ISP 117 The Process of Discovery Fall 2010
First-Year Seminar Interdisciplinary Science Program
Professor: Alison J. Draper, Ph.D. Phone: x 5189
Office: Clement 107 E-mail: alison.draper@trincoll.edu
Mentor: Ginger Mills ‘12 Phone: x 31489
Room: Funston 315 E-mail: ginger.mills@trincoll.edu
Class time: Tues. and Thurs. 1:30-4:10 pm (or time as noted)
Classroom: Clement 210
Office hours: Anytime (drop by or make appointment via e-mail)
I. Required Materials
Books: Human Trials: Scientists, Investors and Patients in the Quest for a Cure, by Susan Quinn
Out of print: Will be provided
Roving Mars: Spirit, Opportunity and the Exploration of the Red Planet by Steven Squyres.
Will be provided.
Other Materials will be provided on the ISP 117 Moodle website.
II. Goals for Course
By the end of the semester, each student should gain:
1. An appreciation for the breadth and depth of scientific discovery.
2. Knowledge of how scientific discoveries are made and verified.
3. An appreciation for the role of a peer-review process.
4. An appreciation for the various modes of scientific communication.
5. An appreciation for ethical dilemmas in science.
6. An appreciation of our ability as scientists to give back to the community.
7. An understanding of expectations of college-level critical reading/writing.
III. Evaluation
Grades in the course will be based on the following:
Research seminar attendance 50 points
Writing assignments - midterm 260 points
Writing assignments - end of semester 265 points
Participation 30 points
Instructor’s points* 30 points
TOTAL 635 points
*Instructor’s points are based on effort in class, and include such attributes as attendance, engagement, and punctuality.
In order to receive a high grade in this course, you will need to attend class regularly, complete all assignments in a timely manner, and demonstrate a serious engagement with the course material through your writing and through participation in the class project and class discussion.
IV. Academic dishonesty
I will deal with any suspected academic dishonesty in this course by reporting to the Dean of Students office and the Honor Council.
IV. Class participation
Participation is graded to encourage students to be actively engaged in the communication and interactive instruction that takes place in class. I will assign up to 30 points for participation based on observations of student behaviors in class. Categories below indicate general combinations of behaviors that might predict a grade. An unofficial mid-semester estimate will be provided so that students may continue to improve behavior.
Points Behaviors
30
Very actively participates and takes initiative in small group activities
(e.g. keeps group on task, asks group members for input, etc.).
Consistently takes initiative to be involved in large-group discussions
(e.g. raises hand, spontaneously answers questions, etc.).
Contributes mature, appropriate responses when participating in discussions.
Consistently and appropriately challenges viewpoints and perspectives related
to course material.
24 Actively participates and takes initiative in small group activities.
Often takes initiative to be involved in large-group discussions
(e.g.
raises hand, spontaneously answers questions, etc.).
Contributes mature, appropriate responses when participating in discussions.
Appropriately challenges viewpoints and perspectives related to course material.
21 Actively participates in small group activities.
Occasionally participates in large-group discussions.
Contributes mature, appropriate responses when participating in discussions.
Appropriately challenges viewpoints and perspectives related to course material.
15 Participates in small group activities.
Participates in large-group discussions only when directly questioned by instructor.
Contributes mature, appropriate responses when participating in discussions.
Appropriately challenges viewpoints and perspectives related to course material.
9 Inconsistently pays attention (e.g. sleeps, reads newspaper, etc.).
Participates in small group activities.
Occasionally does not participate in large-group discussions even when directly
questioned by instructor (e.g. no response or no opinion).
Inconsistently challenges viewpoints and perspectives related to course material.
Occasionally makes inappropriate/distracting comments that detract from discussions.
0 Consistently does not pay attention (e.g. sleeps, reads newspaper, etc.).
Occasionally or consistently does not participate actively in small group activities.
Does not participate in large-group discussions even when directly questioned
by instructor (e.g. no response or no opinion).
Does not contribute mature, appropriate responses to class discussions.
Inappropriately challenges viewpoints and perspectives related to course material.
Consistently makes inappropriate comments that detract from class activities.
V. Attendance
Attendance at every class is expected; it is your professional responsibility. Please let me know beforehand if you need to miss a class. You are responsible for making up the work and getting notes from your classmates. Reminder: attendance and participation count toward your grade.
VI. Assignment policies
a. Late assignments will be penalized by 10% per day unless prior permission has been granted for an extension.
b. Unless clearly instructed otherwise, all written assignments should represent your own individual work, although prior to writing, conversation about assignments and about assigned reading is encouraged.
c. Also, unless clearly instructed otherwise, all assignments should be turned in in hard copy at the beginning of class. Exceptions will be clearly noted in the assignment.
