Quick Time™a nd a
TIFF ( LZW) d ecomp res sor
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Quick Time™a nd a
TIFF ( LZW) d ecomp res sor
ar e nee ded to see this pictur e.
California State University, Los Angeles
College of Arts and Letters
Department of Liberal Studies
Winter 2007
Course Number, Title, and Units: Liberal Studies 420: Science, Culture, and Representation (4)
Instructor: Dr. Patrick B. Sharp
Office Location: E&T 411
Office Hours: T R 3-4 pm, M 3-5 pm
Web: http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/psharp/
E-mail: psharp@calstatela.edu
Office Phone: (323) 343-5811
Class Meetings: T R 4:20-6:00 pm
1. Course Descriptions.
A. Catalog Description. Prerequisite: LBS 301. Interdisciplinary study of how science is represented in cultural
texts such as literature, film, and TV; also reads scientific texts as literature to examine how culture is embedded in
science.
B. More Complete Course Description. We will be looking at some of the history, sociology, and narrative
structures associated with the sciences. After examining what science is, we will move on to look at how science is
represented in multiple formats. We will address issues such as scientific responsibility, racism, sexism, the concept
of the human, human-machine relationships, and the frontier through an examination of texts focused on science and
technology.
2. Professional Statements.
A. Statement of Reasonable Accommodation. The Arts and Letters faculty fully support the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). The members of the faculty will provide reasonable accommodation to any student with a
disability who is registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) who needs and requests
accommodation. The faculty may wish to contact the OSD to verify the presence of a disability and confirm that
accommodation is necessary. The OSD will arrange and provide for the accommodation. Reasonable
accommodation may involve allowing a student to use an interpreter, note taker, or reader; accommodation may be
needed during class sessions and for administration of examinations. The intent of the ADA in requiring
consideration of reasonable accommodation is not to give a particular student an unfair advantage over other
students, but simply to allow a student with disability to have an equal opportunity to be successful.
B. Student Conduct. The instructor of this course assumes that all students will conduct themselves as mature
citizens of the campus community and will conduct themselves in a manner congruent with university policies and
regulations. Inappropriate conduct is subject to discipline as provided for in Title 5, California Code of Regulations
(see student conduct: rights and responsibilities, and student discipline, CSULA General Catalog). Academic
honesty is expected of all students in the College of Arts and Letters, in accordance with University policy. There
are established university reporting procedures if a student is suspected of committing an academically dishonest
act. I have a zero-tolerance policy with plagiarism: if you plagiarize, I will report you.
C. Technology. For the successful completion of this course, each student should have the following:
 Ample access to a computer (e.g. in CSULA computer labs, at home, or at work).
 General knowledge of operation and care of a computer (both hardware and software), and ability to
implement some basic troubleshooting techniques (e.g. check connections, restart the computer, etc.).
 Knowledge of how to use a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
 An email account (available free of charge to all CSULA students).
 A basic understanding of how to use the internet.
Note: Introductory courses on how to use a computer (e.g. CS 160: Introduction to Computers) are available to
students who do not have a mastery of basic computer skills.
3.
Student Outcomes.
General Learning Outcomes. Students who complete this course successfully will be able to do the following:
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Demonstrate knowledge of the basic focus, goals, and approaches of the sciences.
Understand how ideology and social priorities affect the sciences.
Demonstrate knowledge of the ways in which narrative plays a role is science.
Understand how narratives of science are circulated throughout the larger culture.
Demonstrate mastery of the modes of critical analysis proper to the humanities and fine arts.
Dr. Sharp, Winter 2007
Liberal Studies 420 Syllabus
Page 2
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Apply these modes of critical analysis to a variety of different texts such as films, television shows, natural
science essays, novels, short stories, and news reports.
By the end of this course, students should also be able to do the following:
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Read and understand difficult critical arguments.
Articulate how critical arguments are structured and what position they take in relation to the subject
matter.
Write a clear, coherent, and well-developed critical essay.
Write a well-developed introduction that puts forth a clear topic statement and a clear thesis statement.
Engage in scholarly research in the library.
Write solid and well-developed body paragraphs that use evidence properly.
Cite evidence clearly using the proper formatting both in the text of the essay and in the works cited
section.
CCTC General Standards. By taking this course, students will meet the following general standards for the
Multiple Subject Matter Program Curriculum established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
(CCTC):
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Students will understand significant ideas, structures and values in the disciplines that underlie the K-8 curriculum
(Standard 1.2).
Students learn to analyze situations; synthesize information from multiple sources; make decisions on rational bases;
communicate skillfully; and appreciate diverse perspectives (Standard 1.3).
Students develop awareness of fundamental values inherent in the connected disciplines, and study their basic concepts,
principles and nomenclatures (Standard 4.4).
Students examine and develop higher-level skills of thinking and research practice as they occur in the disciplines
(Standard 4.5).
Students will extend their understanding of abstract ideas by learning and articulating applications of the ideas to
specific situations, common problems, and current issues (Standard 5.2).
