Timeline

Work in groups with other students who have selected related issues to develop an "intellectual history" of the issue. This assignment asks you to provide an historical perspective of the issue you have selected to research that demonstrates that you have considered the evolution of the science and technology in the context of the society during the time of the scientific and technological advances you describe.   

On the class day that we discuss the timeline, each person should provide a date and scentific or technological advance.  These will be discussed in chronological order.  I hope that the exercise will provide us with a nice intellectual history of science and technology that is applicable to many of the issues that have been selected.

Timeline of Independent Topic (7%)  (3% for draft and 4% for final version as appendix in written report)

A draft is due on the date listed in the schedule.  A revised final version is due with the written report. See this rubric before you begin your work. Your draft AND final version will be assessed on how well they meet the criteria outlined in the rubric. Go as far back in time as you can and provide an historical context for the 10 (min)-15 (max) most pertinent events that have helped shape your topic into the issue of such a magnitude that you selected it for this course.  Select context that makes the time interesting for you.  For example, the structure of DNA was discovered in 1953; what happened in 1953 that is meaningful to you that helps you understand that time in history?  Historical information will tend to be general to the fields you have selected to explore.  As you approach more recent times, the information should become more specific to your issue.   Provide the names and dates of the 10-15 most important historical contributions to  your issue- and as usual- provide complete citations for your timeline.   A well-constructed timeline will present a rich history of your topic that shows how the issue has developed within the cultures over time.  As you approach the 21st Century the intervals between events should become much closer together and the diversity of resources cited should increase.   By the time you reach today.  There should be no question to anyone who is looking at your timeline what the issue is that you have selected or what your point of view is on the evolution of the issue within the world cultures over time.   Be able to demonstrate you have acquired a broad historical perspective regarding the issue you have selected. Although manipulation using genetic engineering to modify organisms is rather young- we've been selecting and hence genetic engineering since civilization began...timelines and historical perspective you learn needs to reflect that.  Make sure your timeline shows the evolution of the technologies that have become the advanced strategies that we are using today. Describe what technological advances occurred (in what era) and how each of them was used to build on the prior to allow the technology to advance to the degree that it is presently in use. Although behavioral disorders and treatment may be fairly young, the same comment as above holds true- I bet the Egyptians had treatments for behavior disorders too!   The same comments hold true for virtually every technology and issue being considered! You'll need to consider all aspects of your issue- i.e. what is the role of politics and economics in your issue? Morals? Ethics?  Develop those historical perspectives too (specific to your issue)! A  revision of the timeline should be included as an appendix in your final paper, allowing you to focus on the most pertinent aspects within your written report. Even though this does not address the social and economic issues, here is an example of an timeline that is exemplary in how it addresses the scientific and technology aspects of the issue.  This was submitted by a student in a former class who gave permission to share with you. Even though this does not address the social and economic issues, here is an example of a timeline (about St. John's Wort as a treatment for mild depression) that is exemplary in how it addresses the scientific and technology aspects of the issue.  This was submitted by a student in a former class who gave permission to share with you.  Here is another sample timeline- development of standardized testing. This exemplary timeline does an outstanding job of relating the issue (nuclear energy) to items of interest to the student (music).

This assignment asks you to compile the information you are acquiring about your issue and put it together. It does not ask you to simply find a timeline website about the general issue you have selected. Take this assignment seriously so that you will acquire a valuable intellectual history that helps you better understand how issues in science and technology evolve within our cultures and societies, and how it relates to your disciplinary interests.   Cheating, dishonesty, and plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the assignment and/or course. Please review these articles on plagiarism: "What is Plagiarism at Indiana University"; "How to Avoid Plagiarism"; "Avoiding Plagiarism"

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