FIRST TERM SEMINAR: THE MANHATTAN PROJECT
FTS-100-126
Fall 2011
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00 – 9:50 am, Old Main 205
Instructor:
Dr. Chris Gilbert
Office:
Old Main 204B
Chris’s web page: http://www.gustavus.edu/~cgilbert
Office phone: 933-6093
Home phone: 934-7993
E-mail: cgilbert@gustavus.edu
Class home page (more info on p. 2): http://www.gustavus.edu/~cgilbert/fts/mpfts.htm
Chris’s Office Hours:
Mondays and Tuesdays, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
other times by appointment
COURSE OVERVIEW: In the midst of World War II, a U.S.-led international team of scientists
developed, tested, and delivered the first nuclear warheads. The Manhattan Project, as this effort
was known, ended World War II and forever altered global politics, science, and the meaning of
national security. This seminar centers on the race to build the first atomic bomb, focusing on the
background history in physics and politics that led to the Manhattan Project and its German
competition; the ethical judgments made by government officials, scientists, and military leaders;
and the impact of this project on its participants and on history. We will give special attention to
three historical events: the December 1941 trip of German bomb project leader Werner Heisenberg
to Copenhagen, Denmark; the two-year period of intense research at Los Alamos, New Mexico and
other U.S. sites prior to the first atomic test in July 1945; and the use of the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945.
FIRST TERM SEMINAR COMPONENTS: All First Term Seminar (FTS) courses have common
elements in addition to their focus on a specific topic. Students will have classroom experiences and
assignments that involve critical thinking, questions of ethics and values, oral communication
and discussion, writing, and use of library resources. The instructor also serves as your academic
advisor for the first year (and perhaps beyond); issues surrounding academic program planning and
success in college will be addressed as part of the seminar.
BOOKS: All books are available in the Book Mark, and all are required:






Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Thomas Powers, Heisenberg’s War: The Secret History of the German Bomb
Cynthia Kelly, ed., The Manhattan Project
John Hersey, Hiroshima
Michael Frayn, Copenhagen
Andrea Lunsford, Everyday Writer; this book is common to all FTS classes and will serve as
a resource throughout your Gustavus education
CLASS FORMAT: The best way to think about this class is that you will talk WITH each other and
with your instructor. We will interact, think, and learn together, as all good communities of scholars
must do. We will discuss readings and questions as a whole group; we will also divide frequently
into smaller groups for more intensive discussion of the readings and to consider the larger issues
raised by our subject matter.
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
Page 2
CLASS HOME PAGE AND WEBSITE: The class home page (URL listed on page 1) contains this
syllabus and additional materials about the Manhattan Project, as well as links to important Gustavus
campus resources. It will be kept updated with class handouts and other useful material; in some
cases the class website will be the only place to obtain some handouts and readings. If you miss a
class or misplace something from class, this is the first place you should visit. Bookmark the URL
on page 1 – you will be using the webpage very frequently!
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING: Most of your grade is based on writing assignments; there are no
in-class exams and no in-class final exam. Specific information about each writing assignment is
included later in this syllabus.
