ONPS2507 - Science Fiction Science Fact
Assignment Information 2020
(1) Description
You are required to write an essay on a technology (e.g. hand-held communicators, faster
than light travel, time-travel, etc.) which was introduced as a concept in science fiction,
focusing on its plausibility and appearance in popular media. This technology may or may not
have already been developed. A list of additional suggested topics will be provided in the
Major Essay Discussion Forum.
You must have the following section headings in your essay:
1. Title Page– Descriptive and creative title of the topic (including name, course, etc.)
2. Introduction and History – Describe the technology in terms of what it does and its
potential benefits and/or problems. Include historical references to the first and early
appearance of the technology in science fiction literature/media, as well as from recent
literature/media. Two detailed examples (1 classic, 1 modern) should be given; the
remaining (at least 4 for full marks) need only be mentioned but must be cited correctly.
3. Current Status/Recent Developments – If the technology has been developed then explain
the following: when it was developed, by whom and its current status. If it has not yet
been developed: outline theoretical and/or experimental work currently underway to make
the technology a reality.
4. Technological Limitations and Future Potential – If already developed: what does the
future of the technology hold? If not already developed: describe what technologies must
be developed and/or scientific discoveries made in order to make the technology a reality.
Include predictions on the likelihood of the technology coming to fruition and realistic
potential timelines or if too far in the future, compile a detailed timeline from sci-fi
sources, listing at least 3 specific examples when the technology was developed or was
already available in different sci-fi offerings.
5. References – including in-text citations and a full reference list.
(2) Readability
Proper formatting specific to an essay is required. Your essay should be
uncumbersome to read and engaging to the reader. Consider your audience (me,
someone with a PhD); the basic physics and ideas are assumed knowledge, hence need
only be mentioned and not elaborated on, i.e. do not detail what was covered in class,
focus on the research you have conducted. Aspects of science fiction should be tied
into the body of the essay, i.e. specific examples for media/literature. An appropriate
level of orthography and grammar characteristic of a university student is expected.
(3) Length
Essays must be between 1200 to 1500 words in length not including references.
(4) Assessment
All essays will be marked according to the attach Rubric. This assignment will be
worth 44% of your mark for this course.
(5) Due date
All assignments must be submitted by uploading them as PDFs to Canvas via tu.
1. ONPS2507 - Science Fiction Science Fact
Assignment Information 2020
(1) Description
You are required to write an essay on a technology (e.g. hand-
held communicators, faster
than light travel, time-travel, etc.) which was introduced as a
concept in science fiction,
focusing on its plausibility and appearance in popular media.
This technology may or may not
have already been developed. A list of additional suggested
topics will be provided in the
Major Essay Discussion Forum.
You must have the following section headings in your essay:
1. Title Page– Descriptive and creative title of the topic
(including name, course, etc.)
2. Introduction and History – Describe the technology in terms
of what it does and its
potential benefits and/or problems. Include historical references
to the first and early
appearance of the technology in science fiction literature/media,
as well as from recent
literature/media. Two detailed examples (1 classic, 1 modern)
should be given; the
remaining (at least 4 for full marks) need only be mentioned but
must be cited correctly.
2. 3. Current Status/Recent Developments – If the technology has
been developed then explain
the following: when it was developed, by whom and its current
status. If it has not yet
been developed: outline theoretical and/or experimental work
currently underway to make
the technology a reality.
4. Technological Limitations and Future Potential – If already
developed: what does the
future of the technology hold? If not already developed:
describe what technologies must
be developed and/or scientific discoveries made in order to
make the technology a reality.
Include predictions on the likelihood of the technology coming
to fruition and realistic
potential timelines or if too far in the future, compile a detailed
timeline from sci-fi
sources, listing at least 3 specific examples when the
technology was developed or was
already available in different sci-fi offerings.
5. References – including in-text citations and a full reference
list.
