Honors 201
Hon201 Winter 2022: Northern Michigan University


This is the syllabus for Honors 201.

Instructor

Dr. Josh Thompson | Campus Office - JAMR 2226 | zoom | email

Classroom

  • Math 161 | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | MTWR | TSB 2602| zoom
  • Your daily attendance is required.
  • Course Webpage

  • http://euclid.nmu.edu/~joshthom/Teaching/Hon201
  • Textbooks

    We will read the books Journey through Genius, Everything & More and The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

  • Journey through Genius by William Dunham
  • Everything & More by David Foster Wallace
  • The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn
  • (Optional) Readers Guide to SSR
  • Office Hours

  • Monday: 11am - 1pm
  • Wednesday: 11am - 12pm
  • Thursday: 11am - 12pm
  • Grading

  • Reading Reflections - 50%
  • Class Participation - 20%
  • Final Project - 30%
  • For example, if R is the average grade of your Reading Reflections, C is the average grade of your Class Partipation, P is your grade on the final project, then your grade in the class will be:

    Grade = .5(W) + .2(C) + .3(P)

  • A: 94% - 100% | A- or B+: 93% - 88%
  • B: 83% -- 87% | B- or C+: 83% - 78%
  • C: 73% -- 77% | C- or D+: 73% - 68%
  • D: 63% -- 67% | D-: 62% - 60%
  • F: Below 60%
  • Assignments

    Each week students take turns leading class discussion on the assigned reading. After class discussion, students formulate written respones to these (and other) questions. We'll call these written assignments "reading reflections".

    Final Exam Date

  • Final Presentations - Thursday, April 21 & Monday, April 25, 2pm - 2:50pm
  • We follow NMU's Final Exam Schedule.
  • Final Project

    In lieu of a final exam, you will complete a final project. Here are details of the project.

  • Part I: 6-10 page paper
  • Part II: 10-15 minute presentation on your topic (poster or slideshow is recommended)
  • You can work alone or in pairs.
  • You may talk to anyone about the paper but the writing must be your own.
  • The writing center may be helpful.
  • Deadline to submit topic: March 8
  • Deadline to submit annotated bibliography: April 14
    (A list of sources (at least two), with descriptions of why you're using them)
  • Deadline to submit final paper: May 1
  • The final paper will be worth 100 points. Grading will be based as follows:
  • Laptops & Phones

    Do not use your laptop, phone or electronic media device in class unless instructed to do so.

    Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the development of various areas of mathematics and science within and across various civilizations.
  • Describe paradigm shifts in mathematics.
  • Discuss examples of anomalies, crises and revolutions in mathematics.
  • Evaluation of these learning outcomes will be done through a mix of assignments, class exercises, projects and research papers.

    Course Description

      Week 2 [Naseem | Dellaunna | Emily]
    • Cardano & the Solution of the Cubic (1545) : Dunham - Chapter 6
    • Kuhn - Chapter 1
      Week 3 [ Autumn | Katie ]
    • A Gem from Isaac Newton (Late 1660s) : Chapter 7
    • Kuhn : Chapter 2
      Week 4 [ Marina | Gabriel | Mary ]
    • Bernoullis & the Harmonic Series (1689) : Chapter 8
    • Kuhn : Chapter 3
      Week 5 [ Jaycee | Jenna | Andrew ]
    • The Extraordinary Sums of Leonhard Euler (1734) : Chapter 9
    • Kuhn : Chapter 4
      Week 6 [ Kate | Keegan | Carli ]
    • A Sampler of Euler's Number Theory (1736) : Chapter 10
    • Kuhn : Chapter 5
      Week 7 [ Jaymes | Audrey ]
    • Kuhn : Chapters 6-7
      Week 8 [ Naseem | Dellaunna | Emily]
    • Kuhn : Chapters 8-9
      Week 9 [ Autumn | Katie | Kate C]
    • DFW: pp. 1-50
    • Kuhn - Chapter 10
      Week 10 [ Marina | Gabriel | Mary ]
    • DFW : pp. 51-100
    • Kuhn : Chapter 11
      Week 11 [ Jaycee | Jenna | Andrew ]
    • DFW : pp. 101-150
    • Kuhn : Chapter 12
      Week 12 [ Kate | Keegan | Carli ]
    • DFW : pp. 151-200
    • Kuhn : Chapter 13
      Week 13 [ Jaymes | Audrey ]
    • DFW : pp. 201-250
    • The Non-Denumerability of the Continuum (1874) : Chapter 11
      Week 14
    • DFW : pp. 251-300
    • Cantor and the Transfinite Realm : Chapter 12
    • Presentations

    University Policies

    Academic Honesty: Cheating is not only unethical and pathetic, but is a violation of the Northern Michigan University Student Code and University Policy and grounds for your dismissal from the University.

    Discrimination & Harassment: Northern Michigan University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, height, weight, martial status, handicap/disability, sexual orientation or veteran status. If you have a civil rights inquiry, contact the Affirmative Action Office at 906-227-2420.

    Americans with Disabilities Act Statement: If you have a need for disability-related accommodations or services, please inform the Coordinator of Disability Services in the Dean of Students Office at 2001 C. B. Hedgcock Building (227-1737 or disserv@nmu.edu). Reasonable and effective accommodations and services will be provided to students if requests are made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state, and University guidelines.

    The Registrar: Withdrawing from any course or any matters relating to registration are the responsibility of the student. For more information regarding this topic, check out the Registrars Website.