on the screen in the front of the classroom. My experience is that seeing where each story came in the sequence helps students to associate titles with specific content.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

R.U.R. by Karel Capek

“Helen O’Loy” by Lester Del Rey

”The Algorithms for Love” by Ken Liu

“Liar!” by Isaac Asimov

“Second Variety” by Philip K. Dick

“Burning Chrome” by William Gibson

You will be given the following matching key. To complete Part I, simply place the correct letter of the alphabet on the line before each quotation.

A. / ”The Algorithms for Love” by Ken Liu
B. / “Burning Chrome” by William Gibson
C. / “Helen O’Loy” by Lester Del Rey
D. / “Liar!” by Isaac Asimov
E. / R.U.R. by Karel Capek
F. / “Second Variety” by Philip K. Dick
G. / The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

Part II. Essay on Russell’s The Sparrow [55 Points + 5 Points for Preparation Materials].

Respond to ONE of the following issues. In either case, begin your response with a thesis paragraph that introduces the novel and its author and presents your answer to the question in the form of a thesis statement. Then defend your position in the following paragraphs by discussing specific moments in the novel that illustrate your points:

  1. Write a short essay that demonstrates your understanding of the novel’s address to the concept of Casuistical [context-based] reasoning by discussing how a single character’s thoughts and behaviors demonstrate Russell’s emphasis on context-based reasoning. To what extent does the conflict between simple binary and case-based reasoning govern the actions and the statements of this character?
  1. Write a short essay in which you discuss the function in the novel of one of the following characters. The term, "function," may be interpreted rather loosely here. How does the character help to develop a principal thematic concern or conflict in the novel? Or how does the character help us to understand a philosophical position being promoted by Russell through her novel? Or how does the character help us to understand the nature and resolution of Father Emilio Sandoz's spiritual crisis. Or how does the character help us to understand a point of social criticism being developed by Russell through her novel?

Sofia Mendez

Johannes Voelker

Anne Edwards

Felipe Reyes

Hlavin Kitheri

Supaari VaGayjur

You may consult The Sparrow while writing your essay. You are also required to bring to class a typed, double-spaced opening paragraph of no more than 250 words as the introduction to your in-class essay. This typed paragraph should introduce the subject of your essay, state your thesis, and identify the topics that will govern your body paragraphs. Of course, each short essay will end with a brief conclusion regarding either a single character’s role in developing the conflict between binary and context-based reasoning (topic #1) or a single character’s function in the novel (topic #2). Consult our out-of-class essay assignment for further detail on how to write an introduction to an essay about literature and how to introduce and document quotations.