ENG 1001: Knowing and Influencing Our World: Issues in Science and Technology

Prof. Carole Meyers
Winter 1995

This class has a dual focus. Most obviously, the course is designed to provide you with the writing skills needed in college and in the workforce. In addition, we will explore some of our current ideas about science and technology and examine the impact that sciences and technologies have on our world.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.) Class Participation.

Because much of our work will be done in workshop format, your attendance and participation are essential and will count for part of your grade. More than three absences will result in the reduction of your grade by on e full letter. Please note that coming to class and staying awake earns you a C in participation, while occasionally speaking moves you up to a B; only those who consistently contribute to class activities in a thoughtful manner will merit an A.

At times I will hand out readings and assignments in class. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting a copy of anything distributed and completing any assignments on time. Bring your books to class each day.

2.) Ungraded Assignments.

Like any other skill, you best develop the ability to write through practice, and this class is designed to foster your writing skills through frequent exercise. On discusssion days, you will hand in a one-page (typed , double-spaced, 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left, right)) response to that day's reading. I will usually give you questions to focus your writing. These responses are not formal papers but should thoughtfully address issues raised by the text. We wil l be using these responses in class, so be aware that others will see them. These assignments will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Not turning in the assignment is the most obvious way to fail, but poor performance (short length, lack of critical analys is) or presentation (not typewritten) will earn a failing grade as well. No late responses will be accepted.

Other ungraded assignments will also be factored into this portion of your grade.

3.) Graded Assignments.

You will write three papers of varying lengths that I will formally correct and grade. In grading your papers, I will consider both content (is there a strong and coherent thesis, is the argument developed) and form (corr ect grammar, graceful style, etc.).

I am always available for help with papers--after you have written up your ideas. Simple questions may be handled via email.

LATE POLICY:

Assignments are due at the beginning of class and are considered late after that time. You are permitted one, no questions asked, two-day extension for a paper. After this time period, late papers will be docked one letter grade per day (weekends included).

GRADING:

Class Participation & Ungraded Assignments: 25%
Assignment One: 25
Assignment Two: 25
Assignment Three: 25

Note: This syllabus is subject to change.

REQUIRED TEXTS(available at The Engineer's Bookstore):

Diana Rigden and Susan Waugh. The Shape of this Century: Readings from Across the Disciplines
Lunsford and Connors. The St. Martin's Handbook, 2nd Edn.
Reserve Material -- Please make photocopies of the assignments on reserve as we will use these texts in class. The articles are short.

CLASS SCHEDULE (will change)

Jan 4. Introduction.
Jan 6. "Writing for an Audience." Read Sagan (in The Shape of This Century -- STC) & The St. Martin's Handbook (SMH), Ch. 2, "Considering Purpose and Audience." Write a one-page paper on the techniques Sagan uses to reach his audience.

Jan 9. "Science and Power." Read Feynman (STC). Ungraded paper #2 due.
Jan. 11 "Ugly Sides to Science." Read Ehrenreich & Begley (handout); SMH pp. 30-39, pp. 56-62. Ungraded paper #3 due.
Jan. 13 Assignment #1 discussed.

Jan. 16 Martin Luther King Day--No Class
Jan. 18 "Technology's Dark Side." Read Brown (handout). Assignment 1a. due.
Jan. 20 "Arguing a Point." Read SMH, Ch. 5, "Recognizing and Using Argument." Do Exercises 5.1, 5.2 (to hand in). Assignment 1b. due.

Jan. 23 Bring to class an arguable working thesis for your Brown paper (to hand in).
Jan. 25 Peer Review. Bring a completed draft of your Brown paper to class.
Jan. 27 Assignment #1 due.

Jan. 30 "Medical Technologies." Read Wheeler (reserve). Ungraded paper #4 due.
Feb. 1 TBA. Ungraded paper #5 due.
Feb. 3 TBA. Assignment #2 discussed.

Feb. 6 "Environmental Effects." Read Carson. Ungraded paper #6.
Feb. 8 "90s Environmentalism." Read Easterbrook (reserve). Ungraded paper #7 due.
Feb. 10 TBA

Feb. 13 TBA.
Feb. 15 Peer Review. Bring a completed draft of your paper to class.
Feb. 17 Assignment #2 due.

Feb. 20 "Dropping the Atomic Bomb." Read Erikson.
Feb. 22 Read Rabi.
Feb. 24 "Telling the People: the A-Bomb in the Papers." Read Hersey and Laurence.

Feb. 27 "Living with Atomic Weapons." Read Krauthammer.
Mar. 1 "Star Wars." Read Schwartz (reserve).
Mar. 3 TBA

Mar. 6 TBA
Mar. 8 Peer Review. Bring a completed draft of your paper to class.
Mar. 10 Evaluations and General Celebration. Assignment #3 due.

There is no final for this class. :-)

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Last modified on April 20, 1996