Paper
Syllabus
page
1
5
Brief description
Position paper on exploiting nuclear fission
for military use
2
6
Biography of one participant in the
Manhattan Project; paper will be written
jointly with a classmate
3
7
Midterm take-home essay exam
4
8
Research paper on a specific topic related to
the Manhattan Project
5
9
Values question paper focused on some
ethical or moral issue raised during the
course
Length
Final
Rewrite
due date option
3 pages
October 10
YES
4 pages
October 19
NO
6 pages
October 28
NO
7-8 pages
December 6
YES
6-7 pages
December 19
YES
Students will also make an oral presentation on the topic of Paper 4 during the last two weeks of
class; more informal presentations and writing exercises will be assigned during the semester.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Paper 1 (position paper)
Paper 2 (biography)
Paper 3 (midterm essays)
Paper 4 (research)
Paper 5 (values)
Presentation on Paper 4
10%
10%
15%
25%
20%
5%
Participation and attendance
15%
GRADING:
A = 93.000 average and above
A- = 90.000 through 92.999
B+ = 87.000 through 89.999
B = 83.000 through 86.999
B- = 80.000 through 82.999
grades C+ and lower calculated on same
scale; minimum average for passing
grade (D) = 60.000
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
Page 3
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THIS CLASS:
 Always read assigned material IN ADVANCE of class
 Come to class prepared to DISCUSS what you have read and to offer questions and
informed opinions
 Make it a habit to ATTEND EVERY CLASS; if you are unable to attend, please advise
me in advance whenever possible, or soon afterward
ADDITIONAL CLASS POLICIES TO NOTE
HAND THINGS IN ON TIME, PLEASE: In general, grades for specific assignments will be reduced
at least one letter grade for each day late.
CELL PHONES, IPODS, and other such electronic devices: Turn them OFF when class is in session
– no ringing, no vibrating, no IM, no distractions for yourself or your classmates. Using a laptop to
take notes is acceptable as long as you perform NO non-class-related tasks while doing so (e.g. do
not disrespect your professor and classmates by checking Facebook during class!!).
MAKE-UP WORK: The standard assignment should you miss class (for any reason) is to write out
responses to one-half of the day’s discussion questions; these responses are due one class period
after you have returned to class.
SCHEDULE CONFLICTS: Students with advance notice of schedule conflicts (e.g., school-related
activities that conflict with our class time) should present a list of these to Chris as soon as the
conflict dates are known. There should be few or no schedule conflicts that cannot be resolved – the
key is early notification. The Academic Schedule Conflicts policy found in the College Catalog
exists to inform you of your obligations and to help us work out any problems.
POLICY ON EXCEPTIONS: Plan on taking all exams at the appointed time and completing all other
work by indicated due dates. Because of events beyond your control (e.g. a major illness),
sometimes this is not possible despite good-faith efforts on your part. Therefore, exceptions and
extensions will be considered on an individual basis. NOTE: nonacademic personal
commitments and end-of-semester travel plans are NOT valid reasons for requesting
extensions or exceptions. Nor are activities scheduled well in advance, e.g. extracurricular
activities or obligations for other classes. As with class attendance, please inform Chris well in
advance of such conflicts. This policy is consistent with the Academic Schedule Conflicts policy
found in the College Catalog.
ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH: Support for
English Language Learners (ELL) and Multilingual students is available via the College’s ELL
Support staff person, Andrew Grace (agrace@gustavus.edu or x7395). He can meet individually
with students to consult about academic tasks and to help students seek other means of support,
including providing students with a letter to me that explains and supports academic
accommodations (e.g. additional time on tests, additional revisions for papers). In addition, ELL and
multilingual students can seek help from peer tutors in the Writing Center. I am very happy to
discuss this process and determine accommodations based on specific individual needs with
any student who qualifies.
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DOCUMENTED DISABILITIES: Gustavus
Adolphus College is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs. If
you have a documented disability (or you think you may have a disability of any nature) and, as a
result, need reasonable academic accommodation to participate in class, take tests or benefit from the
College’s services, then you should speak with the Disability Services Coordinator, for a
confidential discussion of your needs and appropriate plans. Course requirements cannot be waived,
but reasonable accommodations may be provided based on disability documentation and course
outcomes. Accommodations cannot be made retroactively; therefore, to maximize your academic
success at Gustavus, please contact Disability Services as early as possible. Disability Services
(https://gustavus.edu/advising/disability/) is located in the Advising and Counseling Center;
Disability Services Coordinator Laurie Bickett (lbickett@gustavus.edu or x6286) can provide further
information. I am very happy to discuss this process and determine accommodations based on
specific individual needs with any student who qualifies.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Plagiarism or cheating in any form corrupts the intent of all that we do as a
community of scholars. Consistent with the Gustavus Academic Honesty Policy (found in the
College Catalog) and the Honor Code (also in the College Catalog), the policies and procedures for
this course are as follows:
•
Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy will result in at least a grade of 0 for the
specific assignment, and failure for the course in the case of egregious violations.