(2) Readability
Proper formatting specific to an essay is required. Your essay
should be
uncumbersome to read and engaging to the reader. Consider
your audience (me,
someone with a PhD); the basic physics and ideas are assumed
knowledge, hence need
only be mentioned and not elaborated on, i.e. do not detail what
3. was covered in class,
focus on the research you have conducted. Aspects of science
fiction should be tied
into the body of the essay, i.e. specific examples for
media/literature. An appropriate
level of orthography and grammar characteristic of a university
student is expected.
(3) Length
Essays must be between 1200 to 1500 words in length not
including references.
(4) Assessment
All essays will be marked according to the attach Rubric. This
assignment will be
worth 44% of your mark for this course.
(5) Due date
All assignments must be submitted by uploading them as PDFs
to Canvas via turn-it-
in by 11 pm Sunday the 31st of May.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
4. FURTHER SUGGESTED TOPICS AND CONTENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
Anti-gravity – including but not limited to levitation (e.g. flying
cars, hover-boards), inertia
dampens, tractor-beams, ratification gravity (i.e. gravity-plating
in spacecraft).
Cloning – Albeit already developed, focusing on the ethical
aspects if permitted in the future.
Colonialization – Permanently Habitable Space Stations, moon-
bases, Space Colonies,
Terraforming.
Cybernetics – Everything from robots and androids, to
prosthetics, biomech, cyborgs and A.I (what
was the ‘A’ again?)
Exo-suits – Areas like body armour, life-support, Mechs and
Jaegers.
Force Fields – shields and cloaking; exploring also how variable
these are across different sci-fi
universes.
Orbital Launch Systems – Space Elevator (Going up… next stop
High earth orbit), Super Heavy
Lifters, Space (Verne) Guns. Consider ‘off-world’ spaceport or
construction yards.
5. The following topics have little to no immediate technological
basis, they are thus not
recommended.
Blackholes – In general; unless you can find some kind of use
for them (a Black Hole Drive, or the
Penrose Trash Converter come to mind) but you’ll struggle to
find many sci-fi examples to use.
Time Travel – While the idea of the time ‘machine’ clearly
exists, there is little to no science as
yet; Tipler Cylinders and Ring Lasers are mere hypotheses. You
could also write about forward
time travel by way of relativity (both types) but the cost to
benefit ratio is almost infinitely high and
as such is not being considered by science.
Rubric for Science Fiction Science Fact Essay: TOTAL / 44
(Sub-section values in parenthesis)
4 - Exemplary 3 - Proficient 2 - Satisfactory 1 - Developing 0 -
Unacceptable
Title Page (4)
A creative and concise title is given. A descriptive title is
given. An unimaginative title is provided. A derivative title is
6. provided. Title is missing.
Introduction and History (8)
The technology/concept is clearly
defined in terms of how it works and
benefits humanity were it to exist.
Contains many (≥3) references to the
first (or early) appearance of the
technology in literature/media, as well
as more recent media (≥3).
The technology/concept is
somewhat defined in terms of how
it works and benefits humanity were
it to exist.
Contains some (≥2) references to
the early appearance of the
technology in literature/media, as
well as more recent media (≥2).
The technology/concept is loosely
defined in terms of how it works and
benefits humanity were it to exist.
Contains a few (≥2) references to the
appearance of the technology in early
literature/media and/or more recent
media.
The technology/concept is barely
defined in terms of how it works and
benefits humanity were it to exist.
7. Contains little (<2) references to the
appearance of the technology in early
literature/media or more recent media.
The technology/concept is poorly
defined in terms of how it works and
benefits humanity were it to exist.
The section contains no references to
the technology in literature/media.
Current Status/Recent Developments (8)
A thorough explanation of whether
the technological has been developed
or of the work currently underway to
make the technology a reality.
Clearly explains when it was
developed, by whom and its current
status and/or the theoretical and/or
experimental work current underway,
to make it a reality.
A decent explanation of whether the
technological has been developed or
of the work currently underway to
make the technology a reality.
