Class Information

Robin Hudson

Office: KILC Room 312

Phone: 031-750-5628
robin.gachon.Spring2013 at gmail dot com
class website: http://www.robinhudson.net 
(or fireflyrobin.blogspot.com)

A+ or A0        less than 25%

A0s + B0s      less than 40%

C0/C+            No Limit 
D0/D+            No Limit 

As long as you come to every class, do all the assignments, show up for the midterm and do the final presentation, you won't get less than C+.      

What will you do in this class?

You will view the American television series, Firefly, and the subsequent theatrical feature, Serenity. In each class meeting, you will view one or more episodes and discuss them with your classmates. Each week you will be responsible for watching the episodes at home, in preparation for class discussion. 

What’s the workload like?

You will watch episodes and the movie outside of class and do 4 assignments. Class participation and proper preparation will be important. There will be a written midterm and a presentation in lieu of a final exam. Previous students said it was a lot of work, but it was the best, most interesting English class they ever had.

Grading: 

Attendance                   10%
Assignments                 40%
Midterm exam               25%
Final presentation          25%

Attendance Policy: Students arriving 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class and will be marked absent. I do not accept absence excuses for any reason. Students missing more than four (4) classes will fail.

Cell phone Policy: Cell phones must be switched off and placed on my table during class time.

Plagiarism Policy: Under no circumstances will plagiarism be tolerated. Students who plagiarize work will be given an F for the assignment. Plagiarizing the final presentation will result in an F for the term.

A note on spoilers: Please don’t tell your classmates ANY details of episodes they haven’t seen yet. Also, don’t go looking for information online for episodes you haven’t seen yet unless you want the story ruined for you. Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience Firefly/Serenity from an unspoiled perspective. Feel free to find out everything you can once you have seen an episode or the movie.

Tentative Syllabus:

Week	Content	Homework
1	Course introduction Firefly episode: Out of Gas	get all episodes visit this website
2	Repeat Course Intro Firefly pilot episode: Serenity	Watch Train Job and Bushwacked Work on an assignment
3	Episodes: Train Job, Bushwacked	Watch Shindig and Safe Work on an assignment
4	Episodes: Shindig, Safe	Watch Our Mrs. Reynolds and Jaynestown Work on an assignment
5	Episodes: Our Mrs. Reynolds,   Jaynestown	Watch Out of Gas and Ariel Work on an assignment
6	Episode: Out of Gas Episode: Ariel	Review for midterm exam Work on an assignment
7	MIDTERM EXAM Info on final presentation	Watch War Stories and Trash Work on an assignment
8	Episode: War Stories, Trash	Watch The Message Work on an assignment
9	Episode: The Message	Watch Heart of Gold Work on an assignment
10	Episode: Heart of Gold	Watch Objects in Space Work on an assignment
11	Episode: Objects in Space + DVD Special Features	Watch Serenity (optional) Work on an assignment
12	Movie: Serenity	Work on final presentation
13	Presentations	Work on final presentation
14	Presentations	Work on final presentation
15	Presentations/Done the Impossible documentary Last day of class	Watch the series again with someone you love and tell all your friends to take this class next semester!