Here is a sample paper which should help you get an idea about what I consider a well-written, well-argued paper should look like.
This course is about beliefs which may be popular, but which tend to be rejected in mainstream scientific circles. We will particularly concentrate on the claims made on behalf of intelligent design, parapsychology, and UFOlogy. In doing so, we will be talking about the scientific questions raised, but we will also keep an eye on what our explorations might tell us about the nature of science.
You need to read the syllabus carefully. There are some points I want to especially emphasize, however:
This isn't a typical course where you learn some material, reproduce or apply it on an exam, and get a grade accordingly. What I want from you is discussion and argument. I don't care if you agree with me or not! Take strong positions, and don't hesitate to oppose my position on any given matter. For example, I think intelligent design proponents and creationists have it all wrong. But if you defend creationism in an intellectually interesting manner, producing good writing, you'll get an A.
You'll have to do a lot of reading as well as writing in the course. Just going through your textbook and reading the regularly assigned material, even if you do it before class as you're supposed to, won't be enough. Especially for your writing assignments, you'll need to explore beyond this; otherwise, you simply won't know enough about your subject to produce any quality thinking about it.
Don't be intimidated by "interdisciplinarity" and get lost wondering about how to combine science and philosophy. Our discussions will naturally lead to both kinds of questions, and I'll give you guidance when you're choosing writing topics and thinking about what to write. Concentrate on producing a good argument rather than trying to satisfy someone's definition of how you should mix and match different disciplines.
But again, don't forget the syllabus. Note that most of the books I list in the syllabus are available in the library, plus I have some personal copies I can lend you.
Another important thing to do immediately is to complete the student survey. I need some information, including your initial opinions on the subjects I address. This tells me what I need to emphasize. If, for example, the class seems predisposed to oppose parapsychology, I'll spend a bit more time explaining why some people think there's something to it. If your initial opinions go the other way then I'll try and get you to take the skeptics' side more seriously.
Don't forget to bookmark this page. I will be posting useful documents here occasionally.
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| Last modified: October 2, 2008 |