Makes a reasonable attempt to
explain when it was developed, by
whom and its current status and/or
the theoretical and/or experimental
work current underway, to make it a
reality.
8. A partial explanation of whether the
technological has been developed or
of the work currently underway to
make the technology a reality.
Incomplete attempt to explain when it
was developed, by whom and its
current status and/or the theoretical
and/or experimental work current
underway, to make it a reality.
A vague explanation of whether the
technological has been developed or
of the work currently underway to
make the technology a reality.
A poor attempt to explain when it was
developed, by whom and its current
status and/or the theoretical and/or
experimental work current underway,
to make it a reality
Missing an explanation of whether the
technological has been developed or
of the work currently underway to
make the technology a reality.
No attempt to explain when it was
developed, by whom or its current
status and/or the theoretical and/or
experimental work current underway,
to make it a reality
Technological Limitations and Future Potential (8)
An excellent description of what the
9. future of the technology holds
including what scientific discoveries
must be made in order to progress or
make the technology a reality.
A realistic timeline is included.
Incorporates many aspects of the
technology and/or understanding of
scientific principles and laws.
A suitable description of what the
future of the technology holds
including what scientific discoveries
must be made in order to progress
or make the technology a reality.
A reasonable timeline is included.
Incorporates some aspects of the
technology and/or understanding of
scientific principles and laws
A meagre description of what the
future of the technology holds
including what scientific discoveries
must be made in order to progress or
make the technology a reality.
A poor timeline is included.
Incorporates only sketchy aspects of
the technology and/or understanding
of scientific principles and laws
Poorly incorporates aspects as to the
future of the technology or what
scientific discoveries must be achieved
to advance the technology.
10. No, or a very poor, timeline is
included. Only poorly describes
aspects of the technology and/or
understanding of scientific principles
and laws
Does not incorporate any aspects as to
the future of the technology or what
scientific discoveries must be achieved
to advance the technology.
No mention of a future time frame.
Does not incorporate any aspects of
the technology and/or understanding
of scientific principles and laws
4 - Exemplary 3 - Proficient 2 - Satisfactory 1 - Developing 0 -
Unacceptable
Spelling and Grammar (4)
Virtually free from spelling and
grammatical errors.
<5 errors can be identified.
Mostly free from spelling and
grammatical errors.
5-10 errors can be identified.
Has several spelling and grammatical
errors.
11. 10-15 errors can be identified
Has many spelling and grammatical
errors.
15-20 errors can be identified.
Is littered with spelling and
grammatical errors.
At least 20 errors can be identified.
References (4)
An effective use of referencing is
present throughout, with all, or
practically all, arguments supported by
referenced evidence.
Reasonable use of referencing is
present throughout, with the
majority of arguments supported by
referenced evidence.
An attempt at referencing is made,
with some arguments supported by
referenced evidence.
Only a bibliography exists; no in-text
references present.
Little or no use of referencing is
present, with fewer than 4 sources
listed.
12. Readability (8)
Very well written; succinctly and to the
point, providing the reader with an
insightful review of the topic. Free
from dry or lengthy sections of text,
demonstrates a firm understanding of
the topic.
Includes many ties-in to science-
fiction examples within the essay body.
Demonstrates solid and clear
formatting skills, including but not
limited to, figure and page numbering,
name (or other identifier), text layout.
Written reasonably concisely,
providing the reader with a
thoughtful review of the topic. Few
dry or lengthy sections of text,
demonstrates a good understanding
of the topic.
Includes some ties-in to science-
fiction examples within the essay
body.
Lacking some aspect of formatting;
neglecting to include either:
figure/page numbering, name (or
other identifier), or text layout.
Written somewhat concisely, providing
the reader with a decent review of the
topic. Few dry or lengthy sections of
13. text, demonstrates a reasonable
understanding of the topic.
Includes few ties-in to science-fiction
examples within the essay body.
Poorly formatted, missing many of the
aforementioned required aspects of a
proper essay.
