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Items of interest:
We'll fill these items in during the term.
Jan 18 W Lecture # 1 Introduction; Start reading Sagan
20 F Lecture # 2 The Scientific Method; Continue reading Sagan
23 M Lecture # 3 Induction and Deduction; Quiz on preface, chapters 1 and 2 of Sagan
25 W Lecture # 4 Observation and Perception; Quiz on chapters 3 and 4 of Sagan
27 F Lecture # 5 Threshold Phenomena; Homework #1 due by 11:00am
30 M Lecture # 6 More Threshold Phenomena; Quiz on chapters 5 and 6 of Sagan
Feb 1 W Lecture # 7 Still More Threshold Phenomena; Quiz on chapters 7 and 8 of Sagan
3 F Lecture # 8 Hoaxes; Homework #2 due by 11:00am
6 M Lecture # 9 More Hoaxes; Quiz on chapters 9 and 10 of Sagan
8 W Lecture #10 Still More Hoaxes; Quiz on "Faking UFO Photos for the 21st Century" and "Judging Authority" in the coursepack
10 F Lecture #11 UFOs and Roswell; Homework #3 due by 11:00am
13 M Lecture #12 Astrology; Quiz on foreword through chapter 2 of Schick and Vaughn
15 W Lecture #13 More Astrology; Quiz on chapter 3 of Schick and Vaughn
17 F Lecture #14 Probability; Midterm paper's title, abstract, and outline due by 11:00am
20 M Lecture #15 More Probability; Quiz on chapter 4 of Schick and Vaughn
22 W Lecture #16 How to Lie With Statistics; Quiz on chapter 5 of Schick and Vaughn
24 F Lecture #17 Polls; 3-page Book review #1 due by 11:00am
27 M Lecture #18 Flat Earth - Guest Lecture by Professor Fred Olness (SMU Physics); Quiz on foreword through chapter 1 of Shermer
Mar 1 W Lecture #19 Secrets of the Psychics; Quiz on chapter 2 of Shermer
3 F Lecture #20 More Secrets of the Psychics; Homework #4 due by 11:00am
6 M Lecture #21 Experiments; Quiz on chapters 3 and 4 of Shermer
8 W Lecture #22 ESP; No reading due so you can finish your paper
10 F Lecture #23 More ESP; Midterm paper due by 11:00am
13 M Spring Break
15 W Spring Break
17 F Spring Break
20 M Lecture #24 Science and Religion; Quiz on chapters 5 and 6 of Shermer
22 W Lecture #25 Scientific Study of The Star; Quiz on chapters 7 and 8 of Shermer
24 F Lecture #26 The Ark of the Covenant - Guest Lecture by Dr. David Joffe (SMU Physics); Homework #5 due by 11:00am
27 M Lecture #27 Talking to the Dead?; Quiz on chapters 11 and 12 of Sagan
29 W Lecture #28 Talking to the Dead?; Quiz on chapters 13 and 14 of Sagan
31 F Lecture #29 Talking to the Dead?; Homework #6 due by 11:00am
Apr 3 M Lecture #30 Alternative Medicine; Quiz on They See Dead People, Or Do They? from the coursepack
5 W Lecture #31 Alternative Medicine; Quiz on chapters 15 and 16 of Sagan
7 F Lecture #32 Dr. Snow; 3-page book review #2 due by 11:00am
10 M Lecture #33 Barry Marshall and Ulcers; Stellar Evolution; Quiz on chapter 6 of Schick and Vaughn
12 W Lecture #34 Evolution - Guest Lecture by Professor Louis Jacobs (SMU Geology); Quiz on chapter 7 of Schick and Vaughn
14 F University Holiday
17 M Lecture #35 (Un)Intelligent Design - Guest Lecture by Professor John Wise (SMU Biology); Quiz on chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Shermer
19 W Lecture #36 Scams - Guest Lecture by Secret Service Agent Bill Flowers; Quiz on chapter 8 of Schick and Vaughn
21 F Lecture #37 Penny Stocks and Other Scams; Homework #7 due by 11:00am
24 M Lecture #38 Risk; Quiz on chapter 9 of Schick and Vaughn
26 W Lecture #39 Skeletons in the Physics Closet; Evaluations; Quiz on chapters 12 and 13 of Shermer
28 F Lecture #40 Bermuda Triangle; Student Presentations; 15-page paper due by 11:00am
May 1 M Lecture #41 Student Presentations; Quiz on chapters 14 and 15 of Shermer
5 F Final Examination: 3:00-6:00pm in 124 Fondren Science