Physics 3020 Great Scientists Spring 2012 Instructor: Richard Quay Teacher’s Assistant

Teacher’s Assistant- Brett.Bostrom@aggiemail.Usu.edu

The class syllabus and class grade sheet will be available here. Please check this site on a daily basis for class announcements and schedule changes.

1. 
   Text Reading: as indicated on Assignment Schedule. Please notice that some are considerable longer than others. Please plan accordingly.
   

1. 
   Web or library: On these assignments you use your own resources to do some reading on the scientist. Please reference your sources in all papers. Points will be deducted for failing to document your sources. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source.
   

1. 
   Short paper: For each topic you must prepare a short paper reacting to your reading. It should not be longer than one page: a full paragraph will do if it is well done. Your response should include information about the scientist’s main contribution as well as some insight on the scientist’s colleagues, relationships, families, personal characteristics etc. Your response should always include one adjective giving your oversimplified sense of the person you are reading about. Box this adjective in the upper right hand corner of your paper. If you would not like your material shared with the class please so state; but I hope you will not use this option often because an important part of the class is based on students thoughts. This is a class where we learn together.
   

1. 
   Submission of Assignments: Assignments are generally due before the person or theme is discussed. Please refer to the assignment list below for the specific due dates. Assignments more than one week late will not be accepted. Points will be deducted for late assignments (less than one week) by a rate of one point per day. Each paper is worth a maximum of ten points. Assignments must be posted to Blackboard prior to 8 PM on the due date and they must be sent in Microsoft Word. Assignments sent in other file types will not be recognized. This is your responsibility!
   

1. 
   Term Paper: A term paper is required as the major project for this course. This can be about a scientist, several scientists, a scientific principle, a theme, or – well whatever! It should be professionally done and its evaluation will constitute a considerable portion of your grade. A abstract for the term paper must be emailed to me by 8 PM on the due date noted on the assignment list. It is essential that your topic be a focused one. A broad theme will be rejected. Also please avoid echoing back to me what we have already covered in class. Please make sure that you obtain my OK before you proceed. Paper should be a minimum of eight double spaced pages excluding title page, sources and abstract. Format should be APA. A minimum of six sources should be used of which at least three should be library based. A grading rubric is provided on Blackboard. This rubric must be attached to your term paper or a ten point penalty will be applied.
   
2. 
   Five minute presentations: It is recommended that you give a short presentation to the class as part of your project. A maximum of ten bonus points will be awarded for this. Please send me an email letting me know your intentions if you plan on doing a presentation. Please explore the use of media other than the most used ones (PowerPoint etc.) for maximum credit.
   

1. 
   Attendance is extremely important for this class. I will draw heavily on the discussions for test questions. Please come to class ready to discuss the scientists indicated. If you miss a class please get your notes from a classmate.
   
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   Do not email me by Blackboard! I will not respond! Use only the Yahoo email account. Any questions regarding homework should be sent to the class TA.
   

Final Exam 100

Short Papers 150

Abstract 35

Term Paper 150

Total 535 points

A 94 % C 74 %

A- 90 % C- 70 %

B+ 87 % D+ 67 %

B 84 % D 64 %

B- 80 % D- 60 %