Students accused and/or penalized for these violations, AND students who become
aware of such violations, have specific rights and responsibilities, as outlined in the
Honor Code section of the College Catalog.
•
Each exam and graded paper will contain the statement "On my honor, I pledge that
I have not given, received, or tolerated others' use of unauthorized aid in
completing this work." Students are required to sign on each exam or paper; typing
the statement on a paper submitted electronically is equivalent to signing.
•
Students CAN consult with each another and with the professor while working on
assignments and preparing for exams; these are examples of "authorized aid." Papers
turned in for a grade should only consist of each student's own work (paper 2 is an
exception and should constitute only the work of the students writing the paper
together).
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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PAPER 1: POSITION PAPER
Your task for Paper 1 is to write a paper that takes a position on ONE of the following theses,
presenting evidence that supports your own position on the chosen statement.
The exploitation of nuclear fission’s potential for weapons was driven by:
A. Nationalism
B. The spirit of the times in physics
C. Great physicists with new insights
In choosing A, B, or C, your paper should clearly define the thesis; present evidence that you
believe supports the thesis; and document the evidence appropriately (i.e., cite Rhodes and/or
Powers). If applicable, present some evidence that might contradict or refute your thesis; document
this evidence as well.
Your primary source for this paper will be the Rhodes book; the Powers book may be helpful
as well. You may use sources other than these books, but this is NOT expected or desired. Consult
Lunsford’s Everyday Writer while writing and revising this paper, for assistance with proper writing.
DETAILS
 approximately 3 pages (600-700 words), maximum of 4 pages
 typed, double spaced, no title page (but give the paper a title)
 free of grammatical and spelling errors
 all sources consulted (including Rhodes and Powers) must be properly listed in a
bibliography at the end of the paper; all information used from these sources should be cited
in the paper using a consistent citation style (probably either footnotes, endnotes, or in-text
citations)
IMPORTANT DATES
Week of September 26
Chris available during office hours, plus during class time on
Tuesday, September 27, to discuss this paper assignment
Friday, September 30
first draft due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
Friday, September 30
E-mail papers to other students in your peer writing group
(groups of 4 will be posted on the class website); papers must
be read and commented on by Monday, October 3 (specific
instructions will be posted on class website)
Monday, October 3
in class: discuss papers within groups, exchange papers with
comments
Monday, October 10
final version of paper due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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PAPER 2: BIOGRAPHY PAPER
For this assignment your task is to work with another student to prepare a brief biography of
one of the figures involved with the Manhattan Project. The goals of this assignment are:
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
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to learn more about one of the participants
to gain experience utilizing library resources for research
to develop your writing skills further
In addition, you must manage these tasks in close collaboration with another class member.
One paper should be turned in by each pair of students, and the same grade will be assigned to
each student. You are jointly responsible for determining how the workload will be divided and
how your team will proceed with research and writing. There is no rewrite option for this paper;
together you and your partner should be able to produce a well written, well researched paper by
collaboration and helping each other with writing and organization.
PARTNERS: You may choose your own partner for this assignment.
TOPICS: Choose one of the figures from the list below. Each team will study a different person.
Research and write about that person’s direct contribution to or role in the Manhattan Project; the
person’s indirect contribution (if not directly involved); and the person’s future life and career after
the Project’s completion and the end of World War II – in other words, what happened to your
subject? What did he go on to accomplish? Did the Project and his experience in it affect his future
in any meaningful ways?
