PHYS 230 - Physical Reasoning

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: Second Composition
Focus on the elements of sound physical reasoning as expressed through clear scientific writing. Students will write detailed solutions to challenging problems, summaries of research articles, and reviews of important topics of physics.

Prerequisites: MATH 230, and PHYS 137 or PHYS 126.
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: Second Composition
Course Typically Offered: Spring ONLY

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Students will be able to write clear, grammatically correct, scientific papers explaining the solutions to complex problems and reviewing important discoveries in physics.
Students will be able to apply critical thinking to understand claims, evidence, and reasoning in scientific papers and express these clearly in their own writing.
Students will be able to solve complex, multi-step problems in physics and clearly express their scientific and mathematical reasoning through their writing.
Students will be able to carry out comprehensive literature searches and write clear, understandable reviews of new topics demonstrating the ability to independently learn physics.

Second English Composition Learning Outcomes

complete a variety of reading and writing tasks that incorporate subject-matter knowledge;
adjust their writing for different audiences, showing awareness of expectations for academic writing in general and adhering to discipline-specific conventions when appropriate;
demonstrate critical thinking and logical reasoning, including strategies coming in a discipline, in the development and organization of ideas in written texts; take into account multiple perspectives and key disciplinary concepts when presenting their ideas in writing; and
revise their writing in response to feedback in order to improve development, clarity, coherence, and correctness.