Written poorly, providing the reader
with a haphazard review of the topic.
Several dry or lengthy sections of text
which demonstrates an incomplete
understanding of the topic.
Includes a ties-in to science-fiction
examples within the essay body.
Barely formatted, missing most, if not
all, of the required aspects.
Feebly written, providing the reader
with little review of the topic. Many
dry or lengthy sections of text which
demonstrates a poor understanding of
the topic.
Doesn’t relate to any science-fiction
examples.
Barely formatted, missing all of the
required aspects; you haven’t even
included your name.
14. Endorsed formatting is a serif font (e.g. Times New Roman,
Century, Garamond), size 12-14, line-spacing at 1.5, justified
text (not left-aligned)
Due Date: 11:00 pm Sunday 31st of May 2020 (end of
SWOTVAC)
LATE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
Essays must be between 1200 to 1500 words in length not
including references.Rubric for Science Fiction Science Fact
Essay: TOTAL / 44 (Sub-section values in parenthesis)Due
Date: 11:00 pm Sunday 31st of May 2020 (end of
SWOTVAC)LATE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
PSYC 254 1W 20/SU1 Assignments Week 3 - My Child Journal:
Infancy!
Total Points: 20.0
Week 3 - My Child Journal: Infancy
Due Sunday by 11:59pm Points 20 Submitting a text entry
box, a website url, or a file upload
My Child Journals
Criteria Ratings Pts
5.0 pts
5.0 pts
15. 5.0 pts
5.0 pts
Submit Assignment
Keep in mind your previous scenarios from last week. This
week, you will learn details about your child's infancy
milestones and parental decisions. Remember to integrate all
four areas into your journal and review feedback from
your first journal before submitting.
Each submission must include four parts:
Weekly “scenarios: cards drawn below 5 points)
Developmental milestones (5 points)
Developmental theory (this week focus on the four main
theories presented) (5 points)
Current risks and resiliencies for your child (5 points)
Click "Shuffle the Deck and Pick a Card" to learn about your
scenario. Select a card in the deck. This is your scenario.
SHUFFLE THE DECK AND PICK A CARD
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
16. You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
17. You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Screenshot or document the results immediately.
Journal Entry #1: Based on your health insurance status, find a
pediatrician for your child. Then, decide where you
18. stand on the debates covered in class:
Vaccinations
First year of sleeping plans
When to wean (if breastfeeding)
Distribution of child care tasks
Now, let's learn about your child's temperament and attachment.
Click "Shuffle the Deck and Pick a Card" to learn
about your scenario. Select a card in the deck.
SHUFFLE THE DECK AND PICK A CARD
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
19. Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
20. Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
21. Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Screenshot or document the results immediately.
Journal Entry #2: Complete the Fraley Attachment
Questionnaire to determine your own attachment style. Based
on
the two of these, determine how your child would score in a
strange situation experiment.
When you are finished with your journal entries for this week,
submit. You will be graded on the following:
Weekly “assignments” – scenarios distributed weekly (5 points)
Developmental milestones (5 points)
22. Developmental theory (e.g., Piaget, Erikson, attachment)
Current risks and resiliencies for your child (5 points)
Writing style, grammar, and citations/bibliography will also be
considered when grading.
Weekly
Scenarios
5.0 pts
Discusses all
weekly scenarios
using creativity
and accurate
concept
application.
4.0 pts
Includes discussion
of weekly scenarios
lacks creativity or
inadequate use of
concept application
23. 3.0 pts
Rating
Description
2.0 pts
Missing 1-2
scenarios,
does not
add creative
elements to
discussion.
1.0 pts
Rating
Description
0.0 pts
Does not
include
responses
to
25. 3.0 pts
Rating
Description
2.0 pts
Applies an
adequate
amount of
developmental
information
with errors
1.0 pts
Rating
Description
0.0 pts
Does not
discuss
developmental
milestones
28. (one or less
theories)
Risks and
Resiliencies
5.0 pts
Discusses the
risks and
resiliencies of
their child with
insight (4 or more
examples)
4.0 pts
Discusses risk
and resiliencies
but either lacks
insight or
examples (2-3
examples)
30. "Previous Next#
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32. PSYC 254 1W 20/SU1 Assignments Week 3 - My Child Journal:
Infancy!
