UGS 302: Astronomy and the Humanities Unique number: 63165
Fall 2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------COURSE SYLLABUS
Description: Astronomy, one of the original seven liberal arts, has been integrated by
countless generations of artists, authors, and musicians into their works. Examining
astronomy's deep influence on other areas of human culture helps illuminate our
understanding of the universe. In this course we'll explore astronomical examples in the
visual arts, fiction (including science fiction), poetry, music, and drama and the underlying
science concepts found in these works.
Prerequisite: This course is designed for first-semester freshmen. The course contains a
substantial writing component and fulfills part of the basic education requirement in writing.
Course Objectives
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To introduce students to the nature, process, and practices essential to scholarly
study of a topic (including Information Literacy)
To exercise and strengthen writing and oral presentation skills.
To investigate the nature of the scientific process.
To discuss how humanities are influenced by science
To explore the resources of the University (including GEMS and University
Lecture)
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Meeting times/locations (unless otherwise announced)
Monday
Wednesday
3:00-4:00 PM
3:00-4:50 PM
MAI 220F
MAI 220F
University Lecture Series
Tuesday October 5
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Bass Concert Hall
Instructor
Name: Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway
Office: RLM 13.126
Office hours: Tuesday 9-10:30 AM, unless otherwise announced, or by appointment
Phone: 512-471-1309
E-mail: marykay@astro.as.utexas.edu
Required textbooks/readings
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Stars and Planets by Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion. ISBN 978-0-691-13556-4 (fourth
edition)
Galileo a play by Bertolt Brecht. ISBN 0 802 13059 3.
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What Every Student should Know About Preparing Effective Oral Presentations by Martin R
Cox ISBN 0205505457
Other materials. Other materials (e.g., art work, links to literature or poetry, and study
guides) are available on the UT Library electronic reserves; these materials support student
research. Students making oral presentations may request that other members of the class
read or examine appropriate works prior to their presentation. The password will be given
out in class. Study guides on how to write papers, look at art, listen to music, and analyze
science will be available on Blackboard. These are also intended for students to use as they
prepare their oral or written presentations.
Recommended supplies: A flash-drive. Many students may choose to use PowerPoint for
their presentation. Students may store their presentations on their UT webspace or bring it
to class on a flash drive. A PC and a Mac are available in the classroom for presentations.
Microsoft Office is available for personal computers from the Campus Computer store at
special student rates. If you own a computer, you should purchase this software. If you
don’t own a computer, this software is available on all public access computers on campus.
University of Texas Honor Code
The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom,
leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is
expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect
toward peers and community.
General advice
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Preparation: I expect you to come to class prepared. Please check the
Blackboard site for this class at least three times a week.
Study Habits: Study wisely and ask for help if you need it. If you have questions,
please see me.
In class: Pay attention. Turn off your cell phone. If you bring a computer, don't
surf. Be respectful of others even when you disagree with them. Class
participation grades include your willingness to offer informed comments during
discussion. (Quality is as important as quantity.) Effective listening is normally a
prerequisite for effective class participation.
Writing: I expect you to write your own papers, prepare your own presentations,
and to cite your sources correctly.
Class overview
Astronomical topics to be covered include: Appearance and motions of the sky (e.g.
constellations, stellar magnitudes, moon phases, seasons), motions and characteristics of
planets and solar system objects, tools of the astronomer, important historical milestones in
astronomy (e.g., Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Herschel, Leavitt, Hubble),
life history of stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Parallel to the astronomical topics is an
exploration of how artists and authors used these topics as inspiration in poetry, literature,
visual arts, drama, and science fiction.
Schedule and reading assignments (subject to change)
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Date
August 25
August 30
Sept 1
Sept 8
Sept 13
Sept 15
Sept 20
Sept 22
Sept 27
Sept 29
Oct. 4
Oct 5
Oct 6
Oct 11
Oct 13
Oct 18
Oct 20
Oct 25
Oct 27
Nov 1
Nov 3
Nov 8
Nov 10
Nov 15
Nov 17
Nov 22
Nov 24
Nov 29
Dec 1
Topic
Introductions.