POSSIBLE SUBJECTS: Hans Bethe, Vannevar Bush, Arthur Holly Compton, Richard
Feynman, Leslie Groves, Philip Morrison, I.I. Rabi, Robert Serber, Henry Stimson, Edward
Teller, Stanislaw Ulam
DETAILS
 approximately 4 pages (800-900 words), maximum of 5 pages
 typed, double spaced, no title page necessary (but give the paper a title)
 free of grammatical and spelling errors
 all sources consulted must be properly listed in a bibliography at the end of the paper; all
information used from these sources should be cited in the paper using a consistent citation
style
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, October 3
Friday, October 7
Week of October 10
selection of partners and subjects in class
class meets in library to review library resources
Chris available for conferences during office hours
Wednesday, October 19
final paper due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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PAPER 3: MIDTERM ESSAY EXAM
The midterm exam will be a take-home assignment. You will write three essays from a
choice of several questions. Essays will cover all the major topic areas we have studied in the first
half of the semester – politics, science, and values/ethics questions. Each essay will be weighted
equally for grading, although the length of your answers may vary.
Your answers to these questions should reflect your knowledge of the material covered in
this class. As with an in-class exam, where I would not expect you to include citations as you write
answers, I do not expect that your essays for this exam will include citations except for direct quotes,
which should always be cited appropriately.
DETAILS
 approximately 2 pages per essay; absolute maximum of 6 pages (total) for your three answers
 typed, double spaced, no title page or title
 free of grammatical and spelling errors
 direct quotations should be cited in the paper using a consistent citation style; no final list of
works cited or consulted is necessary for this assignment
IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, October 21
questions will be posted on the class web site no later than this date
Friday, October 28
essays due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
NOTE ON COLLABORATION: If you wish, you may discuss the exam questions in general
terms with your classmates; the paper you turn in should be your own, independent work.
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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PAPER 4: RESEARCH PAPER
The fourth paper builds on skills utilized in the previous assignments: writing skills and use
of library resources.
The topic for this paper is some aspect of the Manhattan Project or related political and
scientific developments during and after World War II. A list of topics will be posted on the class
web site by October 27. You may choose any topic from the list, keeping in mind that one or more
of your classmates may also choose the same topic, hence resources may need to be shared.
DETAILS
 approximately 7-8 pages, 10 pages maximum
 typed, double spaced, with a separate cover page and a title
 free of grammatical and spelling errors
 all sources consulted must be properly listed in a bibliography at the end of the paper; all
information used from these sources should be cited in the paper using a consistent citation
style
 your paper must include at least 3 sources that are NOT class books or readings
IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday, October 26
topics list posted on class web site
Wednesday, November 2
selection of topics to be completed by this date
Tuesday, November 15
library session focused on finding and evaluating sources for Paper 4;
a preliminary paper outline and list of sources to be used in the paper
is due at the beginning of this class period
November 2-21
Chris available for conferencing during office hours
Tuesday, November 22
first draft due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
Tuesday, November 29
first drafts returned with Chris’s comments
Tuesday, December 6
final version due in class
PRESENTATIONS: Each student will make a 10-minute presentation on this paper during the last
week of class. Presenters for the four designated dates (December 9, 12, 13, 14) will be posted on
the class web site after Thanksgiving break, along with more details about the presentation, which
will be graded.
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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PAPER 5: VALUES QUESTIONS
Your final paper for this seminar must focus on values – analyzing some moral or ethical
question raised by the Manhattan Project, the German bomb project, the bombing of Hiroshima
and/or Nagasaki, and/or the Copenhagen meeting between Bohr and Heisenberg. This paper
accounts for 20 percent of your class grade and constitutes your “final examination” for the class.
You should think about this paper as a way of summing up and analyzing key issues that we have
considered during the semester. Having learned about the Manhattan Project, the German project,
and what resulted from these efforts, what does it all mean? What lessons should be drawn from one
or more of these events?
