ENTOMOLOGY
401
Invertebrates in Biological Thought - Course Outline
Course Objectives:
1) To foster a historical and integrative perspective on the origin
and growth of biological concepts and knowledge.
2) To provide a deeper appreciation for the paradigm of evolution
and the underlying unity of biological systems, and why these concepts
hold significance in our everyday lives.
3) To encourage the development of scholarship, critical thinking,
and effective communication skills.
Course Content
The course presents a chronological narrative of the human perspective
of the natural world, highlighting the development of scientific
ideas and knowledge from antiquity, through Darwinism, into the
20th century. When appropriate, lectures and discussions will emphasize
major concepts and advances in biology to which invertebrate studies
have made a significant contribution. Students will conduct scholarly
library research to develop a historical perspective, integrate
their knowledge of biological principles, and hone their communicative
skills. Students may select from a wide range of research topics
(examples below), but each project must embody a historical, contextual
approach. Students will present their findings in oral and written
form to their class colleagues.
Topics and Perspectives
These major topics and perspectives will be developed in lectures
and discussions:
1) the concept of science as a process, whose practitioners operate
within historical, social, philosophical, and technological contexts
2) the distinct advantages and varied uses of invertebrates as "model
systems" in past and current research
3) the diversity and impact of scientific advances made possible
by researchers using invertebrate organisms
Course Activities have the following
points (1,000 points possible):
| participation: class discussions & in-class
activities |
250 |
| "short writes" (40 points each; 6 total;
5 "count") |
200 |
| homework (60 points each; 3 assignments) |
180 |
| peer review of draft of colleague's term paper |
35 |
| term paper |
300 |
| student paper presentation (oral-- 10 min) |
35 |
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS = 1,000
Your success in this course depends upon your input into it, both
in and out of class time. There are no hourly exams in this course.
There will be no "extra credit" activities.
Note that 45% of your grade depends directly upon your attendance:
You cannot participate in class discussions and in-class activities
if you are absent; and, you cannot make up "short-writes."
However, you may either drop or miss one "short-write"
and you will not be penalized. Each "short write" will
take about 15 minutes, and I will give you advance notice of the
topics and concepts to think about for each one.
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