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Natural Science 4 Honors Science and Nonsense Syllabus |
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Instructor: |
Dr. Hall |
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Office: |
McLane Hall, Room 175A |
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Phone: |
278-8345 |
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e-mail: |
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Office Hours: |
TThF 9:30-11:30 and by appointment |
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Required Texts: |
1) T. Schick and L.
Vaughn, How to Think About Weird Things 5th Ed. 3) K. Fezer, Scholarly
Worlds, Private Worlds
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Required Device: |
iClicker (Please purchase during first week of class)
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Required Online |
Turnitin.com Please register with turnitin.com as soon as possible: Class ID: 2819307 Password: logic
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Units: |
3.0 |
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Class meeting time/ room: |
TTh 2:00-3:15 PM/ AGM 102 |
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Prerequisites: |
none! |
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Synopsis: |
Natural Science 4 is a interdisciplinary course in which we study the nature of the scientific enterprise, and how science and the knowledge obtained from science affects our lives and shapes our understanding of the world. This course also seeks to develop your critical thinking skills through the study of past and current controversial topics that involve science or claim to be supported by science. In modern society we are inundated with all kinds of information: the Internet, TV, the radio, the newspaper, magazines and books, and in our daily contact with others. Unfortunately much of this information is incomplete, biased or just outright false, and since we base many of our actions on what we learn from these sources, it is important to have skills to critically evaluate this information. We will discuss and apply the main kinds of deductive and inductive arguments, and be able to recognize them as they are used to influence all of us everyday. In addition, you will also understand the role of evidence in rational inquiry and be knowledgeable of the many pitfalls of human "common sense" intuition, as well as the proper interpretations of probabilities, in the evaluation of such evidence. We will utilize and explore many popular mysteries, such as ESP, Astrology, the Bermuda Triangle, visitation by extraterrestrial beings (UFOs) etc. in our discussions. The central focus of this class is the process of rational inquiry and inductive thinking. Facts and ideas and their relationships, and competing hypotheses to explain facts will be our tools to learn. This focus makes for a responsibility that you might not find in more traditional content-based course. Involved participation will be necessary and expected from all students |
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GE specifications: |
Goal for Area A3:Critical Thinking An educated person must be able to read critically, communicate effectively, and think clearly. Student Learning Outcomes for Area A3: Critical Thinking Students completing courses in Area A3 will be able to: 1. Identify the relationship of language and logic. 2. Analyze criticize, and advocate ideas 3. Reason inductively and deductively 4. Reach factual or judgmental conclusions based on sound inferences drawn from unambiguous statements or knowledge or belief. 5. Recognize? Define? the structure of informal arguments 6. Identify and distinguish the most common formal and informal fallacies of language and thought 7. Distinguish matters of fact from issues of judgment or opinion. 8. Identify and provide examples of the role of critical thinking in society. |
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Homework: |
Assignments will be from handouts and will usually be due at the beginning of the next class period. In all cases logical and tightly-reasoned explanations of your answers are more important than the answers themselves. |
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Group Report: |
Early in the semester all students will be asked to indicate a topic (from a handout list) in which they are most interested. The instructor will then group students according to their indicated interest. These groups will meet outside of class and prepare a half-hour presentation that will be held in class on a specified date. Each group member must show a familiarity with material on the selected topic as discussed in Hines, and must go beyond that level. Each presentation must present both the pro and con sides of each case using the available evidence, citing some recent references, and giving some evaluation of the strength of the evidence. This is a cooperative project with each member contributing about 10 (at minimum 5) minutes of presentation, however, each participant will be graded separately according to the information and style of presentation. Reading the material will deduct 2 points (10%) from the score for that person. A good presentation will earn 16 points out of 20, better or weaker presentation will earn more or less. |
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Critique: |
Each group presentation will be analyzed by the rest of the class in the form of a written (500 word) critique. Each critique must include a summary of the points made on each side of the presentation, a short discussion of the merits of the arguments and evidence used in support, as well as on the method and merit of the presentation as a whole. These are a vital component of the course, with a good critique earning 9 out of 10 points, better or worse critiques will earn more or less. |
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Term Paper: |
A required element of this course- a separate handout will provide the details of this assignment. |
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Quizzes and Final Exam: |
We will use the clickers for mini-quizzes on a daily basis. According to the schedule of courses the Final for each section is scheduled for: Wednesday
December 16 03:30P-05:30P There will be no make up for the final. |
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Attendance: |
Obviously attendance is very important in this course since much of the grade depends on your presentation and your critiques of the presentations of others as well as the daily mini-quizzes. |
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Scholastic Honesty: |
Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated. University policies on cheating and plagiarism (see catalog or schedule of courses) will be strictly enforced. |
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Students with Disabilities: |
Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation. For more information, contact Services to Students with Disabilities in Madden Library 1049 (278-2811). If you have a certified disability or handicap which needs accommodation it is your responsibility to inform me prior to the fourth class meeting so reasonable arrangements can be made. |
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Grade Weighting: |
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Grade Scale: |
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Disclaimer: |
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this course and its administration as reasonable and necessary. |
Location of this page: http://physics.csufresno.edu/rhall/