English 111: Discourses of Science
Course Description
This course introduces students to a “big question” in science studies: what is a scientific fact and where does it come from? This course focuses on various forms of science writing—from science journalism to academic articles to science fiction—to explore this question. Unlike science courses designed to teach the data, principles, or methods of scientific research—what we might call the content of science writing—this class will teach students how to recognize and analyze the arguments, audiences, and genres of science writing—what we might call the context of science writing. In learning how to distinguish content from context across a range of scientific discourses, students will come away with a better understanding of how scientific truths are made, how scientific authority is established, and why we can trust some sources of scientific information more than others.
Resources
Click here for an overview of the course schedule, including the schedule of class meetings, and assignments. Students can also find a copy of the syllabus and other key course policies listed here.
The goal of class discussion and ancillary writing assignments is to help students compose three, high-level argumentative essays. Click here for an overview of this semester’s assignments and grading rubrics.
Click here to set up your account profile and view your grades. Remember to use your full first and last names in your account profile.
Click here to make an appointment with the USAFA writing center. They can help you at any stage of the process–from brainstorming before you write your first draft, to revising a rough draft, to polishing your final draft. They can also help with copy-editing (fixing grammar, syntax, and vocabulary).
This page contains links to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the MLA Style Guide, and other resources that you can access through the USAFA Library.
This page provides a link to the complete MLA Handbook as well as information about how to properly cite sources and format your essays.
Course Information
Required Books
There are no textbooks for this course! Instead, all English 111 students are required to create an account through the USAFA Library to access the archives of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Instructions for setting up your account are provided by the library on the pages linked above. If you have any questions or problems, please let Professor Cooper know–she is always happy to help! Students will need to access this library resource to complete the second essay assignment.
Report Absences
Click here to report an absence
Use this form to report excused absences: SCAs, Medical/Dental Appointments, COVID Testing or Quarantine processes, Bedrest, etc. If you are absent because of a medical/dental appointment, please provide documentation of the appointment via email. If you are absent because your AOC/AMT has approved bedrest, please forward the email granting approval to me.
Schedule EI
Click Here to Schedule EI
Students must schedule appointments 24 hours IN ADVANCE through Microsoft Bookings on the homepage of the course website. Bookings automatically shows you when I am available, automatically adds your appointment to my calendar, and automatically sends reminder emails to you ahead of your appointment. I am happy to meet with students remotely, over Teams, or in-person. Simply select the “service” (Teams or In-person) you want on the Bookings page.