Students examine human differences and similarities such as sex, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and sexual
orientation (Standard 8.1).
CCTC Content Specifications: Students who complete this course will meet the following Content Specifications
for the Multiple Subject Matter Program Curriculum established by the CCTC:
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4.
Students demonstrate their ability to use a variety of research sources, both print and electronic. Students use their
findings and interpretations to construct their own reports and narratives, and understand the importance of citing
research sources, using recognizable and accepted conventions for doing so (Content Specification in Reading,
Language, and Literature 2.5).
Students analyze narrative and expository texts for both literary elements and structural features. Students learn to
identify themes derived from cultural patterns and symbols found in rituals, mythologies, and traditions. Students learn
to identify and analyze evidence of an author’s or narrator’s perspective. Students learn to identify and evaluate
structural devices, and they examine the connections among organizational structures, the writer’s viewpoint, and the
goals of reading (Content Specification in Reading, Language, and Literature 3.1).
Students analyze both implicit and explicit themes and interpret both literal and figurative meanings in texts, from a
range of cultures and genres, using textual support for inferences, conclusions, and generalizations they draw from any
work. Students learn to evaluate the structure, purpose, and potential uses of visual text features, and develop ability to
recognize and analyze instances of bias and stereotyping in a text (Content Specification in Reading, Language, and
Literature 3.3).
Students learn to analyze, interpret and evaluate research evidence in history and the social sciences. They interpret
primary and secondary sources, including written documents, narratives, photographs, art and artifacts. In relation to
confirmed research evidence they assess textbooks and contrast differing points of view on historic and current events.
Students learn to recognize the differing ramifications of historical and current events for people of varying ethnic,
racial, socio-economic, cultural and gender backgrounds (Content Specifications in History and Social Science).
Assessment Procedures.
A. Attendance. Attendance is mandatory. Any absences not excused by a note from a doctor or a dean will negatively affect
your participation grade (see participation below). I will take roll during every class. If you have an illness or family emergency
that prevents you from attending class, you need to contact me as soon as possible (e-mail is usually the surest way). If you are
late for class, it is your responsibility to make sure I don't have you recorded as absent. If you miss a class for any reason,
whether excused or unexcused, it is your responsibility to contact someone from class to find out what you missed (do this before
the next class meeting). You are also responsible for getting copies of any handout that was given out in your absence. After your
second unexcused absence, any additional absence will knock 30 points off of your final grade (see Grade Scale below for the
points scale for this class).
Dr. Sharp, Winter 2007
Liberal Studies 420 Syllabus
Page 3
Dr. Sharp, Winter 2007
Liberal Studies 420 Syllabus
Page 4
B. Participation. Overall, 75 points of your final grade are based on in-class participation. This does not mean
simply showing up. Your participation will be evaluated using the following criteria:
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Doing the reading assignments before we discuss them.
Turning in writing assignments on time.
Active participation in all small-group work.
Speaking in class discussions.
Listening (in the active sense).
Bringing the appropriate texts to class each day.
Improving your writing in every regard, including your grammar and spelling.
Your participation grade will be negatively affected by any of the following (this is a short list):
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Failure to do the readings on time.
Unexcused absences.
Talking about non-course-related subjects during small group activities.
Talking while someone else has the floor.
Coming to class late on a regular basis.
Eating during class.
Leaving on your electronic devices. All cell phones, pagers, and other personal electronic devices should be turned
off and put away during class. (If your phone does ring, you'd better not answer it… just turn it off).
C. In-Class Exams. You should bring an 8 1/2" x 11" bluebook for the midterm and final exam. You will have a midterm
exam worth 150 points and a final exam worth 150 points. Each of these exams will consist of film-clip analysis, multiple choice
questions, short answer questions, passage identifications (from the course readings), and passage analysis. Refer to the course
schedule for the breakdown of each exam. For the film-clip analysis, I will show you a clip from a film or television show that
we have watched and discussed in class. You will then have to identify the full name of the filmmaker, the title of the film, and
write a brief analysis of the clip based on our previous discussions and your own observations. This means that you should
definitely take notes both when screening films in class and during our discussion afterwards. The multiple-choice questions
will be straightforward factual questions about the readings. The short answer questions will be straightforward questions about
the readings that require a one-to-four sentence response. For the passage identifications I will give you a key passage from a
text we have read for class. You will have to give me the full name of the author and the full name of the text that the passage
comes from. For the passage analysis, you will have to conduct a close reading of the passage based on our previous discussions
and your own observations. In the passage analysis and the film-clip analysis, you should be able to articulate the importance
of the passage or clip for the larger text as a whole. For example, you could discuss how the details of a passage demonstrate a
major theme or concept that is central to the author's argument in the text. All in-class exams are closed-book and closed-notes.
All in-class exams are closed-book and closed-notes. You will also have four quizzes during the quarter worth 5 points each.
These quizzes will be open book, and will require you to engage in writing tasks related to the readings.
