version 2019-03-17
NOTE: THIS VERSION OF THE SYLLABUS IS UPDATED FOR THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
| SEMINAR W 1-3:25 in CL 304 |
|
(Prof.) Colin Allen
<colin.allen@pitt.edu> |
It is expected that you will attend the seminar each week, having carried out the assigned preparation. In the first half of the semester there will be smaller assignments, to be completed in advance of the seminar. Their content will be the basis of seminar discussions each week. 10% of your grade in 1702 will be based on your contributions to the discussion. Your major assignment will be a project that combines analysis of some episode in the history of science with issues in philosophy of science covered in the seminar. The outcome of the project will be a term paper and a poster presentation on your project. The project will be broken down into a series of smaller assignments. The exercises for the writing workshop will be carried out in the context of these smaller assignments.
We will be using Canvas at canvas.pitt.edu instead of the Blackboard system you have used previously and which is being phased out by the university.
To the extent that it supports the goals of the class, the use of laptops and other means of accessing the Internet is encouraged. But if I detect that you are using your device in a way that distracts you from participation in the class, I will ask you to put it away, and repeat offenses will affect your participation grade.
This is an intensive writing class. Pitt’s rubric for IW classes are as follows. Students:
(i) will begin writing early in the term;
(ii) write regularly throughout the term;
(iii) receive instructive responses between assignments;
(iv) willl revise some of their work significantly; and
(v) will write between 20 and 25 pages in all
As instructor, I am of course responsible for item (iii), which is why
it’s important that you get the assignments to me on time.
There are seven writing assignments, with details specified
further below. Collectively they count for 60% of your grade. The
specific percentages are specified with the details below. Note
that these assignments are cumulative so if you miss one, it will
likely have knock-on effects that are bigger than the percentage
assigned to any one assignment.
During the final meeting of the class on 4/15 there will be a public poster session to which members of the HPS research community at Pitt are invited. This session is always a fun event -- a chance to showcase your work and receive excellent feed back from the research community at Pitt that will also help you refine your final paper. There might also be doughnuts.
30% of your grade in 1702 is based on the poster and the work you show during the practice presentations scheduled for the preceding two weeks (4/1 and 4/8). Details about the poster session, and suggestions about how to construct and present one will be provided in class on 3/18. You should also upload to Canvas a final version of your poster by the morning of 4/15.
10% of your grade in 1702 will be based on your contributions to the classroom discussions and my assessment of how well you prepared for those discussions.
All writing assignments are due on MONDAYS.
All are specified in minimum number of pages. To convert to words, assume that one double-spaced page with standard 1-inch margin at 12pt font =~ 250 words. Page maximums are 125% of the stated minimums. You can submit written work in any of these electronic formats: .pages, .odt, .docx, .rtf, .pdf.
The listed percentages are for HPS 1702 grades, and they sum to 60%. Your grade for HPS 1703 is based entirely on these seven writing assignments, so multiply by 1.67 to scale to 100%.
Late submission of the assignments is strongly discouraged. Each assignment builds on the ones before, so falling behind in one can lead to cascading difficulties. If an extension is sought, it should only be for a few days. The need for the extension should be explained in writing and a date indicated in writing for the late submission.
The materials and activities in this seminar are cumulative; almost everything will build on something earlier in term. So my best advice is to keep on top of the material from the start. Once you fall behind, catching up can be hard. The shorter assignments are intended to help you get into the reading, so take them seriously. I'm happy to meet with you outside regular seminar times. The easiest way to arrange a meeting is to talk to me immediately before or after the seminar or to email me.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please visit Pitt Student Affairs Disability Resources and Services for further information.
University and Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences rules concerning academic misconduct will be rigorously enforced in this class. As a student at Pitt, you are expected to adhere to the standards and policies detailed in the School's Academic Integrity Code. When you submit assignments with your name on them in this course, you are signifying that the work contained therein is all yours, unless otherwise cited or referenced. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. If you are unsure about the expectations for completing an assignment or taking a test or exam, be sure to seek clarification beforehand. All suspected violations of the Code will be handled according to School and University policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment, reduction in your final grade, a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities, and must include a report to the Dean of Students.
The University of Pittsburgh does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status or gender identity or other factors as stated in the University’s Title IX policy. The University is committed to taking prompt action to end a hostile environment that interferes with the University’s mission. For more information about policies, procedures, and practices, see: http://diversity.pitt.edu/affirmative-action/policies-procedures-and-practices.
I ask that everyone in the class strive to help ensure that other members of this class can learn in a supportive and respectful environment. If there are instances of the aforementioned issues, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, by calling 412-648-7860, or e-mailing titleixcoordinator@pitt.edu. Reports can also be filed online: https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/make-report/report-form. You may also choose to report this to a faculty/staff member; they are required to communicate this to the University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. If you wish to maintain complete confidentiality, you may also contact the University Counseling Center (412-648-7930).
Materials provided for the course may be protected by copyright. United States copyright law, 17 USC section 101, et seq., in addition to University policy and procedures, prohibit unauthorized duplication or retransmission of course materials. See Library of Congress Copyright Office and the University Copyright Policy.
To ensure the free and open discussion of ideas, students may not record classroom lectures, discussion and/or activities without the advance written permission of the instructor, and any such recording properly approved in advance can be used solely for the student’s own private use.