VII. Electronic communications
I will be communicating with the class throughout the semester by e-mail. It is important for this course and others that you get into the habit of checking your Trinity e-mail account regularly or forwarding messages from your Trinity account to one you check regularly. There is also a Moodle site for the course which you will need to access regularly to download readings and assignments. All course documents and handouts will be posted there should you require additional copies.
VIII. Attendance at Research Seminars
An important part of your experience as a science student at Trinity will be attendance at weekly research seminars. Most departments host regular seminars, where members of the department, senior thesis students, or outside guests present their latest research findings. Seminar schedules will be shared in class, and fifty points towards your grade in this course will be from attendance at these seminars. You will be required to attend 5 seminars over the course of the semester and submit short summaries of each. To count, the summary must be submitted within one week of the seminar. (You are encouraged to submit these electronically by sending reports as Word documents attached to e-mail messages.) PLAN AHEAD! Most departments host seminars during the semester, but you are unlikely to find many offered after Thanksgiving. It will be best if you pace yourself and attempt to attend one every two weeks or so.
IX. Writing portfolios
The purpose of the writing portfolio is to track your learning in this course. In addition to learning specifically about the process by which discovery is made, you will also learn to improve your writing. The writing portfolio is designed to help you track your progress in both.
The portfolio will be turned in twice – once at midterm and then again at the end of the semester. In order to earn a high grade, you need to complete all assignments, demonstrate a serious engagement with the course material in your writing and show a strong work ethic in revising your work when assigned. You have been provided with a three-ring binder. Every time you write something for class, put it in the binder. Include all submitted drafts and organize the portfolio chronologically with the first papers first.
At the end of the semester, you will be required to write an introduction to your writing portfolio that will describe the progress made in learning about discovery and also about writing. More details on that assignment will be given later in the semester.
Failure to turn in the final assignment and the writing portfolio by the due date will result in a failing grade in the class.
X. Course Schedule
The following course schedule is subject to change as the semester progresses. These changes may result from progress, instructor interest, student interest or newsworthy events related to course material.
Course Schedule
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3 Sept. (Friday) Orientation meeting Class introduction Distribute syllabus Discuss course expectations Discuss class project Discuss summer reading/writing assignment Distribute Miller reading/writing assignment Distribute Human Trials/Roving Mars 01 9-10 am |
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TUES: 1:30-4:10 pm (or as noted) |
THURS: 1:30-4:10 pm (or as noted) |
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I. THE BUIIDING BLOCKS OF DISCOVERY
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7 Sept. First Day of Class Discovery In class: Discovery activities (puzzles) Focus: Problem solving
Before class, do MILLER assignment as instructed. 1:30-~2:45 02 |
9 Sept. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (canisters) Focus: Observation
Before class, do DYSON (Scientist as Rebel) assignment as instructed. 1:30-~3:00 03 |
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Sunday Sept. 12, time TBA Out-of-Class activity (required): Tour of Library
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14 Sept. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (termites) Focus: Hypothesis building
Before class, do KEVLES reaction paper as instructed. 1:30-~3:30 04 |
16 Sept. Discovery In class: Intro to Design Contest, Discovery activities (towers) Focus: Design
Before class, do SACKS reaction paper as instructed. 1:30-~2:45 05 |
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Thursday, Sept. 16, 12:15-1:15 pm (Common Hour) Out-of-Class activity (required): Attend Summer Research Symposium in the Washington Room. Check in with Alison when you arrive and at the very least, talk to the upperclassman Alison assigns you to. (Pizza lunch will be available first-come, first-served.)
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Sunday Sept. 19, 12:30-5 pm Out-of-Class activity (required): Canoeing on the Farmington River Meet bus on Summit Street behind Mather Hall at 12:30 pm SHARP. |
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21 Sept. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (Mastermind) Focus: Logic/Problem solving
Before class, read ISP ’13 advice and do KAHN/DYSON (Amateurs) assignment as instructed.
1:30-~2:45 06 |
23 Sept. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (Scientist ID) Focus: Explanation
Before class, do ANGIER assignment as instructed.
