Honors 1520 Perspectives in Social Science -- the Seven Revolutions

Kathryn L. MacKay 626 6782  SS 244  kmackay@weber.edu
Office Hours: M, T, W 7AM am, and by appointment

Hans Rosling shows the best stats you've ever seen

 20 min TED

Course Calendar

Grades:

Grades will be a percentage of points possible-not "on the curve."

This class will be conducted in the style of a seminar. We will engage in large-group discussion, do small-group work and occasionally I will provide short lectures.  Students also will be asked to take turns at presenting and analyzing particular texts. Participation in the discussions is expected, so, therefore, is regular attendance.

We will be considering ideas, creative expressions, arguments of "the other"--from points of view, experiences, and beliefs other than our own. We cannot require that such expressions conform in advance to what we are prepared to recognize as authentic or meaningful. We will critique expressions outside our own experiences and beliefs--but those critiques will be respectful and engaged. We can not proceed with our inquiry if we refuse to move outside of our own categories of knowing and ignoring.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), The New York Times, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, DC, have joined with eight AASCU campuses to design a project to use the materials of CSIS on AASCU campuses. The goal of this initiative is to increase the number of undergraduates who are knowledgeable about global issues so that they can act wisely as thoughtful, engaged citizens.

Social Science / Texts / Activities / Grades

The study of human society and of individual relationships in and to society.

A body of related courses concerned with knowledge of the social life of human groups and individuals, including economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social studies, and sociology.

The social sciences comprise the application of scientific methods to the study of the human aspects of the world. They are also known (pejoratively) as the soft sciences (in contrast to the hard sciences), although many social scientists also refer to their discipline as the harder sciences, given the complexity of their subject matter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_sciences

Texts:

• various electronic and print sources, including The New York Times which is a partner in this project. You will be expected to read the Times on a regular basis; we will work with the information in class.

ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF LEARNING:

• Participation: Your comments and questions are welcome and will be solicited. You will be making informal oral presentations. You will assess your own participation in a written statement -- based on attendance, preparation and participation during the quarter. (60 points)
• Writing:
  • 6 short response papers on various assigned topics.(10 points each)
• Oral presentations
  • 6 short oral presentations on various assigned topics (10 points each)
    • handouts should be made available to colleagues