Aliens from Alpha Centauri: Notes, Essays

Alpha Centauri is star system that is closest to Earth. It is believed that some life forms may exist in the planets within the Alpha Centauri system.

The idea of aliens from Alpha Centauri has been a popular topic in both science fiction as well as speculative science.

Alpha Centaurans in science fiction are often depicted as sapient beings with unique physical features. For example, one fictional portrayal describes them as light green, six-limbed creatures, taller than humans, with all limbs used for manipulation rather than walking.

As technology advances, Alpha Centauri will likely remain a focus for both scientific study and imaginative storytelling about alien life.

Question: Alien from Alpha Centauri who comes to visit Earth

Write an 800-1000 word essay on the following topic:

You are an alien from Alpha Centauri who has come to visit Earth, but you have found yourself trapped inside the college campus without a gate pass. While you await rescue, you decide to write a brief travel piece on the college community to help those back home understand this strange place.

In your piece, make sure to bring in the key elements from your readings such as Turner’s “Liminality and Communitas”; Crawford’s “The World Beyond Your Head”; Theroux’s “Travel Writing: The Point of It”; and of course the ideas inherent within the City as Text.

Focus on one or two aspects of your college community in your piece, rather than trying to be expansive.

Answers will be graded according to the extent to which they answer each part of the question, your engagement with the assigned texts (including citation practices), and the structure and effectiveness of your argument/s.

Question: Write a brief travel piece to better understand Earth

You are an alien from Alpha Centauri who has come to visit Earth, but you have found yourself trapped inside the JGU campus without a gate pass. While you await rescue, you decide to write a brief travel piece on the JGU community to help those back home understand this strange place.

In your piece, make sure to bring in the key elements raised in at least one of our Interdisciplinary Seminar readings such as:

Turner’s “Liminality and Communitas”;

Crawford’s “The World Beyond Your Head”;

Theroux’s -Travel Writing: The Point of It”;

and of course the ideas inherent within the City as Text.

Focus on one or two aspects of the JGU community in your piece, rather than trying to be expansive.