Pseudoscience Project Day One
Hello class. Thank you for hopefully being patient while I am out. It has been a busy week for me. I hope to have my grading finished this week and up to date for you by Thursday.
I did receive a number of your nature of science infographics. I have started to grade them. Please share them with me if you have not already.
As a reward for top shelf infographics that are a 3.5 or 4 I will be waiving a section on the next assessment. Better infographic = less quiz. You do have the opportunity to improve the infographic. I am leaving comments on your infographic to help you achieve that end.
You will be evaluating a psuedoscience for this next project. You will have a small menu of options to choose from tomorrow that will allow you to accomplish this. The first day will give you some background.
I did receive a number of your nature of science infographics. I have started to grade them. Please share them with me if you have not already.
As a reward for top shelf infographics that are a 3.5 or 4 I will be waiving a section on the next assessment. Better infographic = less quiz. You do have the opportunity to improve the infographic. I am leaving comments on your infographic to help you achieve that end.
You will be evaluating a psuedoscience for this next project. You will have a small menu of options to choose from tomorrow that will allow you to accomplish this. The first day will give you some background.
Step One: Read the following articles below or visit and browse some of the links at http://dhmo.org/
Step Two: Take the following poll. Concerning this chemical.
Step Three: Check out the website called the Wackos Gallery: People who perpetuate misinformation, pseudoscience, or unfounded claims
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Step Four: Asking Questions About Websites
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Step Five: Choose a pseudoscience topic from the link below that interests you. You will be evaluating this topic.
Step Six: Explore
Explore the claims made by proponents or supporters of your pseudoscience. Address the following questions in your exploration:
- What is the content of the website? What kind of information can be found there?
- Who made the website and for what purpose?
- Is the website skeptical or credulous? (Look up the definition of credulous before you embarrass yourself.)
- Does the information carry any weight? Is it supported by evidence, or is it just someone's opinions?
Homework: Explore your topic. Keep in mind many of these topics are well established pseudosciences. Many will sound very compelling and even appealing. Be skeptical.
Pseudoscience Project Day 2
Skeptical Investigation Option #1 This Is A Pseudoscience Essay
You are to research one pseudo-science and write a short paper on the subject. The paper will tell the story of the pseudoscience from its origins to its role in present-day society. It must also include a brief background on why it is not considered a mainstream science, and what experiments could be (or, have been) attempted to determine its legitimacy. Lastly, you must include a brief discussion of your own personal feelings on the subject: why do you find it interesting, and do you think there is something more to the topic than we presently can/do know? Requirements for the paper:
Our task in this assignment is to identify a pseudoscientific concept and explain why the concept is pseudoscientific in a short (2-3 double-spaced typed pages) written essay. Your essay should be organized as follows:
Our task in this assignment is to identify a pseudoscientific concept and explain why the concept is pseudoscientific in a short (2-3 double-spaced typed pages) written essay. Your essay should be organized as follows:
- Descriptive Title Provide a short but descriptive title that gives the reader a clear undestanding of your essay is about.
- Introduction In the space of a paragraph or two clearly describe/define the pseudoscientific concept. You may want to include a historical perspective that describes the origin of the concept.
- Discussion Explain how the concept fails at being a scientific concept and why it should be considered to be pseudoscientific. This should be the longest section of your paper.
- Conclusion Finish up with a concluding paragraph.
- Sources Include a bibliography listing the literature sources you used to provide information for your paper.
Skeptical Investigation Option #2 Create a presentation outlining your pseudoscience topic
Create a presentation illustrating the pseudoscientific claims made. Provide the scientific counter arguments to the claims.
Pseudoscience Project Day 3 Peer review
Share your pseudoscience project with someone else in class.
Provide helpful criticism by commenting.
Provide helpful criticism by commenting.
- Do they provide a good description of what the pseudoscience is and what claims it makes?
- Does the piece explain how the concept fails at being a scientific concept and why it should be considered to be pseudoscientific?
- Do they mention any scientific counter arguments?
- Do they address a claim itself or simply attack a person by calling them stupid. We want to focus on claims being made and not just calling names. (This does happen quite frequently)
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Click here to listen or read a podcast on how to spot pseudoscience
This 15-point checklist will help you tell science from pseudoscience. |