STS 1010
Survey of Science and Technology in Society
Section 022
May 12-June 19, 2020

photo of
        professorInstructor: Prof. Pamela E. Mack
preferred form of address: Prof. Mack or Dr. Mack
E-mail: pammack@clemson.edu
first choice for communication is Canvas email
rather than fixed office hours you are encouraged to contact me with some date and time suggestions and we will set up a conversation on Zoom or the phone
this syllabus on the web: http://pammack.sites.clemson.edu/sylSTS1010summer20.html
Note: syllabus subject to change; changes will be reflected in Canvas LMS

Course Description: Surveys historical, philosophical, and social studies of science, introduces the basic requisites for scientific and technological literacy, and considers the problems of responsible participation in a scientifically and technologically advanced society.

Course Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students should be able to
  1. Provide details of the inception, development, and reception of scientific ideas
  2. Research examples and apply ethical concepts learned in the course to those examples
  3. Analyze and critique arguments concerning the function and significance of scientific ideas in political and social contexts
  4. Explain and analyze ways in which society is affected by science and technology, and vice versa
  5. Formulate logical, well-supported arguments about topics related to science and medicine in society
Successful completion of the course will meet the Science and Technology in Society General Education Competency:
"Demonstrate an understanding of issues created by the complex interactions among science, technology, and society.
"
And also the non-literature humanities competency:
"Students will analyze, interpret, and employ aesthetic, ethical, linguistic, and/or philosophical discourse in relevant contexts."
(This course will work with ethical and philosophical ideas)

Required materials
and technology:

Course Requirements:

This course will use contract grading. That means that you pick how much work you want to do for the grade you want to receive. If you do that work in a satisfactory manner, you are guaranteed that grade. Satisfactory is defined below and in the assignments and will be indicated in feedback, but in general work done for an A grade will be considered unsatisfactory if in another course I would give that work a grade of C or below. Note that the Canvas grading system cannot handle contract grading, so you will not see a reliable average in Canvas, though I will grade assignments to suggest what grade they are satisfactory for.

For an A:
For a B:
For a C:
Academic Integrity:  This course takes the university's academic integrity policy very seriously (see university policy below).  In particular, in this course the definition of plagiarism includes both representing someone else's work as your own and handing in the same paper to two different courses without permission of both instructors. You may re-use your exact words (according to the plagiarism standard below) from work done for this course but not from any other course. Be careful to avoid plagiarism--text you take from a web site, from a book, or from online class notes must be either quoted with the source given or restated almost entirely in your own words, with the source given.  The catalog defines as one form of academic dishonesty: "Plagiarism, which includes the intentional or unintentional copying of language, structure, or ideas of another and attributing the work to one’s own efforts."  Note the word unintentional--if you forget to put quote marks or a reference you can be found guilty of academic dishonesty even if it was not your intention to cheat.

It is cheating to cut and paste or otherwise copy portions of a reflection, paper or discussion board posting from a book, web site, or from online class notes provided by the professor, unless you quote and give the source. Changing a few words is not sufficient to make the material your own. It is poor writing for more than about 20% of your paper to consist of quotes.  In most cases when you use specific material from any source you should paraphrase: cite the source and put the ideas into you own words (generally no more than 5 consecutive words should match the source but if the words are mostly the same it could still be plagiarism even if there aren't 5 consecutive words).


Schedule:
see Canvas for links to assignments
online readings and videos (to be specified while the course is running) and discussion board posts will usually be due at least three days a week

note that due times are as counted by Canvas--Eastern Daylight time



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University Policies

Student Accessibility Services

Clemson University values the diversity of our student body as a strength and a critical component of our dynamic community. Students with disabilities or temporary injuries/conditions may require accommodations due to barriers in the structure of facilities, course design, technology used for curricular purposes, or other campus resources. Students who experience a barrier to full access to this class should let the professor know, and make an appointment to meet with a staff member in Student Accessibility Services as soon as possible. You can make an appointment by calling 864-656-6848, by emailing studentaccess@lists.clemson.edu, or by visiting Suite 239 in the Academic Success Center building. Appointments are strongly encouraged – drop-ins will be seen if at all possible, but there could be a significant wait due to scheduled appointments. Students who receive Academic Access Letters are strongly encouraged to request, obtain and present these to their professors as early in the semester as possible so that accommodations can be made in a timely manner. It is the student’s responsibility to follow this process each semester. You can access further information at the Student Accessibility Services Website and the Office of Access and Equity Website.

Email Policy / Response Time

Clemson does not provide me with a phone; email is my preferred method of contact for university business. You can expect a response to your email inquiries within 36 hours, excluding weekends and university holidays.

Copyright

All materials found in this course are strictly for the use of students enrolled in this course and for purposes associated with this course; they may not be retained or further disseminated. Clemson students, faculty, and staff are expected to comply fully with institutional copyright policy as well as all other copyright laws.

Privacy Policy

 Because privacy regulations stipulate that faculty and staff communicate with students through authorized University channels, use your University email account or Canvas's messaging system to contact me.  This course is designed with your privacy in mind. If, however, you feel that an assignment or technology tool undermines your right to privacy or is uncomfortable for you personally, please contact me immediately. We will work together to determine an alternative assignment that will help you achieve the course learning outcomes.

Online Conduct

Appropriate online academic conduct means maintaining a safe learning environment based on mutual respect and civility. All participants in Clemson courses are expected to behave professionally by adhering to these standards of conduct:

Online communication that fails to meet these standards of conduct will be removed from the course. Repeated misconduct may result in being blocked from online discussions, receiving a grade penalty, or being dismissed from the course. Such misconduct in the online environment may also be reported to officials for appropriate action in accordance with University policy. If you ever encounter inappropriate content in our course, please contact me with your concerns.

Academic Integrity

As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green Clemson's vision of this institution as a "high seminary of learning." Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form.

A simple definition of plagiarism is when someone presents another person's words, visuals, or ideas as his or her own. See the first section of the syllabus for specifics on how this is defined in this course. The instructor will deal with plagiarism on a case-by-case basis. I will use, at my discretion, the Plagiarism Resolution Form. All infractions of academic dishonesty will be reported to Undergraduate Studies for resolution through that office.

See the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy website for additional information about academic integrity at Clemson.

Academic Grievances

Students are advised to visit the Ombuds' Office prior to filing a grievance. After discussion with the undergraduate academic ombudsman, students should contact Undergraduate Studies (656-3022) for assistance filing official paperwork.

Non-Discrimination

Clemson University is committed to providing a higher education environment that is free from sexual discrimination. Therefore, if you believe you or someone else that is part of the Clemson University community has been discriminated against based on sex, or if you have questions about Title IX, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Alesia Smith, who also serves as the Executive Director of Equity Compliance, at 110 Holtzendorff Hall, 864-656-3181 (voice) or 864-656-0899 (TDD). The Title IX Coordinator is the person designated by Clemson University to oversee its Title IX compliance efforts. Please consult the University's Title IX policy for full details.

Student Support Services




This page written and copyright © Pamela E. Mack
Send me e-mail at: Pammack@clemson.edu
For my other pages see:  PEM Index Page
last updated 6
6/1/2020