Honors 100 Tentative Syllabus

You should understand that this syllabus will be in a near-constant state of flux. We will be constantly changing it to fit what actually happens in class as opposed to our best guess at the moment.

Par==Paradigms Lost      DFW==Everything and More               
Handbook==The Bedford Handbook                  Handouts==Extra Handouts/Readings
13==13 Things That Don't Make Sense
Draft 0 of research paper due
Cycle
Day
Date
Topic
Work
Assigned
Due
1
2
9/01
Introduction to FYS
Fermi Estimates

Why I am interested in science/career plans paper
Par: Chapter 1 and Preface
Angier paper on Fermi estimates (before class)

4
9/05
The Nature of Scientific Reasoning Feynman video Feynman: What is the core of science?
Grammar Test Test A
Par: Chapter 1

6
9/07
Diagnostic Essay



2
2
9/09
Philosophy of Science
 

DFW 1 - Introduction and pages 1-70
Pseudoscience paper
Why Science? paper

4
9/13
Library tour Meet in library library assignment First attempt at Grammar Test
Pseudoscience paper 1
Pseudoscience paper 2

6
9/15
Discuss pseudo science papers in groups

Par Chapter 5, Kurzweil & Singularity
  Artificial Intelligence, a summary
draft of pseudo science paper, library assignment
3
2
9/19
Discuss DFW Intro and chapter 1
AI debate
DFW 2 - pages 71-125
pseudo science paper, DFW 1



4
9/21
AI

AI paper
AI-2 Readings: Watson     Computer chess       Haptics
 Game Trees           Genetic Algorithms    
Computer Vision      Voice Recognition
 Par Ch. 5, Kurzweil

6
9/23
Zotero Computer lab - PE 218 Zotero assignment,
 DFW 3 - pages 125-197


4
2
9/27
Discuss DFW 2

DFW 2

4
9/29
AI-2
Genetic Algorithm exercise    Space 1 Readings
JBB talk about discovery of pulsars - 1977,   Science story about discovery of pulsars,   Hewish's Nobel Prize lecture (skim the nasty physics)
Choose one or two of the following four on the Drake Equation:
Carl Sagan on the Drake eqn (from Cosmos)
Drake eqn: from Wikipedia
A skeptical look at the Drake Equation
Beyond the Drake Equation
(The JBB links below - optional)
Bio 2,    Wikipedia Bio, Cartoon Interview,    1999 Interview,   PBS bio of JBB, 2004 editorial  JBB's religious beliefs
The next one - just for fun
The Fermi Paradox is our Business Model
AI-2,Zotero assignment

6
10/03
The Fermi Paradox and Pulsars

DFW 4 - pages 197-246
Space 1
5
2
10/05
Discuss DFW 3

Contact Film - class viewing 10/05 7pm location HAB 102
 
DFW 3, AI paper

4
10/07
Contact

JBB/Contact paper
Contact Film

6
10/11
The Art of Speaking by Shane Miller
Hand out list of math topics for math talks
DFW 5 - pages 246 - end 
6
2
10/17
Discuss DFW 4


DFW4

4
10/19
Discuss JBB Paper in groups


First draft of JBB/Contact paper

6
10/21
Math talk meetings with Kris
no class


7
2
10/25
Registration info pt1

Math paper
JBB/Contact Paper

4
10/27
Registration discussion pt 2


Pass grammar test

6
10/31
Math talks 1

Math paper
Energy readings:
What You Need to Know About Energy

8
2
11/02
Math talks 2

Plagiarism Lines Blur for Students in Digital Age
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism Presentation


4
11/04
Individual meetings for registration
no class



6
11/08
DFW5

energy paper and Draft 0
Math paper
DFW5
9
2
11/10
Energy 1 and Plagiarism

Plagiarism readings
Energy readings


4
11/14
Library day for energy paper


The Start-Up Pains of a Smarter Electricity Grid
When A Megawatt Is Not A Megawatt


6
11/16
Energy 2


Draft 0, Energy readings
10
2
11/18
Discuss energy papers in groups




4
11/22
mock debate/group planning for debates



Draft 1

6
11/29
Jobs in math, CS, physics, and engineering


11
2
12/01
Meetings about energy papers
no class
Par. Chapter 4

4
12/05
debates 1 & 2




6
12/07
debates 3
discuss energy papers


12
2
12/09
The nature of language
Discuss language debate in Paradigms 4

Language 2
Image Schema
George Lakoff
Where Mathematics Comes From
Review of WMCF by Bonnie Gold / Reply to reviews of WMCF
Memes
Par. Ch 4

4
12/13
Language 2
Discuss Schema, Lakoff, memes consciousness readings &
13: Chapter 1

Final Draft of Energy paper

6
12/15
The nature of consciousness

13: Chapter 1, Consciousness

Next

Email: lziegler@csbsju.edu    jcrumley@csbsju.edu   knairn@csbsju.edu