Lecturer

Reading (Trefil)

Common Final Exam 10 AM in Shen

I. Exams

• Common Midterm Exam on the first 11 lectures to count at least 15% of the total grade.
• Common Final Exam on the last 10 lectures/videos to count at least 15% of the total grade.
• If a student is taking the exam prior to the common exam, then an alternative form of the exam must be used.
• We will NOT use questions already used on other exams or quizzes given throughout the term.

II. Writing-

10-12 pages of writing are required for the term. The writing assignments emphasize the development of skills in using & citing empirical data, critical analysis of observations & conclusions, and concise scientific style writing. The writing assignments can be in the form of formal lab reports written in accepted scientific writing style, research term papers, in class essays, research proposals, or literature reviews & critiques.

III. Oral Communication

Each student is required to give a formal oral presentation on a research paper or essay or participate in an organized debate.

IV. Reading

All students are required to do the readings listed as "Required" in the syllabus booklet. These include certain online and printed readings as well as those in the Trefil text.

V. Attendance

Attendance at lectures is mandatory -- 3% will be deducted from the course grade for each absence starting with the 4th absence.

1. Students will learn the key concepts of the physical, life, and human sciences through three phases of evolutionary change: cosmic, biological, and cultural.
2. Students will master, on a level of an educated generalist, the scientific method as a way of knowing of the range of empirical sciences and its applied use to problem solving.
3. Each lecture handout will list 3-4 objectives that will help focus the content of the lecture and exam questions. These objectives should help students to achieve course objectives a & b.