Required
Text: Science
and Technology in World History, McClellan & Dorn, The Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1999.
Videos: The video series that accompanies The Ascent of Man text, as well as other videos, will be viewed during our scheduled class time. If you are absent during the viewing or you would like to watch the video for a second time, the tapes can be checked out from the reserve desk at the library for 3 hours. A few videos are personal copies and are not in the Library Collection and therefore arrangements to view these outside class must be discussed with instructor.
The Ascent of Man (J. Bronowski, Little, Brown and Company, 1973) is a script for the video series and will be available on reserve in the library.
Course Description: The nature of scientific inquiry and the role of science and technology in our society will explored by tracing the historical development and current state of several areas of science and technology. The influence that culture, politics, religion, economics, and society had on these developments will be discussed, as well as the impact of these developments had on the society.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course work, students should be more:
1. curious about how science and technology affect their daily life.
2. likely to read articles or watch programs based on science or technology.
3. likely and better able to differentiate between science and technology.
4. aware of the historical development of science and technology.
5. more aware of some of the social implications of science and technology.
6. aware of the cultural, political, religious, economic and societal influences on developments in science and technology.
7. informed and responsible citizens with regard to science and technology in our own society.
Coursework:
50% Exams
There will be 3 exams during our scheduled class time. The exams will be continually comprehensive with an emphasis on the material covered during that section of the course. The format of each exam will be 6 essay questions (42%) and about 24 multiple choice questions on the course content (48%). For the essay questions, you will be required compose an answer in about 5 to 10 complete sentences. For an excused absence, the make up exam must be arranged before the class in question. In an emergency, the student must contact me to discuss a make up exam within 24 hrs of when the exam was administered; failure to contact me within that time will relinquish my obligation to administer a make up exam.
10% Group discussion
During the class periods, the class will be broken down into groups that will discuss a particular issue. These groups will be asked to either present the results from their discussion orally to the class and/or as a written statement. If you are absent you will earn a zero for that session. Group discussions cannot be made up. The group discussion work will count for 10-15 points on the exam for that particular section of the course.
20% Research paper
A research paper will be due on Wednesday April 4 (6:30 pm). Late research papers will be assessed a penalty of 5 points per day. The assignment is to write a 5 - 7 page paper on a topic concerning development(s) in science and/or technology. You may take a technical, historical or biographical approach, but include cultural, religious, and societal climates that may have had an influence. The final paper should be typed double-spaced in a 12-point font. You are required to have at least three sources of information. You are permitted to use the internet as a source, however, you must still have at least three other references from print sources (books and journals). The paper must be properly referenced using an endnote format as described in the Reference Citations handout. The title of the paper with a list of your references is due in class on Wednesday, January 31. An outline of your paper with a thesis statement (objective of the paper) is due in class on Wednesday, February 28. Each of these are worth 10 points towards the final paper grade with a 1 point penalty per day late.
20% Writing assignments
Ten writing assignments worth 20 points each should be turned in no later than 6:30 pm on the due date. Assignments turned in late will be assessed a penalty of 1 point per day.
These assignments will be graded on the content (10 points), and also on spelling, diction, grammar, punctuation, paragraph structure and composition (10 points). The type and style of writing as well as the intended audience are also important.
There are two major goals. The first goal is to make you think about how science and technology affect your everyday life and how it has changed with cultural and social evolution. The second is to enhance your ability to effectively communicate.
Grading: Final letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
| B+ 87 – 89 | C+ 77 – 79 | D+ 67 – 69 | ||
| A 93 – 100 | B 83 – 86 | C 73 – 76 | D 63 – 66 | F < 60 |
| A- 90 – 92 | B- 80 – 82 | C- 70 – 72 | D- 60 – 62 |
Dr. Easter's Course Information