INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Larry Adkins
Larry Adkins' Website: http://www.cerritos.edu/ladkins/a106/ladkins
e-mail: ladkins@cerritos.edu
Voice Mail: (562) 860-2451 x4255
REQUIRED: Stairways to the Stars by Anthony Aveni
Seeing and Believing by Richard Panek
Modern Theories of the Universe from Herschel to Hubble by Michael J. Crowe
SUPPLEMENTAL : Theories of the World from Antiquity to the Copernican Revolution by Michael J. Crowe
Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo Translated by Stillman Drake
This is a different kind of science course. Different because it explores the history and development of ideas and their relation to culture and philosophy. How did the appearance of the sky from different latitudes affect the cosmological outlook of cultures living in those latitudes? How were the Maya able to predict eclipses? Why did Greek philosophers begin look for non-mystical explanations for natural phenomena? How did Galileo’s observations through the telescope help convince scholars that the heliocentric system was true? What were the issues in Galileo’s trial before religious authorities? Where did the idea of the “Big Bang” (our current model of the origin of the universe) originate? At the end of this course you should not only have a good grasp of our current picture of the universe - its size, composition, and origin – but also how this picture came to be.
GRADE DETERMINATION: 1. Three Major Tests 35%2. Quizzes/Homework 25%3. Term Project 20%
4. Final 20%
Tests (25%)
Four major tests will be given during the
semester. The lowest score will be dropped and the three highest scores
counted. A test will be given every fourth class meeting. Each test will cover
the material presented in the previous three meetings.
TESTS CANNOT BE MADE UP. A MISSED TEST WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF 0. If you miss a test, then that score will be the one dropped.
In Class Participation
It is very important to read the assigned material. You will be expected to have read the assigned selections and to be prepared to discuss them. Plan on being called on from time to time during the semester .
Quizzes/Homework/Activities (25%)
QUIZZES: Plan on having a quiz every class meeting during the semester. These will consist of two or three questions relating to the material we have been studying.
GOOD NEWS: If you take the quiz, you will receive a minimum of 5 points whether your answers are correct or not. Sometimes you will be able to earn bonus points for correct answers, but the main purpose of these quizzes is to generate discussion and prepare for the major tests.
BAD NEWS: These quizzes cannot be made up. If you are not here when a pop quiz is given, you lose 5 points.
ACTIVITIES: From time to time we will have laboratory type activities (observing with telescopes, for example) which will require short write ups and will be graded (usually these will be worth 10 points).
HOMEWORK: Homework will be assigned from time to time. Most homework assignments will be worth 10 points. Rough drafts of the Term Project described below will be graded under this section.
Term Project (20%)
The term project will be a paper and supporting material (drawings, models, etc.) on some aspect of the history of astronomy that you find particularly interesting. The idea is to present a topic (e.g., Stonehenge, the astronomical telescope) in depth along with an examination of the cultural and philosophical climate of the times. Details are given in the Term Project handout and/or web page.
Final (20%)
There will be a comprehensive final over all material at the end of the semester.