Invention and Discovery

Assignments
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Note that this page changed as the semester progressed. Completed assignments may have been removed. See the groups guide for more assignment details.

Pending due dates:

  • Apr. 3: Rewrites of Bell notebooks transcriptions and commentary.
  • Apr. 20: Individual paper.

Rough schedule of reading assignments:

Adjustments may be made in class. This page last updated 27 March 1998. RP = Reading Packet. Check the reading packet table of contents for page numbers and notes on each reading.

Due Wednesday, Jan. 21

RP: Galileo and Newton readings from Lives in Science

*canceled*

RP: Wrightsman, Bruce. "The Legitimation of Scientific Belief: Theory Justification by Copernicus." Skim for main ideas. Try to explain them to someone else. Unsuspecting roommates are good targets.

Due Monday, Jan. 26

RP: Heyn. ch.7: The Wright Brothers. (pp.128-138). Long reading. Suggested tactic: skim once in 5 minutes immediately after class. State the main thesis and the story. Then read it in 30-minute pieces over the whole weekend. This weekend interrupts our overview with the first part of our Wright Brothers case study.

Due Wednesday, Jan. 28

Continued discussion of aviation history & the Wrights.

Due Friday, Jan. 30

RP: Crouch, "Why Wilbur and Orville?" (p.85) At this point I would like some feedback on reading load & difficulty for you.

Due Monday, Feb. 2

Koestler. The Act of Creation. Pages 101-144. This week we return to our general overview of the history of science and technology.

*canceled*

Koestler. The Act of Creation. Probably pages 163-177, 193-211.

Due Friday, Feb. 6

Koestler. The Act of Creation. Pages 212-248; 252-254.

Due Monday, Feb. 9

RP: Delear.

Due Wednesday, Feb. 11

RP: Bradshaw

Due Friday, Feb. 13

No extra reading: draft of group airplane paper due.

Due Monday, Feb. 16

RP: Heyn. ch.3: Alexander Graham Bell. (105-114). This begins our telephone section. I will put up the order of readings in this section as we approach.

Due Monday, March 30

  • RP: Carlson
  • Gorman and Carlson, (101-104)
  • Revise your commentaries, and choose your groups for the construction of a telephone.
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