HON 120 Natural Sciences and Society
Spring 2004
Dr. Feder and Dr. Larsen
Dr. Kenneth Feder (feder@ccsu.edu)
832-2615
Office FD 110, hours T 11-12:15, W 10-12, Th 11-12:15
Dr. Kristine Larsen (Larsen@ccsu.edu)
832-2938 AIM: DrKrisLarsen
Office NC 606, hours M 12-2, T 11-12:15, Th 3:30-5
Required texts: “The
Demon Haunted World,” Carl Sagan
“Voodoo Science,”
Robert Park
Other handouts and assigned
readings on-line or on reserve in the library
Grading:
Take home midterm and final: 20% each
Paper 1: Creation myth (due 2/12): 15%
Paper 2: Fact or Fiction paper (due 3/18): 15%
Paper 3: Debunk a Pseudoscience (paper and presentation) (due
4/29): 20%
4th credit work: 10%
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Week of |
Tuesday |
Thursday |
Readings for Week: |
|
1/26 |
How do you know what you know? |
The scientific methods |
Park: 1-3,8 Sagan 1-2, 12-14 |
|
2/2 |
Creation myth presentations |
Creation myth presentations |
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|
2/9 |
Moon Hoax – Critical Thinking 101 |
Scientific Creationism |
Park 4,7 |
|
2/16 |
Scientific Creationism |
Raelians and Clonaid |
Park 5,6 |
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2/23 |
Human Evolution |
Human Evolution |
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3/1 |
The Cardiff Giant |
Piltdown Man |
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3/8 |
Archaeoastronomy |
Stonehenge |
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3/15 |
Stonehenge |
Astrology |
Park 10; Sagan 17 |
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3/29 |
Stellar Evolution |
SETI |
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4/5 |
UFO’s |
Von Daniken and Ancient Astronauts |
Sagan 4, 6-10 |
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4/12 |
Face on Mars |
Atlantis |
Sagan 3 |
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4/19 |
Cosmic Impacts – science or pseudoscience? |
Nibiru |
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4/26 |
Roswell |
Pseudoscience presentations |
Park 9; Sagan 5 |
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5/3 |
Pseudoscience presentations |
Pseudoscience presentations |
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5/10 |
Pseudoscience presentations |
No class |
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