It is acceptable for this paper to be a continuation and extension of the first, second, or fourth
paper you wrote. For example, you could expand on your position paper about the values questions
relating to the exploitation of nuclear fission for weapons; you could revisit the subject of your
biography paper to examine that person’s values or how your subject handled ethical questions; or
you could explore the ethical dimensions of the research topic you wrote about for paper 4. None of
these ideas is a requirement; if some other ethical/moral topic or question interests you, feel free to
choose and write about that topic (in previous semesters, about half of all students have started fresh
for this paper and about half have drawn upon a previous paper). The choice of topics is entirely up
to you, within the guidelines presented here.
This paper is not a “research paper.” However, it may utilize any and all materials used in
class or discovered through your own research. It is not possible to write this paper without using
some source material; thus usual guidelines about proper citations are in effect.
DETAILS
 approximately 6-7 pages; 5 pages minimum, 10 pages maximum
 typed, double spaced, with a separate cover page and a title
 free of grammatical and spelling errors
 all sources consulted must be properly listed in a bibliography at the end of the paper; all
information used from these sources should be cited in the paper using a consistent citation
style
IMPORTANT DATES
anytime after Thanksgiving conferencing (not required but always welcome)
Wednesday, December 14
first draft (optional) due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
Friday, December 16
first drafts returned with Chris’s comments
Monday, December 19
final version due by 5 pm, Chris’s office
NOTE ON DRAFTS: Turning in a first draft is OPTIONAL for this paper, in recognition of the
fact that we will all be very busy at this point in the semester. First drafts MUST be turned in by the
designated date in order for me to have enough time to read and comment on them.
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
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DAILY SCHEDULE - TOPICS, READING ASSIGNMENTS
The web version of this syllabus will have links to handouts distributed in class; click on links in the
"Topics covered" column for the handouts. If this schedule changes for some reason, the web
version will be changed and should be considered the official schedule; I promise not to change the
schedule without alerting you first! Numbers in the Reading column are chapters unless indicated
by pp. (for specific page numbers).
Date
Topics covered
Reading
T September 6
Intro to course
None
W September 7
Why the Manhattan Project
matters
Reading to be distributed
in class Tuesday
F September 9
Szilard’s revelation
Rhodes 1-2; Kelly pp.
22-24 (Wells)
M September 12
Bohr and war
Rhodes 3-4
T September 13
Writing day I
None; brief writing
assignment will be due
in class; bring Everyday
Writer to class today
W September 14
Men from Mars
Rhodes 5
F September 16
Machines
Rhodes 6
M September 19
Scientific exodus
Rhodes 7-8
T September 20
Campus knowledge day:
Overview of Gustavus
graduation requirements,
January Interim Experience
To be announced
W September 21
An extensive burst
Rhodes 9; Kelly pp. 2937 (Teller, Abelson)
F September 23
Neutron physics
Rhodes 10; Kelly pp.
38-44 (Lanouette,
Einstein)
M September 26
Heisenberg and the German
physics community
Powers Intro, 1-4
Assignments
& announcements
Start reading – get ahead
early!
Start thinking about your
first paper!
Office hours M and T are
available for individual
conferences on Paper 1
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
Page 11
T September 27
Writing Day II: Paper 1
conference time
None/no class meeting
W September 28
The Uranium Club
Powers 5-10
F September 30
Fission possibilities
Rhodes 11; Kelly pp.
45-50 (Frisch-Peierls,
Wechsler)
Paper 1 first draft due by 5
pm at Chris’s office; groups
for Paper 1 review posted –
send your paper to other
group members!
M October 3
Writing Day III: paper draft
group discussions
classmates’ first paper
drafts
Selection of partners,
subjects for Paper 2 will
take place in class today
T October 4
NO CLASS
None
NOBEL CONFERENCE
W October 5
NO CLASS
None
NOBEL CONFERENCE
F October 7
Library Day I: finding good
sources for Paper 2
(biography)
None
Meet in Library Eclassroom today
M October 10
War breaks out
Rhodes 12; Kelly pp.