Night Sky
Sun and Moon
Explore UT
Sun and Moon
Earth/Moon system
History of Astronomy
Brecht's Galileo
Tools of Astronomy
HRC field trip (Denius Room)
Solar System
University Lecture (Bass Concert Hall at 7 PM)
Solar System
Discussion: lecture/Galileo
Library workshop (PCL 1.124)
Tools of Astronomers
Tools for Astronomers
Stars and stellar evolution
Stars and stellar structure
Extra-solar planets
Habitable planets
Galaxies
Galaxies and the Universe
Cosmology
Blanton Art Museum field trip
Field trip discussion
No class (replace October 5)
Term paper reports
Term paper reports
Notes on Field trips: Three field trips are scheduled during class time throughout the
semester, plus one University Lecture outside of class time.
a. Library workshop (13 October in PCL 1.124). You will learn how to find references for
your term paper at this session.
b. BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART (17 November)
http://www.blantonmuseum.org/
As the art museum of a major research university, the Blanton Museum exhibits and
maintains works of art to further teaching and research. The museum houses 17,000 objects
in a new facility that was completed in 2006. Its collections represent four broad areas,
including American and Contemporary, Latin American Art, European Paintings, and Prints
and Drawings.
c. HARRY RANSOM HUMANITIES RESEARCH CENTER (29 September)
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http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/
The HRC is one of the premier cultural institutions in the world. Holding more than 45
million items, the extensive collections include 36 million literary manuscripts, one million
rare books, five million photographs, and over 100,000 works of art. Highlights include the
Gutenberg Bible (c. 1455), the First Photograph (c. 1826), important paintings by Frida
Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and major manuscript collections of James Joyce, Ernest
Hemingway, T.S. Eliot, D.H. Lawrence, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Tennessee Williams, to
name but a few. The Center is used extensively for research by scholars from around the
world and presents numerous exhibitions and events showcasing its collections. Exhibitions
and events are free and open to the public.
d. University Lecture Series. All Signature Course students are required to attend at least of
the University Lectures. This class will attend: The Great Debate: How Do You Change the
World? [Description: The University claims that we change people and they change the
world. We will ask notable faculty members what they teach that could help students change
the world. Debaters include Larry Speck, David Springer, Sean Theriault, and David Laude.
John Daly will moderate. Debaters will present their subjects to small on-stage student
juries.] The lecture is at 7 PM in Bass Concert Hall on 5 October. If you physically miss the
lecture, it will be posted on-line for viewing. You will be expected to either attend the
lecture or view it on-line prior to the in-class discussion of the lecture on 11 October.
Optional Events:
Star Party. RLM roof (Wednesday night when UT is in session, weather permitting) or
Painter Hall (Friday/Saturday nights when UT is in session, weather permitting – not on
football game evenings). Call 512-232-4265 for weather cancellation information about 30
minutes before the scheduled start time. Start times vary with the seasons.
In-class presentations: Students will lead discussions of course content throughout the
semester as assigned. Each student will make two presentations (one each involving two
different areas of the humanities; for example, you might choose poetry for one area and
science fiction for another) related to the astronomical topics as listed for the dates listed.
Students will also make a brief presentation concerning their term papers in class on
November 29 or December 1. Grading rubrics for oral presentations will be posted on
Blackboard.
Writing Assignments: Since this is a substantial writing component course, most of the
grade will be determined from your assignments. Papers are to be produced on a word
processor double-spaced in a 12-point font and margins of 1.25 inches. Citations and
bibliography, when appropriate, are to be included. Style guidelines and grading rubrics for
the term paper will be posted on Blackboard. There will be a penalty for late assignments.
You will submit your papers on-line. All papers are to be submitted, and returned through,
the Blackboard site. Go to Assignments on the page for this class and follow the instructions
for submitting your assignments. Please name each paper with your last name plus an
underscore character plus the number of the paper (from 1-6); for example, kepler_4.doc
would be Johnny Kepler's fourth paper in this class. Each paper will be returned to you with
comments using the Comment feature of Microsoft WORD. Each of the six short
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assignments is worth 5% of the total grade. You will also receive credit for the peer reviews
you do of other student papers.
Detailed instructions for the term paper and grading rubrics will be listed on the Blackboard
site. All submissions are to be made on Blackboard. Here are some important dates:
 On 6 October, your proposed term paper topic is due by 10 AM.
 On 1 November, the term paper research proposal (minimum 4 pages) and list of
references (at least four scholarly references) is due by 10 AM.
 On 8 November, the first draft of the paper is due. This draft will be peer reviewed
as well as reviewed with comments returned by the instructor.
 Peer reviews are due by 14 November at 11:59PM.
 The final draft is due by 19 November at 10 AM.
Helpful website for research
UT libraries: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/students/
Special Library Collections:
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THE FINE ARTS LIBRARY
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/fal/index.html
The Fine Arts Library (FAL), a unit of The University of Texas Libraries, opened
July 16, 1979. The library contains the art and music collections and most of the
theatre and dance materials. The Fine Arts Library collection includes approximately
300,000 books and scores, 900 current serial subscriptions, 36,000 compact discs,
4,400 videocassettes and videodiscs, 6,200 reels of microfilm, and 24,000 microfiche.
