Grading and Course
Requirements
Final course grades
will be based on: Exams.
Three hourly
(50 minute) exams will be given during the term, on the dates listed in
the lecture schedule. Exams will be half short answer and half essay.
They will cover only materials from the prior exam (or from the beginning
of the course for the first exam). There will be no cumulative final examination.
The third hourly exam will be given during the assigned final exam time.
Discussion.
Participation in discussion sections is required. Weekly reading and topics
are assigned in advance. Students are expected to read the assigned materials
before section and to come to class prepared to engage in or lead a discussion
on the assigned topic. Grading for sections will be determine by and explained
by the graduate student instructor. Book
Report. (Due,
November 21or before). A short (4-6 pages; 1000-1500 words) critical analysis
of a book that discusses some aspect of the history of modern (after 1940)
science. You may choose any book that interests you. The only stipulations
are that the books must: It would be advisable,
although not required, to have books approved in advance either by the
course instructor or the graduate student instructor. Click
here for a advice on finding an interesting book or film. Group
Research Project.
(Due, December 9). If you want to have some say in how science and technology
affect your life, now and in the future, you must know how to learn more
about these affects and ways to influence them. Most important science/technology-society
issues are complex and difficult to understand, particularly if you set
about learning more on your own. The purpose of the Group Research Project
is to give you an opportunity to work with a small group of individuals
with similar interests learning more about one particular problem. As you will learn
in this course, society makes decisions all the time about the use and
control of science and technology. For the project, you need to focus
on one area or decision where such a decision either has been made fairly
recently or needs to be made. The goal of your Group Research Project
is to prepare a report (in any format -- paper, web, film, video, play....)
that: Your final oral presentation
and report must be well thought out, carefully and fully documented, and
well presented. Key dates include: - 9/30 join project
team, agree on project topic Click
here for more information on the Group Research Project
15% - Book Report
20% - Discussion
20% - Research Project
- 10/19 identify questions and issues to address, useful sources
- 11/4 submit a outline of final research project report
- 11/28 ff. oral presentations in section
- 12/9 final reports due