Total Points: 20.0
Week 3 - My Child Journal: Infancy
Due Sunday by 11:59pm Points 20 Submitting a text entry
box, a website url, or a file upload
My Child Journals
Criteria Ratings Pts
5.0 pts
5.0 pts
5.0 pts
5.0 pts
Submit Assignment
Keep in mind your previous scenarios from last week. This
week, you will learn details about your child's infancy
milestones and parental decisions. Remember to integrate all
four areas into your journal and review feedback from
your first journal before submitting.
Each submission must include four parts:
33. Weekly “scenarios: cards drawn below 5 points)
Developmental milestones (5 points)
Developmental theory (this week focus on the four main
theories presented) (5 points)
Current risks and resiliencies for your child (5 points)
Click "Shuffle the Deck and Pick a Card" to learn about your
scenario. Select a card in the deck. This is your scenario.
SHUFFLE THE DECK AND PICK A CARD
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
34. Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
35. Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to breast feed.
Feeding and Pediatrician
You decide to bottle feed.
Screenshot or document the results immediately.
Journal Entry #1: Based on your health insurance status, find a
pediatrician for your child. Then, decide where you
stand on the debates covered in class:
Vaccinations
First year of sleeping plans
When to wean (if breastfeeding)
Distribution of child care tasks
Now, let's learn about your child's temperament and attachment.
Click "Shuffle the Deck and Pick a Card" to learn
about your scenario. Select a card in the deck.
36. SHUFFLE THE DECK AND PICK A CARD
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
37. Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
38. Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a slow to warm
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has an easy
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
Your child has a difficult
temperament.
Temperament and
Attachment
39. Your child has an easy
temperament.
Screenshot or document the results immediately.
Journal Entry #2: Complete the Fraley Attachment
Questionnaire to determine your own attachment style. Based
on
the two of these, determine how your child would score in a
strange situation experiment.
When you are finished with your journal entries for this week,
submit. You will be graded on the following:
Weekly “assignments” – scenarios distributed weekly (5 points)
Developmental milestones (5 points)
Developmental theory (e.g., Piaget, Erikson, attachment)
Current risks and resiliencies for your child (5 points)
Writing style, grammar, and citations/bibliography will also be
considered when grading.
Weekly
Scenarios
5.0 pts
Discusses all
40. weekly scenarios
using creativity
and accurate
concept
application.
4.0 pts
Includes discussion
of weekly scenarios
lacks creativity or
inadequate use of
concept application
3.0 pts
Rating
Description
2.0 pts
Missing 1-2
scenarios,
does not
41. add creative
elements to
discussion.
1.0 pts
Rating
Description
0.0 pts
Does not
include
responses
to
scenarios
Developmental
Milestones
5.0 pts
Applied an
exceptional
amount of
developmental
42. information (4
or more
concepts)
4.0 pts
Applies an
appropriate
amount of
developmental
information
)2-3 concepts)
3.0 pts
Rating
Description
2.0 pts
Applies an
adequate
amount of
developmental
44. more theories
with examples).
4.0 pts
Applied an
appropriate
amount of
theoretical
information (4
or more
theories)
3.0 pts
Rating
Description
2.0 pts
Applied an
adequate
amount of
theoretical
46. their child with
insight (4 or more
examples)
4.0 pts
Discusses risk
and resiliencies
but either lacks
insight or
examples (2-3
examples)
3.0 pts
Rating
Description
2.0 pts
Minimal
discussion of
risks and
resiliencies
47. (one or less
examples)
1.0 pts
Rating
Description
0.0 pts
Does not
discuss
risks and
resiliencies
"Previous Next#
1
Summer 2020 first half
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