VA231: Introduction to Non-Fiction
Fall 2003 (Last updated
Dr.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION
WATT SCHEDULE AND CONTACT INFO
COURSE TEXTS (all required and available in paperback in the campus bookstore)
q The
Best American Essays 2002, ed. Steven Jay Gould (BAE)
q The
Best American Science and Nature Writing 2002, ed. Natalie Angier (SN)
q Longitude:
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of
His Time, by Dava Sobel
q
Tentative Schedule of
Note: This schedule indicates the days on which readings are due and will be discussed.
Key for abbreviations of course texts: BAE=Best American Essays 2002
SN=Best American Science and Nature Writing 2002
Titles of book-length course texts are underlined.
Names of topic units are given in bold.
R: Course Orientation, Reading Nonfiction
See http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/09/16/massoud.buried/index.html
M: “Fire” BAE 165-87. Preferences for research groups expressed.
T: “Wall Street Losses, Wall Street Gains” SN 185-196, and “Word on the Street” BAE 267-75
R: “The Price We Pay” BAE 213-18, and “For Patriot Dreams” BAE 137-43
F: “Who We Are” BAE 124-36
M: *Response #1 due*
“Turning Point” BAE 13-21, and “How Islam Won, and Lost, the Lead in
Science” SN 210-17.
Human (vs.?) Human
T: “Saving Us from Darwin” SN 34-57
R: “The Dramaturgy of Death” BAE 331-43
F: “Inside the Bunker” BAE 280-94
(Watt away at conference Sept. 20-24)
M: No class meeting. Work on group research, on response paper, and/or on reading Hiroshima.
T: No class meeting.
R: *Response #2 due* Group research presentations on holocaust deniers, and on the film Hiroshima Mon Amour.
F:
WEEK 4 Sept. 29-Oct. 3
M: Hiroshima, Chs. 3-4
T:
R: *Response #3 due (on
Human (vs.?) Nature ‘The Sting of the Assassin” SN 255-64.
F: “Mothers and Others” SN 148-60 (Class will not meet; email to Watt indicating your highlight passage and why you chose it, worth an in-class writing grade.)
WEEK 5 Oct. 6-10
M: “In the Realm of Virtual Reality” SN 24-33
T: “Is That a Mountain Lion in Your Backyard?” SN 114-23, and “A Little Reminder of Reality’s Scale” SN 218-20
R: “One Acre” SN 281-91.
*Response #4 due*
Food Issues
F: “Braised Shank of Free-Range Possum?” SN 10-20
WEEK 6 Oct. 13-14
M: “Why McDonald’s Fries Taste So Good” SN 221-233. Group research presentation on the regulation of food additives.
T: “Ripe for Controversy” SN 181-84. *Response #5 due*
R, F: FALL BREAK
WEEK 7 Oct. 20-24
Paradigm Shifts
M: Longitude, Chs. 1-5
T: Longitude, Chs. 6-10
R: Longitude, Chs. 11-15.
F: *Response #6 due, on Longitude* Group research presentation on Longitude.
M: “Mind over Matter” SN 21-23, and “Very Dark Energy” SN 292-300.
Group research presentation on currently shifting astronomy/physics paradigms.
The Brain
Other Medical Matters
M: “Moonrise” BAE 344-65
T: “’I Have Seen Cancers Disappear’” SN 198-209. Group presentation, update on recent cancer research.
R: “Final Cut” BAE 111-23
F: *Response #8 due* “Out of the Ordinary” BAE 232-36, and skim http://www.mundanebehavior.org/index.htm
M: “Examined Life” SN 89-100. Course evaluations.
T: “Matriculation Fixation” BAE 276-79, and “Dumb, Dumb, Duh Dumb” SN 196-97
R: “College: The End of the Golden Age” BAE 219-31. Group research presentation on the “No Child Left Behind” legislation.
F: *Response #9 due* Read your choice of at least one unassigned essay from BAE or SN.
GUIDELINES FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSE PAPERS