D. Critical Essays. You will have to write two complete critical essays and a paper proposal for this class. The first essay is
worth 100 points, and is a 1000-word analysis of the primary sources from class. The second essay is worth 430 points, and is a
2000-word research paper where you will analyze primary sources from both within and outside of the class. You will have to
write a proposal and annotated bibliography worth 75 points in preparation for the final paper. Specific details about these
assignments will be given out separately. When you turn in your papers, you should include a copy of the appropriate paper
assignment grading rubric found towards the front of the course reader. All formal written assignments must be submitted by
the due deadline to Turnitin.com, and a hard copy must be brought to class on the date specified in the schedule. Students agree
that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the
detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely
for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way that no identifying information
about you is included. Another option is that you may request, in writing, that your papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com.
However, if you choose this option you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original
work and do not include any plagiarized material.
E. Grade Scale. Your grade will be based on a 1000-point scale. You must complete every assignment to get a
passing grade for this class. I will be happy to talk to you about how to improve your work before an assignment is
due, as well as discuss with you how to improve for future assignments. However, all grades for this course are
final: I will not listen to any arguments that your grade should be improved. Your grade at the end of the quarter
may be curved, so the following is only an approximation of the grade scale for this class:
925-1000 pts = A
900-924 pts = A875-899 pts = B+
825-874 pts = B
800-824 pts = B775-799 pts = C+
725-774 pts = C
700-724 pts = C-
675-699 pts = D+
625-674 pts = D
600-624 pts = D000-599 pts = F
Dr. Sharp, Winter 2007
Liberal Studies 420 Syllabus
4.
Required Texts.
 Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash (Spectra; ISBN: 0553380958)
 Brief Guide for Writing Critical Analysis Papers (Reader CSULA Bookstore)
 Course reader (CSULA Bookstore)
5.
Schedule (subject to change).
Page 5
Tues
Jan 2
Course Overview
Screen In Class: Whale, Bride of Frankenstein
Finish and Discuss Bride of Frankenstein
Read: Latour, Science in Action pp. 1-29 (reader)
Read: Brief Guide for Writing, Sections 1 and 2 (reader)
Thur
Jan 4
Tues
Jan 9
Thur
Jan 11
Tues
Jan 16
Thur
Sat
Jan 18
Jan 20
Tues
Jan 23
Thur
Jan 25
Tues
Jan 30
Thur
Feb 1
Tues
Feb 6
Thur
Feb 8
Tues
Thur
Feb 13 Paper 2 Proposal Due (75 points)
In Class: Screen The Six Million Dollar Man
Feb 15 Read: Gibson and Swanwick, "Dogfight" (reader)
Tues
Thur
Feb 20 Read: Stephenson, Snow Crash part I
Feb 22 Read: Stephenson, Snow Crash part II
Tues
Thur
Feb 27 Read: Stephenson, Snow Crash part III
Mar 1 In Class: Screen The Matrix
Tues
Thur
Mar 6
Mar 8
Tues
Mar 13 4:30-7:00 pm: Final Exam (150 points). The final exam is cumulative. Format: Film clip
analysis (1x40pts), multiple choice (5x5pts), short answer (5x5pts), passage ID (4x5pts), passage
analysis (1x40pts).
Read: Lewontin, "All in the Genes?" (reader)
Read: Brief Guide for Writing, Sections 3 and 4 (reader)
End of Class: Quiz 1 (5 points). Last 15 minutes of class; open book.
No Class
Read: Nott, Types of Mankind pp. 62-80 (reader)
Read: Brief Guide for Writing, Sections 5 and 6 (reader)
End of Class: Quiz 2 (5 points). Last 15 minutes of class; open book.
In Class: Screen Star Trek, "Spock's Brain"
Paper 1 Due (100 pts): 1000 word minimum essay due at 11:59 pm at turnitin.com. Bring hard
copy of the paper to class on Tuesday.
Read: Harding, "Postcolonial Science and Technology Studies" (reader)
End of Class: Quiz 3 (5 points). Last 15 minutes of class; open book.
Read: Huxley, "On the Relations of Man to the Lower Animals" (reader)
Read: Roosevelt, "The Winning of the West" (reader)
End of Class: Quiz 4 (5 points). Last 15 minutes of class; open book.
Read: London, "The Unparalleled Invasion" (reader)
Read: Asimov, "Runaround" (reader)
Midterm (150 pts) covering Bride of Frankenstein, Star Trek, Latour, Harding, Lewontin, Nott,
Huxley, Roosevelt, London, Asimov, Brief Guide for Writing. Format: Film clip analysis
(1x40pts), multiple choice (5x5pts), short answer (5x5pts), passage ID (4x5pts), passage analysis
(1x40pts).
Read: Gray, "Man Plus" (reader)
In Class: Screen The Six Million Dollar Man
In Class: Screen The Matrix
Paper 2 Due (430 points): 2000 word minimum essay due at the beginning of class. Turn a copy
in to turnitin.com before class.
In Class: Review for final