19 Aug. 2013 Welcome! Please find below the information needed to get started in this course. Website: --------------- Everything you need to know for the course is available from our website: http://www.physics.smu.edu/pseudo/ Syllabus: --------------- The syllabus lists all the reading, due dates, homework, etc. PLEASE READ IT. It will also list the lecture topics as we proceed forward. http://www.physics.smu.edu/pseudo/syllabus.html Reading/Books: --------------- Get the books BEFORE the first class. There are three. We will use Browne and Keeley first, then Sagan (which is available for free online), and finally Battersby. We have available the first three chapters (including the preface) of Browne & Keeley: http://www.physics.smu.edu/~scalise/P3333sp03/papers/BrowneKeeley01.pdf http://www.physics.smu.edu/~scalise/P3333sp03/papers/BrowneKeeley02.pdf http://www.physics.smu.edu/~scalise/P3333sp03/papers/BrowneKeeley03.pdf http://www.physics.smu.edu/~scalise/P3333sp03/papers/BrowneKeeley04.pdf GET THE PASSWORD AND USERNAME FROM THE INSTRUCTORS!!! Attendance Policy --------------- Read it, memorize it, live it: http://www.physics.smu.edu/pseudo/attendance.html You get ___6___ unexcused absences (burn them as you see fit, but DO NOT burn the majority of them before mid-term or you will be in danger). On the 7th unexcused absence, you automatically fail the course. Keep track of your absences. We're serious. Office Hours, etc. --------------- All other course information is available from the website, including the office hours for Prof. Cotton and me. Please take advantage of these office hours! It's a chance for us to get to know you and have a one-on-one discourse about course material, writing research papers, etc. Our observation has always been that students who talk to us during office hours do better than those who never make the time. If you have a conflict with all of our office hours, you need to tell us so we know to try to meet with you at other times. Regards, Profs. Cotton and Sekula