1:30-~2:45 07 |
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28 Sept. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (As data interpretation) Focus: Engineering/design
Before class, read Part I of Human Trials or Roving Mars and prepare DISCUSSION QUESTIONS as instructed. 1:30-~2:45 08 |
30 Sept. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (Numbers/Letters), Plagiarism Case Studies Focus: Plagiarism
Before class, read Part II of Human Trials or Roving Mars and prepare PLAGIARISM assignment as instructed. 1:30-~2:45 09 |
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Saturday Oct. 2, 10am-2:30 pm Out-of-Class activity (required): Visit to Alison’s Farm Meet bus on Summit Street behind Mather Hall at 10:00 am SHARP.
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5 Oct. Discovery In class: Class discussions of Human Trials and Roving Mars
Before class, read Part III of Human Trials or Roving Mars and prepare REACTION PAPER as instructed.
1:30-~2:45 10 |
7 Oct. Discovery In class: Design Contest
Before class, do PETROSKI assignment as instructed.
1:30-~2:45 11 |
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12 Oct
No class – Trinity Days
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14 Oct. Discovery In class: Discovery activities (culmination activities) and Class discussion: What is Science?
Before class, prepare DESIGN REPORT and MIDTERM WRITING PORTFOLIO as instructed.
1:30-~2:45 13 |
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II. DISCOVERY IN ACTION: CLASS PROJECT
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19 Oct. Class Project Introduction/Preparation 1:30-2:45 Before class, prepare DISCOVERY PAPER as instructed.
Library Database session Library computer lab B-02 2:55-4:10 14 |
21 Oct. Class Project Collecting/processing samples.
Before class, complete CLASS PROJECT READING ASSIGNMENT and complete REFERENCING AND DATABASE USE PACKET as instructed.
1:30-4:10 15 |
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26 Oct. Class Project Analysis.
Before class, prepare ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY for Class Project as instructed. 1:30-4:10 16 |
28 Oct. Class Project Introduction to grant-writing assignment Analysis.
1:30-4:10 17 |
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Saturday, Oct. 30 Family weekend |
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2 Nov. Class Project Analysis.
Before class, prepare FACULTY PANEL QUESTIONS and prepare CLASS PROJECT RESEARCH PARAGRAPH as instructed.
1:30-4:10 18 |
4 Nov. The research process: Disciplinary perspectives Faculty panel discussion on research: (various faculty from BIOL, CHEM, CPSC, ENGR, ENVS, MATH, NESC, PHYS)
Class project: Report work
Before class, read ISP advice on laboratory choice. 1:30-~3:30 19 |
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9 Nov. ISP Laboratory Tours I
To be arranged with prospective ISP faculty mentors for Spring 2009 in planning for selection of research.
Before class, prepare REVISED CLASS PROJECT RESEARCH PARAGRAPH as instructed. 1:30-4:10 20 |
11 Nov. ISP Laboratory Tours II
To be arranged with prospective ISP faculty mentors for Spring 2009 in planning for selection of research.
Before class, prepare CLASS PROJECT REPORT SECTION DRAFTS as instructed. 1:30-4:10 21 |
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16 Nov. Class Project Presentation rehearsal 1:30-2:30 Report work. 2:30-3:00 Before class, prepare Class Project report section and prepare POWERPOINT SLIDE for class project presentation as instructed. 22 |
18 Nov. Class project Final Report
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III. DISCOVERY AND SOCIETY
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23 Nov. Class Project Debriefing Science in Society: Research funding In class: Peer review, intro to grant proposal assignment
Before class, read essay by Dyson (Science, Guided by Ethics) and prepare CLASS PROJECT DEBRIEFING PAPER as instructed. Additionally, turn in grant-writing leading idea and team names. 1:30-2:45 24 |
25 Nov.
No class – Thanksgiving Break
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30 Nov. Science in Society: Ethics
Before class, prepare SHERMER/CASSUTO reaction paper as instructed. 1:30-2:45 25 |
2 Dec. Science in Society: Ethics
Before class, prepare GAWANDE reaction paper as instructed. 1:30-2:45 26 |
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7 Dec. Science in Society: Grant proposals
Before class, complete research meetings with faculty, and prepare RESEARCH SELECTION STATEMENT. Also, prepare GRANT WRITING ASSIGNMENT as instructed. 1:30-2:45 27 |
9 Dec. Conclusions/Introductions Wrap-up and debriefing
Before class, prepare INTRODUCTION TO WRITING PORTFOLIO and prepare portfolio for submission as instructed. 1:30-2:45 28 |
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Tuesday, December 14 12-1:30 pm Out-of-Class activity (required): Science and Society Film Meet in Science Commons. Lunch included.
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Thurs. Dec. 16, 9am Deadline for optional late assignment or revision to be submitted |
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XI. Assignment weights (tentative)