Instructor: Hoover (Fall 2008)

• Thomas More,  Utopia
• Edward Bellamy,  Looking Backward
• Aldous Huxley,  Brave New World
• Ernest Callenbach,  Ecotopia
• Margaret Atwood,  The Handmaid’s Tale
• (additional text delivered on-line)

The primary aim of this course is to foster thoughtful social criticism, i.e., to encourage reflection on the values, institutions, and norms of behavior within our own society. The catalyst for this form of thinking will be a genre of literature known as utopian fiction. Western literature abounds with examples of fictional utopias such as Thomas More's “Utopia”, Francis Bacon's “New Atlantis”, Edward Bellamy’s “Looking Backward”, and Ernest Callenbach’s' “Ecotopia”.  We will examine a number of these literary utopias (and dystopias). The recurrent themes encountered in these texts will include, among others, the distribution of wealth, the appropriate use of technology, equality of the sexes, and ideal government. The alternative models of society proposed in this literature and the social criticism inherent in these models will be a primary focus of the course. 

In addition to the discussion of utopian texts themselves, the course will also engage with secondary literature and the diverse ways of approaching this genre of literature that is found there. In particular we will raise the question of whether utopias are best viewed as escapist fantasies, apocalyptic warnings, or as pragmatic solutions to social problems, and we will pose the question of what relation these utopian models have to actual social change. 

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Each student will be expected to attend class regularly and to have prepared the reading for each class.  If there is a legitimate reason that you will not be able to attend class, please notify the instructor beforehand. Without such notice, absences will count against your class participation grade. Since this course is structured as a first year seminar, classes will be run primarily on a directed discussion format. This class also includes a web-based discussion room (see course website) where students can pose and respond to questions related to course materials. On occasion the instructor may require students to post a question or a response to the electronic discussion group. There will also be in-class writing exercises that pertain to the readings and which will serve as a springboard for class discussion. These forms of participa¬tion will all count toward a class participation grade. A class participa¬tion grade will be assigned on the basis of attendance, preparation, and quality of class participation (including in-class writing exercises and on-line forums). This grade will be equal to one paper grade (15% of course grade).   

There will also be some "special events" that do not pertain directly to the content of this course but which are scheduled as part of the First Year Seminar Program to be enjoyed by all the first year seminars together.  These common cultural events are designed to enrich the first year experience and include events such as: plays, concerts, guest lectures, etc..  Attendance at a minimum of four of these events during Fall term, are required of all First Year Students.

As a first year seminar, this class is designated as writing emphasis and will stress accordingly the development of writing skills. Three papers of 3-5 pages in length will be assigned. All papers may be rewritten and re-submitted for evaluation at the student’s choosing, in addition, the instructor may on occasion require a paper to be re-written. When submitting rewrites, please include the previously submitted versions. Only submit significantly revised papers. The grade for rewritten papers will replace the previous grade if it is higher.  The three paper grades will be weighted equally (15% of the course grade).

In conjunction with the first year seminar, all first year students are required to submit a portfolio of their best writing at the end of their first semester of coursework. Your instructor will advise you in putting together your portfolio, but will not be evaluating it. These portfolios will be evaluated by other Coe professors in order to determine if you have acquired suffi¬cient writing proficiency to be successful with college-level assignments. (Prizes are also awarded to the best portfolios.) Portfolios must be completed to receive credit for this first year seminar, but the "grade" the portfolio receives will not be a factor in the grade you receive for this course. Specific guide¬lines concerning the composition of the portfolio will be made available at the appropriate time. Students who receive an "Unsatis¬fact¬ory" grade on the portfolio, are expected to enroll in additional writing courses in the Spring term.

Each student will also be required to complete two examinations over the course of the semester.  Each exam will be weighted equally (20% of course grade). 

The final course grade is broken down as follows: 15% = class participation grade; 45% = three paper grades grades; 40% = two exam grades.  


Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words or ideas without acknowledging their source. The unacknowledged use of words or ideas from any published or unpublished sources, including Internet resources or other student papers, constitutes plagiarism, a form of theft.  Any ideas or information the student adopts from a source, whether or not directly quoted, must be acknowledged by specific reference in notes or the text. Any words or phrases that are taken from a source must be quoted and cited. Any paraphrase—the restatement of an idea in your own words—must be cited. Students who commit plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will be disciplined according to procedures outlined in the Coe Catalog

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