51-66 (MAUD Report,
Zachary, Brown)
Paper 1 final version due
today by 5 pm
Meet at Center for Servant
Leadership
T October 11
Campus knowledge day:
visit to Center for Servant
Leadership
None
W October 12
The Copenhagen meeting
Powers 11-14
F October 14
NO CLASS – Chris at
conference
M October 17
Moving forward
Powers 15-17
T October 18
The first reactor
Rhodes 13; Kelly pp.
71-76, 82-93
(Hershberg, Bush,
Fermi, Greenewalt,
Groves, Jungk)
Chris in office at class time
for individual conferences
on Paper 1
Office hours M and T are
available for Paper 2
conferences
Use class time to work with
your partner on Paper 2!
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
W October 19
Page 12
Campus knowledge day:
visit to Center for
International and Cultural
Education (CICE)
None
Meet at CICE offices
F October 21
Los Alamos, at last
Rhodes 14; Kelly pp.
157-187 (numerous
authors)
M October 24
NO CLASS
FALL BREAK
T October 25
NO CLASS
FALL BREAK
W October 26
Groves and Oppenheimer
Kelly section 3 (all)
Paper 4 topics posted
F October 28
Sabotage and espionage
Powers 18-24
Paper 3 (midterm) due by
5 pm, Chris’s office
M October 31
Problem solving
Rhodes 15; Kelly pp.
188-228 (numerous
authors)
T November 1
More problem solving
Nothing new; continue
discussing Monday’s
readings
W November 2
Manhattan Project security
issues
Kelly section 5
F November 4
Implosion
Rhodes 16; Kelly pp.
101-105 (Bohr,
Churchill-FDR)
M November 7
Tracking German progress
Powers 25-29
T November 8
The ALSOS mission
Powers 30-34
W November 9
Preparing for Trinity and
beyond
Rhodes 17
F November 11
The Trinity test
Rhodes 18; Kelly
section 6
M November 14
Hiroshima
Rhodes 19; Kelly
section 7 (selected
readings)
Paper 2 due today by 5
pm, Chris’s office
Paper 3/midterm questions
posted on website by today
Select paper 4 topics by
today
your research for Paper 4
should be underway by now
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
T November 15
Page 13
Library Day II: evaluating
sources for research (Paper
4)
Meet in Library Eclassroom
Paper 4 preliminary
source list due in class
W November 16
The bomb’s effects
Hiroshima 1-4
F November 18
Aftermath of the bomb
Hiroshima 5
M November 21
After Trinity, Part I
Watch The Day After
Trinity
T November 22
After Trinity, Part II
Finish watching the Day
After Trinity
W November 23
NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING BREAK
F November 25
NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING BREAK
M November 28
Reflections on the atomic
bomb
Kelly section 8
Paper 5 conferences
(optional) can be held
anytime between now and
the end of the semester
T November 29
Assessing the German
failure
Powers 35-37 and pp.
478-484
Paper 4 draft returned with
Chris’s comments
W November 30
Assessing the Allied
success
Rhodes Epilogue
F December 2
Campus knowledge day:
topic to be announced
None
M December 5
Back to Copenhagen
Copenhagen, I
T December 6
Resolving the mysteries of
Copenhagen
Copenhagen, II and
Postscript
W December 7
Using the bomb: student
perspectives
None; short assignment
to be distributed in
advance
F December 9
Paper 4 presentations
None/4-5 presentations
M December 12
Paper 4 presentations
None/4-5 presentations
T December 13
Paper 4 presentations
None/3-4 presentations
W December 14
Paper 4 presentations,
course evaluations
None/1-3 presentations
Paper 4 first draft due by
5 pm
Paper 4 final version due
in class
Paper 5 drafts (optional) due
by 5 pm today
Manhattan Project FTS – Fall 2011
F December 16
(first day of finals)
M December 19
Page 14
Paper 5 drafts with
comments available for
pick-up at Chris’s office
today
Paper 5 final version due
by 5 pm, Chris’s office!!