a review of genres: science fiction & fantasy

A Review of Genres:

Science Fiction&

Fantasy

A Few Suggestions

Let’s Define…• Ultimate “What if” story• Imagines a possible future or

reconceptualizes the past• Construction of an alternate time

or place is critical• Plot can be mystery, romance,

adventure and/or comedy

A Historical Perspective• Influences like the Sumerian Epic of

Gilgamesh & Utopia (More, 1516)• Others argue it began in the late Middle

Ages• Francis Bacon's fantasy The New

Atlantis (published in 1627) • Became possible only with the Scientific

Revolution (discoveries by Galileo and Newton)

Historical Perspective Cont’d• 17th-18th Centuries: Gulliver’s Travels,

Memoirs of the Twentieth Century, the gothic novel, particularly Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Edgar Allen Poe’s The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall

• 19th Century: H.G. Wells & Jules Verne• Baum’s Land of Oz series• Boomed in 20th Century with comics and

films in lieu of technological advances

Core Elements• Alternate perspectives of

reality• Elements of science or

scientific principals• Must have internal

consistencies (i.e. Data)

A Significant Quote

“Many of the most fascinating ideas in

science originated not in the laboratory but,

in the minds of imaginative science

fiction writers” - Robert W. Bly

Science Fiction Themes

• Intergalactic• Time travel/4th dimension• Extraterrestrials• Elaborate contraptions• Artificial Intelligence• Post Apocalyptic• Cyber Punk (Terminator, the Matrix)

“Hard” • Scientific facts • Scientific

accuracyof technical

aspects(Star Trek, Star

Wars, The Time Machine, Frankenstein)

“Soft”Deals with social

sciences (Philosophy, psychology)

Most of YA science fiction lean towards this

More suitable to this stage of development due to connections and their sense of wonder (Harry Potter, Twilight, LOTR)

Fantasy

• Fantasy is very similar to Science Fiction with the exception that Fantasy is not plausible

Science Fiction vs. Fantasy• Sci-Fi

– Is about what could be but isn’t

–Uses scientists and mathematicians

• Fantasy– Is about what

couldn’t be–Uses wizards

and sorcerers–Mythical &

magical creatures

Advantages• Integrate into math & science• Can teach applicable content• Easy to comprehend events• Entertaining• Sparks creativity and

imagination

Visualization Strategies• Comic book/Cartoon Squares• A picture is worth a 1,000 words using

imagery writing and illustrations• Students design a movie clip using images

relevant to the book (Animoto, Devil’s Arithmetic link)

• Compare/Contrast Sci-Fi to Non-fiction texts with graphic organizer

• Multi-media presentation (PPT, brochure)• Compare/Contrast visual perceptions (book

vs. movie)

Lets do something!

Outworlder• It’s NOT

• Guess?

• It is

• Guess

Outworlder

• A being from another world; alien

Frayer Model

• Word• Definition in YOUR OWN WORDS• Non-example• Non-linguistic representation (sketch)

Picture Books

References• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_science_fiction• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_dimension • http://www.answers.com/morphology • http://www.answers.com/topic/science-fiction • http://www.ehow.com/how_2130322_read-science-fiction-story-ch

ildren.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

• http://www.powells.com/psection/ChildrensPictureBooks.html • http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=927 • Cole, P. (2009). Young adult literature in the 21st century. New

York, NY: McGraw-Hill. • Harvey, S., & Goudvis, A. (2007). Strategies That Work Teaching

Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement. New York: Stenhouse.

• Hoyt, L. (2004). Spotlight on Comprehension Building a Literacy of Thoughtfulness. Chicago: Heinemann.

• Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D. J. (2005). Building Academic Vocabulary Teacher's Manual. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Deve.

Any Questions?