HIST174 Syllabus
  Page 1
  Page 2
  Page 3
  Page 4
  Page 5
  Page 6
  Page 7 (schedule)
  Page 8 (lecture notes)
  Page 9 (music)

Study Questions
  Midterm (Topics 1 & 2)
  Topic 3
  Topic 4
  Topic 5
  Topic 6

Essay Reviews
  Assignment #1 - Short Essay
  Assignment #2 - Essay Review
  Example #1 by Student
  Example #2 by Student
  Example by Instructor

Instructor:
Dr. Stephen G. Brush
Distinguished University Professor of the History of Science
Department of History
  and
Institute for Physical Science & Technology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742 USA

Stephen G. Brush Home Page

Last modified:
December 04, 2003
© Stephen G. Brush

HIST 174
Introduction to the History of Science

Spring 2004 Course Syllabus Page 4

Writing Assignments (due March 1-5 and April 26-30)

The first writing assignment will be a short essay (750 to 1250 words) on either one of the following two topics (your choice), based on your analysis and interpretation of the readings listed:

(1) "Does the Earth move around the Sun?"  Extracts from Aristotle, On the Heavens, and Copernicus, On the Revolutions OR (2) "Did living things evolve by natural selection or were they designed in their present form by a Creator?"  Extracts from Paley, Natural Theology, and Darwin, Origin of Species

Detailed instructions for this essay, including page numbers for the extracts, will be posted on the course website ("HIST 174 Short Essay Assignment") and may also be obtained from your Teaching Assistant.  The books are available on the Internet; you should print out your own copies of the specified pages from the online version.  Consult your Teaching Assistant if you have difficulty obtaining these materials.  The essay is due at your discussion section meeting, the week of March 1-5.

The second writing assignment is a 1500 to 2500 word "Essay Review" on one topic selected from the list on the website, which also has detailed instructions ("HIST 174 Essay Review Assignment").  It should be based on two of the books or articles listed under that topic.  Papers based on other books or articles, or on items not listed under the same topic, are not acceptable.  You should select a topic early in the semester so you will have time to obtain the books from the library (they may have to be recalled).  This paper is due at your discussion section meeting, the week of April 26-30.

Components of Course Grade

Grades will be based on exams, writing assignments, and class participation in discussion sections (including quizzes), weighted as follows:

	Short essay	10%
	Midterm exam	10%
	Essay Review	25%
	Final exam	35%
	Class participation	20%

Both exams and both written assignments must be completed in order to pass the course.

Go to Next Page