Topic: Conflict, Theme, and the Role of Science Fiction
Prerequisites: Take notes on the genre of science-fiction, particularly soft science fiction and its role in socio-political commentary. Review literary elements and techniques and understand the structure of short fiction. Watch the short film Suits from the anthology Love, Death, & Robots; read the article, “Tolkien on the Importance of Fantasy and Science Fiction”; and read, analyze, and discuss the short story War Game by Philip K Dick.
Directions: Write a 2 – 3 page paper that uses the main idea of the Tolkien article on the special role science fiction has (or speculative fiction) as a lens to analyze the thematic ideas that unite Suits and War Games, and how conflict in each is constructed and used to help reveal these thematic ideas. The paper must be typed using MLA format: 1” margins, 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced.
Your analysis should establish unifying thematic ideas between the works and then analyze how conflict is structured in each to help reveal these ideas. This should be explored through the lens from the article, which should explain why the authors used science fiction as a means to deliver these messages.
Your thesis should answer the multiple layers of the task. It must present a unifying theme and provide reasoning for the use of science fiction and the ways the authors used conflict as a vehicle for theme. The body of the paper should then flesh out these ideas, provide evidence and analysis. Your conclusion should extend the idea given in the theme to our current lives and express a critical assessment as to the relevance of the authors’ message.
You must include relevant and specific textual evidence to support your thesis. When quoting directly from the work, use quotation marks and cite page numbers.
Audience: Remember that your audience is an audience of 1 – me. Always assume, in an academic paper, that your audience knows the works you are analyzing (which I do). Therefore, waste no time giving plot summaries. Focus on the essay’s main goal and use text discussions and pot points only in wa way that helps illuminate your arguments.
Points to Remember:
Use MLA format – including citations and works cited
Include a title to the paper
Use a formal tone – no first person ‘I’ or second person ‘you’
No plot summaries – all evidence must prove the thesis
Maintain a focus on the task throughout
Use the present tense
Works Cited for Your Paper:
Thomson, Jenny. “Tolkien on the Importance of Fantasy and Science Fiction.” High Culture. 12 April 2022.
“Suits.” Written by Steven Lewis (based on short story), Philip Gelatt (adapted script), Tim Miller, and Directed by Gabriele Pennacchioli and Franck Bacon. Love, Death & Robots. Netflix. 2019.
Dick, Philip K. “War Games.” The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by Philip K Dick. Citadel Press. pp. 157 – 172. 2002.
