The URL of this page is http://www.physics.smu.edu/scalise/P3333fa15/
  • PHYS 3333 satisfies a Physics elective requirement.
  • KNW 2333 will be offered in the future and satisfies the University Curriculum Ways of Knowing Foundation as well as the Writing and Information Literacy Proficiencies and Experiences.
  • CFB 3333 satisfies a General Education Curriculum Cultural Formations requirement. For new students using the University Curriculum, CFB 3333 satifies all of the tags listed above for KNW 2333.

Description:

This course will provide you with an understanding of the scientific method sufficient to detect pseudoscience in its many guises: paranormal phenomena, free-energy devices, alternative medicine, intelligent design creationism, denial of human-induced climate change, propaganda, science-based-medicine denialism, misuse of data and statistics, and many others. You will learn to think critically and to question outlandish claims, hype, and outright BS.

Your writing will improve. You will be able to distinguish credible sources of information from nonsense; you will become an intelligent consumer of information. Expect to do a lot of reading, writing, and, most of all, thinking.

Learn more by reading about the course Goals/Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Course Details

The book reviews and research papers must be turned in electronically. We will not accept paper copies. Use the uploader or email your assignment to pseudo@physics.smu.edu or turn in a thumb drive, CD, floppy disk, etc. Accepted digital formats: ASCII (plain) text, PDF, RTF, or MS Word format (.doc or .docx): double-spaced, 12-point type, Times New Roman (nonbold) font, 1-inch margins. We can not read WordPerfect or Macintosh files.

Required Course Texts:



Syllabus -- Includes lecture notes and assignments

Homework Assignments

Suggested Auxiliary Reading

Grading, Extra Credit, Incompletes

Attendance Policy, Classroom Environment

Grade Summary - All the individual student grades arranged
by four-digit code number

A Note on PLAGIARISM -- Very important!

Notes on Writing Research Papers

Suggested Research Paper Topics

Excellent Past Student Research Papers (password protected)                    

Criteria for a Successful Experiment

The Baloney Detection Collection
Complete list of subjects available

Problems of Fuzzy Thinking

Guide to Library Usage

Relevant Web Sites

Other Resources -- Video, periodicals, etc.

Videos

Previous Incarnations of this Course -- with lecture notes

Seminars and Presentations

Students with disabilities, medically excused absences, absences in general

Anonymous Feedback

Things you should already know, but...

University Holidays

Official University Calendars

Disclaimer


Fighting ignorance since 2003 - pace Cecil Adams (he's not a real person, anyway)