Our midterm exam will be on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during our normal class time. There will be two parts to the exam, both written by hand:
Your essays are expected to be five to six paragraphs long with a traditional introduction that includes the authors and titles of the texts you plan to use in the essay, a clear thesis you plan ot argue, and a list of the key points you plan to include in the paper. Remember to read your chosen essay topic carefully and answer all the expectations of the essay.
You will need to prepare an outline for your essay on a 5" x 8" card. Please see the Exam Card Preparation guide in the Assignments section.
If you have a letter of accomodation, please email me to remind me that you need to schedule the exam at the Testing Center. I have to create and share the exam with them well before the actual exam date.
Essay Options for the Midterm Exam
For purposes of this exam, "theorists" are the non-fiction essays by de Beauvoir, Fanon, or Haraway. "Readings" include the film Blade Runner. Material in the introduction to the anthology or the introductory material before individual stories and essays should not be used as quotes in your essays.
1. The concept of the "Other" plays a significant role in science fiction because of its propensity to include alien life forms and/or technology to create radically different forms of life. Using at least one (or more) theorist, discuss three representations of the other in the readings thus far. Shape your discussion to support a central claim about the "Other" common across your three examples. Must include a reference to Murderbot.
2. The figure of the cyborg represents the merging of machine and human, opening up new forms of identity that can transcend species, gender, culture, or even being alive. Using "The Cyborg Manifesto" as a guide, identify two potential cyborg figures from the readings and show how they challenge the readers' expected view of humanity. Bear in mind that a cyborg may not necessarily require a merging of human and machine.Must reference Julia ChildeMust include a reference to Murderbot.
3. The nature of reality (or the reality of reality) is often questioned in science fiction, leaving characters and/or readers at a loss for how to interpret the world in which they find themselves. Explore three moments in which reality shifts for either the characters or reader in the texts from the course and discuss how these shifts either fundamentally challenge their assumptions about the nature of reality or offer intriguing alternatives. Must include a reference to Murderbot.
4.Gender clearly threads its way through many of the texts in this class. Using three sources, identify ways in which science fiction allows readers to explore the issue of gender in a manner less threatening than in mainstream literature.Must include a reference to Murderbot.
You may wish to review How to Prepare for Dr. Halbert’s Midterm and Final Exam..