Introduction
In Quarter 1, we are working on genre study, or learning about different types of genre. So far we have done tall tales, folklore, fables, etc. Our next unit of study is Science Fiction.
You will be journeying to another world in this story, but before you leave Earth, there are a number of things you'll need to "pack" for your journey.
Before beginning this quest, you must have your a set of headphones/earbuds in order to enjoy the video and audio recording, and the assignment sheet titled Science Fiction Webquest.
Task
As stated before, Science Fiction is a most unusual genre because it has prophetic tendencies. The definition of prophetic is accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future. Science Fiction author Rod Serling says, "Science Fiction is the improbable made possible." In fact, many science fiction stories of the past now seem like nothing more than a normal (sometimes almost boring) story about someone's day. It's hard to see how they could be considered part of the Science Fiction genre at all, that is until you look at the date when the story was originally published.
This webquest requires you to preform several tasks. You will be asked to explore science fiction authors of the past. Find out how what they wrote decades ago can now be found in our daily lives. Then you will read the short story "The Fun They Had" by Isaac Asminov which was written in 1951. Notice the story isn't so far removed from what students can and do experience today. Lastly, find inventions that are used today that were actually created in science fiction stories.
Start by watching this "Science" Fiction video.
Process
Task #1
First, you must find out what Science Fiction is. Using the websites provided, pleas record on your sheet the key characteristics of Science Fiction.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-science-fiction-writing-de…
https://www.eduplace.com/activity/pdf/scifiction.pdf
Task 2:
On your WebQuest sheet that you wrote about your quiz results, answer the following questions about one of the authors in the list below.
Jules Verne
Ray Bradbury
H.G. Wells
Madeline L'Engle
Rod Serling
Isaac Asimov
All of these authors have written stories that have elements in them that are relevant to things that are happening today. What is so remarkable about these authors, besides the fact that they are brilliant storytellers, is the fact that what they originally wrote about decades ago has happened or is currently happening. It's almost like they could see the future!
Once you have chosen your author use the links found in the biography website
to find out the following information about your author.
(https://www.biography.com/people/groups/sci-fi-and-fantasy-writers)
(https://www.biography.com/people/madeleine-lengle-9378983) Madelyn L'Engle only
(https://www.biography.com/news/rod-serling-facts-twilight-zone-day) Rod Serling only
1. Your author's name.
2. Biographical information about the author (birth date, death date, educational background)
3. A title of one of their famous works? Is it a short story or a novel? When was it written?
Spelling and grammar count, so make sure to proofread.
Task #3:
Read Isaac Asimov's short story "The Fun They Had"
https://schd.ws/hosted_files/readwrite/9f/Fun-They-Had-ST.pdf
Answer the following questions on your WebQuest (there is room at the bottom).
Find Meaning
1. (a) At the beginning of “The Fun They Had,” what does Margie write in her diary? (b) Why does she choose to write this?
2. How is the book Tommy found different from the books that Margie is used to?
3. (a) What is the book about? (b) How is the school described in the book different from the kind of school Margie is used to?
Task #4:
Name five inventions that Isaac Asimov wrote about between the years of 1930-1960 that have become items we use today.
http://www.davison.com/blog/2014/02/18/isaac-asimovs-future-invention-p…
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/AuthorTotalAlphaList.asp?AuNum=4
Example: the term "robotics" was coined (first used/invented) in Asimov's 1941 story "Liar!"
Evaluation
Please turn in your completed Webquest sheet in at the end of class.
Conclusion
Now that you are back on earth! It's time to apply all of this knowledge!