Physics 416, Fall 2009

Course objectives

This course is designed to help you write your senior thesis, to consolidate your professional writing skills, and to develop life-long habits for writing-in-physics.

Course expectations

The main expectation is that, during the semester, you will have turned in a well-written senior thesis. I also expect that you will have demonstrated fluency in the different aspects of professional writing. Finally I expect that you will have shown your ability to give serious thought to the process and significance of communication in your discipline through participation in class discussion, feedback to peers, and integration of academic and professional standards in your own writing.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated throughout the semester on senior thesis writing progress, on general writing and communication skills, and on your mastery of course materials. The final grade will be determined using the following method:

• 50% for assignments directly related to the thesis manuscript account for one half of the grade
• 40% for other homework assignments
• 10% for participation

Assignments need to be turned in on time, and should be turned in electronically unless explicitly stated otherwise. Since some assignments require the input of your research advisor, you will want to share assignments with him well in advance of the deadline.

Reference Material

• AIP style manual (4th edition)
• Online Grammar and Mechanics Tests
• Other materials are linked from the class schedule as needed

Schedule

Here are the topics covered in class and the assignments to be completed. Note that homework, quiz, and Thesis points have different weights in the final grade; they should not be compared directly. Thesis assignments (50% of your grade) are denoted by T1, T2, etc., homework assignments (40% of your grade) are denoted by H1, H2, etc., and quizzes/participation assignments (10% of your grade) are denoted by Q1, Q2, etc. The schedule is tentative and may be updated during the semester.

Honor code

I expect all students in the class to abide by the BYU honor code. I encourage collaboration between students in this class, except when I state explicitly that the work is to be done individually. Writing in physics requires its own code of ethics, which we will encounter and discuss in class.

Preventing sexual harassment

BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well. If you encounter sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, or other inappropriate behavior, please talk to your instructors, contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 367-5689, or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

Students with disabilities

BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may adversely affect your success in this course, please contact the University Accessibility Center at 422-2767. Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with the student and instructors by that office.