Assignment 4: Reaction for Journal 9
Due: 3.24.2008
Posted: 3.20.2008
Comments: Here is a writeup of the "reaction" for the next journal. It's a simple lesson in Division IA football dynamics.
Assignment 6 addendum: Midterm
Due: 3.12.2008
Posted: 2.28.2008
Comments: The midterm is in two parts:
1. A Sherlock Holmes analysis excercise for 10 points. (See below)
2. A set of short answer questions for 30 points. These are found in this pdf file.
Sherlock Holmes is always referred to as the Master of Deduction. I wonder. Could he be the Master of Induction? or the Master of Abduction? You decide:
Read one of the Sherlock Holmes stories "Silver Blaze," or "The Red-Headed League" and list instances of reasoning by 1) Deduction, 2) Induction, and 3) Abduction that you can find. The most common mistake is finding deduction when there's really induction or abduction.
You get 2 points per correct example, up to 10 points - that looks like 5 examples, right?
Here's how I suggest you do this: print out the stories and by hand indicate which paragraphs that you want to identify. Number each of them for reference and on a separate sheet, by each number, indicate what your conclusion is and why.
You can find the stories at
http://www.citsoft.com/holmes/memoirs/silver.blaze.txt
http://www.citsoft.com/holmes/adventures/red-headed.league.txt
Assignment 6 addendum: Biography
Due: 4.30.2008
Posted: 2.26.2008
Comments: This is the biography project. Notice that it's due at the final exam.
Assignment 6 addendum: Book Reviews
Due: 2.04.2008
Posted: 2.1.2008
Comments: I built something to help you with some of the book choices. Hope it's not too late. Go here and see. The stars should refer to the point levels. Hope this is useful.
Assignment 4: Reaction for Journal 4
Due: 2.04.2008
Posted: 2.1.2008
Comments: Please read these bits from David Hume and react to them: "Of the Idea of necessary Connexion Part I and Part II ", from David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. A page or two is sufficient. Do you think he's persuasive?
remember: when I ask you to ponder something like this for a journal, I'm not asking you to write a full-fledged research report or article. It's a journal, it should be thoughts and ideas with enough defense to show some thoughtfulness. We'll calibrate one another after a bit as to what is the right amount of effort.
Assignment 6: Book Reviews
Due: 4.21.2008
Posted: 1.28.2008
Comments: The Instructions for the book reviews are posted here.
Assignment 5: Movie Review Option
Due: 4.14.2008
Posted: 1.28.2008
Comments: The instructions for the movie review(s) are posted here. The due date is on the calendar. Remember, if you need them but cannot make a Wednesday night, let me know and you can check one out.
Assignment 4: Reaction for Journal 3
Due: 1.28.2008
Posted: 1.24.2008
Comments: Watch and listen over the next few days...the newspaper is a good place, CNN, MSNBC's web site, etc. Find and example of someone using the fallacy of Affirming the Consequent. Explain what the variables are (the "p's" and "q's") and how it's wrong and what they might have said which would have been valid. Unfortunately, politicians, government officials, advertisers, athletes, coaches, medical doctors, university administrators...are all potential sources!
remember: when I ask you to ponder something like this for a journal, I'm not asking you to write a full-fledged research report or article. It's a journal, it should be thoughts and ideas with enough defense to show some thoughtfulness. We'll calibrate one another after a bit as to what is the right amount of effort.
Assignment 3: Reaction for Journal 2
Due: 1.23.2008 (anamolous wednesday)
Posted: 1.15.2008
Comments: Here are two excerpts from Plato's The Republic: BookV and BookVII. The former is where he first in detail begins to discuss the Forms and the latter is the Parable of the Cave. Think about them and in your journal entry connect these ideas to topics that are different from just the "couch" or "triangle" examples that I used...think bigger, into politics, ethics, religion and see if you can see some of Plato in things that are a part of American culture today. (Not for this time, but note and remember for a month from now the importance of the Sun in the Cave story.)
note: when I ask you to ponder something like this for a journal, I'm not asking you to write a full-fledged research report or article. It's a journal, it should be thoughts and ideas with enough defense to show some thoughtfulness. We'll calibrate one another after a bit as to what is the right amount of effort.
Assignment 2: Reaction for Journal 1
Due:1.14.2008
Posted: First day!
Comments: Read the extract from CP Snow's classic and still controversial book, The Two Cultures. I am truly interested in what you think about the separation of Science from...what?
Assignment 1: Journals
Due:Every Monday
Posted: First day!
Comments: This link is an MS Word file that should form as a template for your journal submissions. They are due at the beginning of class each Monday printed (and stapled!) Notice that when there is a question or problem to "react to" (read the template!), it will appear on the Welcome/blog page and may or may not refer you here. Here are detailed instructions for the journal.