Instructor:  Ron Mumme, Biology Department 
Office: Steffee Hall of Life Sciences B.113
Telephone: 332-2382
e-mail: rmumme@allegheny.edu
Office Hours: M 3:30-5:30, T 10:00-12:00, F 2:00-4:00
Freshman Seminar Assistant (FSA): Rachel Bayer, bayerr@allegheny.edu, 332-2291

Required Texts:
Nesse, R. M., and G. C. Williams. 1994. Why we get sick: the new science of Darwinian medicine. Vintage Books, New York.
Hacker, D. 1999. A writer's reference (4^th edition). Bedford/St. Martin's, Boston.

Objectives:
The primary goal of FS 101 is to help first-year college students develop their skills in written and oral communication. These skills, central to any good college education, will prove invaluable to students in all their future endeavors. FS 101 students who work conscientiously to enhance both their writing and speaking abilities will be amply rewarded for their efforts, both at Allegheny College (better grades) and beyond (more effective and fulfilling careers and lives).

A secondary objective of FS 101 is to help students identify their academic goals at Allegheny College. Accordingly, students in FS 101 will take their initial steps in developing an Academic Planning Portfolio (APP). The APP is a collection of documents in which students thoughtfully explore their academic and career options, and develop a curricular and co-curricular program that will meet their personal goals and satisfy the College's graduation requirements. The APP is an important planning tool that will follow students to their new advisor when they formally declare a major at the end of the sophomore year.

With these objectives in mind, it is worth taking a fresh look at the official description of FS 101:

The most important thing to remember about Darwinian medicine is that the field is still in its infancy. Many of the ideas we will be discussing in the course are not facts, but interesting evolutionary hypotheses that can be tested by means of carefully designed experimental, clinical, or comparative studies. In fact, one of our goals in the course is to help you learn to distinguish between empirical fact and untested (or poorly tested) hypothesis.

Grading:
Your grade in FS 101 will be determined as follows:

Short writing assignments.–Seven short (one-page) writing assignments will be assigned during the first half of the semester. Due dates for the short writing assignments are shown on the class meeting schedule on page 4 of this syllabus.

Research paper.–The most significant writing assignment in our section of FS 101 is a major research paper that focuses on a topic of current interest in Darwinian medicine. A list of possible topics will be circulated later in the semester. The first draft of the research paper is due Wednesday, December 5. After receiving comments and feedback from other students, the Freshman Seminar Assistant (FSA), and the instructor, you will prepare and submit a final draft by no later than Monday, 17 December (during finals week). Electronic copies of your final research papers will then be posted on the course web site, providing a comprehensive class project and a useful resource to others interested in Darwinian medicine. Full details on the research paper will be provide later in the class.

Oral presentations.–Each student will make two formal oral presentations to the class. The first, to be given between 17 September and 26 October, will provide a summary analysis of a chapter from the text (Nesse and Williams 1994), focusing on the most interesting questions and points raised in the chapter. The second oral presentation, to be given between 5 November and 5 December, will summarize the results of your independent research project.

Peer reviews.–All students will provide constructive critiques of the writing and oral presentations of other students. Reviews should be thoughtful and, above all, constructive. You should point out areas where either scientific logic or the presentation is weak, and suggest ways that they could be improved. A good review is critical but fair and constructive; you will be graded on the quality of your review.

Attendance / participation.–You are expected to do the assigned readings before coming to class meetings, and to be well prepared to be a full participant in any class discussion. High marks for class attendance and participation and discussion are awarded to students who are rarely if ever absent or late, who are thoroughly familiar with the assigned readings, who come to class prepared to raise questions, identify points of particular interest, and who interact productively with other students.

Academic planning assignments.–Two academic planning assignments are required, with due dates of October 29 and November 28. Details regarding these assignments will be provided later in the course. Although they are not graded, they must be completed satisfactorily in order to receive credit for the course.

Course web site:
A "Darwin for Doctors" home page has been established with the following URL:

Please bookmark the site and check it frequently. Assignments, supplemental materials, and other course information will be posted there regularly.