Syllabi and Curricular Materials

Grinnell College. Biology Department.

The goal of this handbook is to communicate to students the opportunities they have in the Departments of Biology and Chemistry, as well as the expectations of their work in Grinnell College courses. Because of the close interaction between courses required for the Biology, Chemistry and Biological Chemistry majors, we recognize the need to speak in one voice about our approaches to teaching science. While you will find many differences between courses in our departments, we hope you will recognize and learn the common skills that are fundamental to good scientific understanding and practice.

Hughes, Dennis D., 1951-

This will be a course in comparative heroic poetry. Through exercises in writing, spoken presentation, and discussion we shall study and analyze various aspects of five epic poems, in particular the portrayals of the hero(in)es and conceptions of the heroic in four (very) different cultures. Among topics to be addressed are the narrative patterns of quest and journey (spatial and spiritual), the role of religion and the divine, the role of women, and the diverse cultural value systems reflected in the poems. Particular attention will be paid to the organization of papers and the effective expression of ideas in writing.

Kaiser, Daniel H., 1945-

In recent years there has been much debate about what constitutes an appropriate undergraduate education. Discussions of multiculturalism, race and gender equality, political correctness, and much else have helped fuel sometimes stormy debates about what college students ought to learn and how. But these debates are not new, especially in American education. In this tutorial we shall examine both recent controversies and their predecessors in an effort to establish our own criteria for the proper definition of liberal education in late twentieth-century America. These discussions will conclude with each student creating his or her own four-year course of study, together with an essay justifying it on the principles of liberal education.

Kaiser, Daniel H., 1945-

Is freedom the "natural" condition of humankind, as some theorists maintain, or are humans subject to forces over which they can exercise little control? Indeed, do humans covet freedom at all, or do they, as Dostoevsky has the Grand Inquisitor say, prefer to abandon their freedom in favor of happiness? From numerous perspectives, both classical and modern, this tutorial will examine freedom and itslimitations. We will consider how dystopian fiction, religious discipline, slave narratives, Nazi culture, neuroscience, and molecular biology, among others, contribute to our understandings of freedom and its boundaries, and what these understandings mean for a liberally educated person.

McClelland, Kent A.

This Tutorial will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding some of the issues and controversies that surround childbearing and childrearing. At the same time, the Tutorial will help students to develop the skills and capacities needed for a successful college career.

Mutti, John "Jack" H.; Peterson, Stephanie; Peterson, Stephanie

This poster describes the design of an assigment to build timelines using Google sheets and Http://timeline.verite.co

Purcell, Sarah J.

In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States, many people have proposed memorials to mark the site of the tragedy, especially at the World Trade Center. Why does the American public feel the need to commemorate sacrifice, and why is there a debate over the proper form of public memory? This tutorial will explore these questions and will put the current debate in the context of a long tradition of public memorials in America.

Rommereim, John C.

The goals of this course are: 1) to develop your skills in the areas of critical thinking, writing, and oral communication. 2) to integrate you fully into the college environment by providing you with advice regarding your course of study and other necessary assistance. Although the subject matter is expansive and interesting in its own right, we should remember that the readings are not an end to themselves, but are intended to be a springboard to facilitate the development of your skills. We will consider the impact of Darwin's thought in four areas: 1) the relationship between science and religion, 2) the question of design in nature, 3) current scientific understanding of the origin of life on earth (and related questions regarding extra-terrestrial life), and 4) application of Darwin's ideas to questions regarding human nature.

Russell, Ralph Anthony.

The first year tutorial, taken in the fall semester, is Grinnell College's only general academic course requirement. The college intends the tutorial to assist students in further developing their critical thinking skills and in improving their written and oral communication skills. Each of the tutorials offered in a given fall semester is based around a particular subject matter, which provides the vehicle by which the above goals are accomplished. Soundtracks and scores explores the use of music in conveying emotion in films.