Sci 239 – History of Science
Spring 2011 - (UWR) writing-intensive course
GEN ED Approved – SMI discipline code
Instructor: Dr. Maurizio Valerio
Catalog Description: An introduction to the History of Science conducted through an interdisciplinary exploration of scientific revolutions, myths and paradigms. The course will analyze how some of the world most influential scientists such as Galileo, Euclid or Darwin have historically balanced their scientific discoveries and beliefs with religion, technology, medicine, gender, war, government and art.
The Journey: Our journey will guide us through 4,000 years of history and will highlight the milestones of scientific discoveries and the scientists behind them. During our travels we will pose such questions as: what are the tools of Science? How did the perception of Science change through the centuries? How does Science relate to the challenges of its contemporary world (war, religion, power, gender, etc.)?
Course Goals: We will acquire a general knowledge of the chronology of major scientific milestones and the scientists behind them. We will also gain a deeper understanding of the constant struggle between Science and its contemporary world. We will test and challenge our analytical abilities by engaging in discussions about the material presented and the topics discussed.
Textbook:
Making Modern Science An Historical Survey by Peter J. Bowler and Iwan Rhys Morus
University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2005. 537 pp. Paper, ISBN 0-226-06861-7
Suggested readings:
Kuhn, Thomas S. - The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd ed. University of Chicago Press, 1970
Freeman, Charles - The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the fall of Reason, Vintage; Reprint ed. 2005.
Lindberg, David C. - The Beginnings of Western Science, University of Chicago Press, 1992
Moore, John A. - Science as a way of knowing, 544 pp. Harvard University Press 1999
Fara, Patricia - Newton, the making of a genius, Columbia University Press 2002
Fara, Patricia – Science: A Four Thousand Year History, Oxford University Press, 2010
General Education Requirements: History of Science is designed to encourage and challenge the student’s analytical and critical thinking by offering a stimulating, interdisciplinary and unconventional look at the historical facts and figures that marked the development of science to the present. Furthermore SCI 239 will be taught as a writing-intensive course and will follow the University Writing Requirement (UWR) see further details at this link http://www.eou.edu/engwrite/uwr/ .
Learning outcomes: Students will gain an understanding of the historical and chronological sequence of events that have led to the current latitude of scientific knowledge and the general acceptance of the modern scientific methods. This course is designed to encourage students to approach the History of Science (HOS) with analytical thinking and a broad mind. HOS will be presented not just as a mere series of names and discoveries but rather as a complex interdisciplinary network of interdependent relationships between science, history, scientific paradigms and society. (see 10 Week Summary)
Course Content: The course is structured into 2 distinct parts. The first part – the Chronicle(s) – will investigate the scientists, the scientific revolutions, myths and paradigms that have led to the current latitude of scientific knowledge and the general acceptance of the modern scientific methods. The second part of the course – the Topic(s) - will allow the students to investigate how science has related – through the centuries – to: Religion, God, Technology, Ideology, Medicine, War, Government, Gender and Art by “ meeting” famous Scientists from past (such as Aristotle, Galileo, Darwin, Euclid, Einstein, etc) and interact with them by crafting an in depth interview.
Prerequisite: none
Course Requirements:
Reading & Research: a pro-active stand in the research of historical material is crucial to the successful completion of this course. Students shall read all assigned materials and conduct the relative researches in a timely fashion.
Assignments: Students shall complete Weekly Assignments and one Final Paper. Some Weekly Assignments will be in the form of short UWR Essays (see details in Course Evaluation Details). The Final Paper Assignment will engage the student in the writing of a Research “ polished” Paper.) Such paper shall be preceded by a Draft paper which shall be revised after receiving feedback and criticism. All ideas and words belonging to others must be properly cited in MLA format (see handbook at http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml). Students are encouraged to use the EOU Online Writing Lab at http://www.eou.edu/writelab. (see Course Evaluation below for details)
Course Evaluation Details: One central objective of this course is to improve the student’s analytical abilities by engaging them intellectually to think about the material presented and the topics discussed online. SCI 239 is a writing-intensive course (UWR) where at least 30% of the overall grade will be allocated to formal writing assignments.
Course Evaluation will be based on three components: two (2) Assignments (Type 1 and Type 2) and one (1) Final Paper (see details below):
Assignments Type 1 - 45% of Final Grade
Weekly Reading Assignments for the week (Power Points, Textbook, Articles and/or other material)
Video Assignments and Lectures of the week
Active Participation in the class discussions
Assignments Type 2 (on week 3 and 6) – 20% of Final Grade
Students shall submit a short Essay [double spaced, 1” margins, font Times New Roman 12, 500-750 words] addressing the prompt/topic which will be assigned in week 2 and week 5. Each Short Essay will be worth 10% of the Final Grade. Grading will be based on content, syntax, grammar, and spelling.
Essays shall be due on or before 5:00 pm Friday of Week 3 (April 15th, 2011) and Week 6 (May 6th, 2011).
Final Paper - 35% of the Final Grade.
The structure of the Final Paper will consist of a Dialogue with a scientist of the student’s choice (see the List of Scientists for SCI 239).
Student shall write and submit a carefully written Final Paper - [double spaced, 1” margins, font Times New Roman 12, 2,000 to 2,500 words]. Grading will be based on content, syntax, grammar, and spelling. *Extra credit awarded for visiting the writing lab (submit blue form).The Dialogue shall include:
Questions and Answers directed to the Scientist
A detailed description of the location, the reason for which this dialogue is taking place, and its significance in the context of the scientist's historical time
Relevant references to contemporary (and historically correct context) facts and figures connected to the scientist chosen
Draft version of the Final Paper must be submitted for intructor's review by 5:00 pm Sunday May 22nd. Instructor will return papers with feedback by Sunday May 29th.
Final Paper shall be submitted electronically and shall be due on or before 5:00 pm on Sunday June 5th, 2011.
Material Requirements: Text book(s), course Reading/Video Assignments and Video Lectures.
Course Deadlines:
+ Assignment Essay #1: on or before 5:00 pm Friday of Week 3 (..............................)
+ Assignment Essay #2: on or before 5:00 pm Friday of Week 6 (.............................)
+ Draft version of Final Paper: by 5:00 pm Sunday May 22nd, 2011 (.............................)
+ Final Paper: on or before 5:00 pm on Sunday June 5th, 2011(.............................)
Method of Instruction:
This class is presented in partial lecture / partial open discussion format with substantial student analytical input and participation. Demonstration Experiments will be used – whenever possible - to respect historical verisimilitude and to integrate the use of static representation (pictures, diagrams, and words). Additionally Historical Simulations (aka time capsules) will be used allowing the student to ask questions and visit with several “invited guests” coming to EOU from the past (Galileo, Archimedes, Euclid, Einstein, Darwin, Lavoisier, etc).
If you have any questions, please contact me ... by the way.... we will have fun!
Dr. Maurizio Valerio
Biology Department
541-962-3652
BH 233F mvalerio@eou.edu
No out of State tuitions at Eastern Oregon University
(last updated 1/31/2012)