|
Biology 102 - THE
DARWINIAN REVOLUTION
Kalamazoo College, MI
Course homepage | Moodle
page | Schedule | In
The News Reports | Links | Last
Revised:
April 7, 2008
Instructor: Dr.
Ann Fraser
Office: Dow Science 314
Phone: 337-7063
Email: afraser "at"
kzoo.edu
Office hours:M 1:30-2:30 PM, T/F 3:00-4:00 PM;
also by appointment
Class meeting time: Tu/Thur 9:30-11:20
AM, Dow226 |
 |
Required texts
- Darwin, A Norton Critical
Edition, 3rd edition, Philip Appleman, ed., 2001
- The Evolving World: Evolution in Everyday Life,
by David P. Mindell, 2007
- Assigned outside readings as appropriate
to augment text and lecture.
Course Description
Evolution is the unifying theory of biology but its
origins and impact extend far beyond this scientific discipline.
In this course we will explore the interplay between science,
other disciplines, and society by examining the origins and development
of evolutionary thought, with special emphasis on Darwin's theory
of evolution by means of natural selection, and by discussing
the ways in which Darwinism affects how we think about ourselves,
our society, and the world in which we live. Topics for discussion
include Social Darwinism, race and eugenics, human origins, creationism,
and sociobiology.
Course Goals and Expectations
This course serves as an introduction to one of the major intellectual
transformations of recent centuries. Through lectures, reading
and class discussions, we will explore the background, development
and consequences of Darwin’s work from multiple perspectives,
including scientific, social, political, philosophical and religious
perspectives. The ultimate success of this course will rely on
participants being open-minded, critical and engaged learners
who will contribute to our collaborative investigation of Darwinism.
Through this course you will:
- gain a better understanding of evolutionary theory from a
biological perspective
- gain a better understanding of the scientific method
- gain an appreciation for and awareness of the interplay between
science and society
- become a better informed citizen of our society
- hone your critical thinking and writing skills through discussion
of and responses to readings and topics covered in the course.
COURSE EVALUATION |
Points |
Course attendance, preparation and participation |
60 |
Tests (150 + 200 + 200) |
550 |
Group project and presentation |
150 |
Evolution in the news (2 @ 60 pts each) |
120 |
Readings worksheets (3 @ 40 pts each) |
120 |
Total |
1000 |
APPROXIMATE GRADING SCALE (with
+/- grades within these ranges)
A 90-100% B 80-90% C 70-80% D 60-70% F below 60%
HONOR SYSTEM
This course operates under the Kalamazoo College Honor System,
a statement of values and responsibilities central to our education.
Group discussion of material is encouraged (except during a test
or exam), but written work is to be completed individually, with
proper citation of all sources of ideas or other information that
is not your own. You are responsible for learning how to cite
works other than your own using an appropriate citation format.
Consult the Kalamazoo College Library resource page: How to Cite
Sources - http://www.kzoo.edu/is/library/reference/guides/citations.html
COURSE ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENT
Course attendance, preparation
and participation (7%)
To receive full credit for this component, you need
to attend class and be an active and engaged member of the class.
You can demonstrate engagement by being an active and attentive
listener, asking questions that demonstrate that you have thought
about material, and being an active participant in small group
and class discussions.
Tests (3 @ 150, 200, 200
pts = 55% total)
The tests will cover lecture
material and associated readings. Content and format will
be discussed prior to the exams.
Evolution In The News Reports
(2 x 6% each = 12% total)
To increase your awareness of new discoveries, controversies,
discussions, etc. related to evolution, and to enlarge your
thinking about the principles and practice of evolutionary biology,
you will scour the recent (i.e. 2008) popular news or peer-reviewed
publications for relevant articles to report on. Articles
could be on discoveries or controversies related to medicine,
genetics, biodiversity and conservation, paleontology, systematics,
molecular biology, speciation, evolutionary change, education,
etc. A suitable article is one that allows you to make
clear connections between the content of the article and some
central principle or practice of evolutionary biology.
You will do this TWICE during the quarter, and PROVIDE A COPY
OF THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ALONG WITH YOUR REPORT.
A separate handout will be provided that details the nature
of the reports. Reports are due at the beginning of class
on the specified date. Late reports will
incur a penalty of 10% per day
from the value of the assignment. Reports more than
5 days overdue will not be accepted.
Reading Worksheets (3 x
4 % each = 12% total) Do any 3 out of
6 during the course
We will be reading from a variety of sources for this
course. A various times during the course you will be
provided with questions related to the readings, from which
you will prepare responses. These worksheets will enhance
your preparation for class discussion and your understanding
of course themes or concepts. The response sheets are
to be typewritten and are due at the beginning
of class on the designated day. Response sheets will not
be accepted after the fact and will not be accepted by email
(so please don't come begging).
Group Research Project and
Presentation (15%)
As the evolutionary biologist and geneticist Theodosius
Dobzhansky wrote "Nothing in biology makes sense except
in the light of evolution" (1973). Because biology
is the science that studies the living world, the natural world,
we will explore this statement in some depth. Working
in small groups, you will have the opportunity to explore a
particular topic that relates some aspect of everyday life with
evolution. A number of potential topics are touched on
by your text The Evolving World, but we need not be
restricted to these. Examples include topics related to
public health and medicine, biodiversity and conservation, paleontology
and the fossil record, sexual reproduction, artificial selection
of domesticated organisms, religion and morality, forensics,
and eugenics. Further details of these group projects
will be provided separately from the syllabus. Group presentations
will occur during the latter half of the course.
|