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PHYSICS, MATH, ASTRONOMY LIBRARY
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/pma/
The John M. Kuehne Physics Mathematics Astronomy Library (PMA) is a branch of
the University of Texas Libraries. PMA serves the physics, mathematics, and
astronomy information needs of the entire university community, as well as the
research information needs of the Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy
departments.
Exams
There are none. Class assignments are offered as participation credit.
Grading system
Grades are assigned on a point basis.
Oral class presentations (two)
Writing Assignments (six)
Assignment: term paper research proposal/draft
Term paper – final draft due on 18 November 2010
Class participation (including attendance)
Peer editing
15%
30%
10%
20%
10%
10%
5
Oral presentation of term paper
5%
Grading scale used for final grades:
B+
C+
D+
89% - 87%
79% - 77%
69-68%
A
B
C
D
F
100-94%
86-84%
76%-74%
67-66%
Below 65%
ABCD-
93-90%
83-80%
73-70%
65%
Documented Disability Statement
Please notify me of any modification/adaptation you may require to accommodate a
disability-related need. The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate
academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information,
contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone)
or http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd
Use of E-Mail for Official Correspondence to Students
E-mail is recognized as an official mode of university correspondence; therefore, you are
responsible for reading your e-mail for university and course-related information and
announcements. You are responsible to keep the university informed about changes to your
e-mail address. You should check your e-mail regularly and frequently—I recommend daily,
but at minimum twice a week—to stay current with university-related communications,
some of which may be time-critical. You can find UT Austin’s policies and instructions for
updating your e-mail address at http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.php
UT LEARNING CENTER and UT WRITING CENTER
You may find assistance with specific strategies to help you study effectively at the Learning
Center. The Center for Learning offers a range of services to become a better student
through assistance in one-on-one tutoring, academic counseling, and other classes. For more
information see http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/
I strongly encourage you to use the Undergraduate Writing Center, FAC 211, 471-6222. The
Undergraduate Writing Center offers free, individualized, expert help with writing for any
UT undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop-in basis. Any undergraduate enrolled in a
course at UT can visit the UWC for assistance with any writing project. They work with
students from every department on campus, for both academic and non-academic writing.
Whether you are writing a lab report, a resume, a term paper, a statement for an application,
or your own poetry, UWC consultants will be happy to work with you. Their services are not
just for writing with "problems." Getting feedback from an informed audience is a normal
part of a successful writing project. Consultants help students develop strategies to improve
their writing. The assistance they provide is intended to foster independence. Each student
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determines how to use the consultant's advice. The consultants are trained to help you work
on your writing in ways that preserve the integrity of your work.
Policies: Attendance and Official Dates
Regular attendance is required. For grading purposes, you may have one unexcused absence.
Freshmen may be dropped from a course following two unexcused absences. To obtain an
excused absence, contact the instructor before the class.
Religious Holy Days
By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days
prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an
examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will
give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the
absence.
Other important dates:
 10 September: Last day to drop and receive a refund
 22 September: Last day to drop a course without a possible academic penalty
 20 October: Last day, with dean's approval, to withdraw from the University or drop
a course except for urgent and substantiated, nonacademic reasons. This is also the
last day to change to Pass/Fail registration. If you have non-academic problems, see
a counselor in your Dean's Office immediately.
 1 December: Last class day for this class.
Policy on Scholastic dishonesty
Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the
University. Standards for Academic Integrity are posted at
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php
If you use words or ideas that are not your own you must cite your sources.
Otherwise you will be guilty of plagiarism.
Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL)
If you are worried about someone who is acting differently, you may use the Behavior
Concerns Advice Line to discuss by phone your concerns about another individual’s
behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the Dean of
Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance
Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call 512-2325050 or visit http://www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal
Public Outreach in the Astronomy Department
The times of the following events vary throughout the semester and are especially affected
by our move from Daylight Savings Time. Call 471-5007 for further information and
updates. (The phone message is updated weekly.)
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
Astronomy Department Star Parties will be held at the 16-inch telescope on the
top of RLM every clear Wednesday of the semester that UT is in session,
beginning on 2 September.
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The 9-inch telescope in Painter Hall is open every clear Friday and Saturday night
of the semester that UT is in session (except some football game nights).
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You can learn to use the 9-inch Painter Hall Telescope. Request a booklet
concerning checkout procedures in RLM 13.122.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Fall Semester 2010
Originated 24August 2010
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