Instructor: Dr. Doug R. Ingram
Lectures: MW 12:00-12:50 in SWR LH2
Text: "OpenStax Astronomy" available for free online
Office: SWR 315
Hours: MW 9-950, TR 11-1150 and by appointment
Phone: (817) 257-7313 (less reliable)
Email: d.ingram@tcu.edu (more reliable)
WWW: http://personal.tcu.edu/dingram/phys10293

Physics 10293 Archaeoastronomy. Two hours of lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. We will study naked-eye astronomy, which includes motion of the Sun, Moon and stars. We will learn how other cultures practiced astronomy and how it supported or established their societies.

Overview: Virtually every culture known to us has practiced basic naked-eye Astronomy. All peoples construct frameworks to make sense of their observations of the heavens. We will examine the ways different cultures have studied the heavens and how they have made sense of what they observed. The observations range from precise times and locations of astronomical events to more general observations about the patterns of motion of the Sun, moon and planets. These observations even led the Maya (and some others today) to believe the world would end on Dec 21, 2012!

We will study the explanations of different cultures for these phenomena, from precise geometrical models to mythological accounts. We will discover that there are many ways of looking at the sky and many different sets of relevant questions that may be asked. We will learn about the models people have used to understand recurring events in the sky, such as the seasons, the phases of the Moon and the movements of the planets. We will illustrate and practice the logical process of scientific investigation of astronomical phenomena through lectures and laboratory activities.

We will also study the social context of astronomy, its function within its culture of origin. How did astronomy contribute to the world view of its contemporary society or support or reflect the political structure of that society? We will use written, archaeological and anthropological evidence, which is fragmentary in some cases, and there will be several articles available from various books on D2L since it is so hard to find a single book with all of the current, most relevant material gathered in one binding.

Grading: Each of the three regular in-class exams counts for 20% of your grade, the final exam counts for 20%, and the lab grade also counts for 20%. If you fail to complete the minimum required 10 labs for this course, your final average will suffer significantly. Be sure you read the lab syllabus carefully for the details of this policy. Course grades are assigned on a scale as follows:

Attendance: I don't take attendance, but I am aware of attendance. If you're going to miss two or more classes during the semester, then you should seriously consider taking a different class. I reserve the right to penalize students who frequently arrive to class more than 1 minute late by deducting points from their exam scores.

Exams: The exams in this course will be based exclusively on material from lectures, readings and in-class discussions. The textbook will be extremely helpful to your understanding of the course material, and you should find that keeping up with the reading will help you to understand the material much better (but it is not a substitute for attending class). Each of the three exams during the term will cover only the material from the previous 4-5 weeks. These exams are not cumulative, but there will be a comprehensive final (12 questions, short answer). Study questions will be distributed throughout the course so that it will be clear exactly what information you will be held responsible for.

No exam grades will be dropped. The course will not be graded on a curve. In the event of an unavoidable and documented medical or legal reason for missing an exam, I will consider the issue on an individual basis. Usually, make-up exams will be oral, given by me as close to the exam date as possible (either before or after). A tentative exam schedule is given below. Regular exams will be short answer. Exams will last for 45 minutes.

Exam Dates:

Advice: I expect many of you to work together when studying for exams, and that's great! Ask each other questions, and help each other out! I strongly encourage you to form groups of 3 or more to study for exams and answer thought questions in handouts. You're not competing with one another since there is no curve.

But, please, note this word of caution. Don't rely on your group as a crutch. Failure to fully analyze and discover the solutions to questions I pose in handouts on your own may lead to disaster on exams. Your group's best role is as a backup. Use others to verify your own original answers to questions, not to tell you what the answers are. This course is not about memorization; it is about figuring things out on your own. The discussions you have with your group about the answers to various questions are important, but they are no substitute for your own analysis. After all, during the exam, your group won't be there to provide support.

I will always give reading assignments from the texts well in advance of the appropriate lecture. This does not mean that the lectures will be derived from the text! In other words, I really mean it when I say that the reading is intended to be supplemental and helpful, but it is not a substitute for attendance. In general, the more time you invest in preparation for the lecture by reading the assigned chapters, the more you'll get out of the course.

Budget your time wisely in this course. Realistically expect to spend at least one hour outside of class for every hour in class (even more if you are having trouble). Don't just wait to study until the night before the exam. Do the homework questions well in advance and think about the study questions so that you can ask me to cover your weak spots during the reviews.

Academic Misconduct: I would like to remind you about policies and procedures regarding your rights as well as responsibilities that are published in the TCU Student Handbook. You may have a paper copy but it is also available on line at http://www.studentaffairs.tcu.edu/handbook/handbook.htm. Specifically I would like you to review Section 3.4 regarding Academic misconduct, i.e. cheating, plagiarism etc.

Disabilities Statement: Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Student Disabilities Services in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.

Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the academic term for which they are seeking accommodations. Each eligible student is responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable, professional documentation and/or assessment reports to the Coordinator. Guidelines for documentation may be found at http://www.acs.tcu.edu/disability_documentation.asp.

Students with emergency medical information or needing special arrangements in case a building must be evacuated should discuss this information with their instructor/professor as soon as possible.

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As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep any information your share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I have a mandatory reporting responsibility under TCU policy and federal law and I am required to share any information I receive regarding sexual harassment, discrimination, and related conduct with TCU's Title IX Coordinator. Students can receive confidential support and academic advocacy by contacting TCU's Confidential Advocate in the Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education office at (817) 257-5225 or the Counseling & Mental Health Center at https://counseling.tcu.edu/ or by calling (817) 257-7863. Alleged violations can be reported to the Title IX Office at https://titleix.tcu.edu/or by calling (817) 257-8228. Should you wish to make a confidential report, the Title IX Office will seek to maintain your privacy to the greatest extent possible, but cannot guarantee confidentiality. Reports to law enforcement can be made to the Fort Worth Police Department at 911 for an emergency and (817) 335-4222 for non-emergency or TCU Police at (817) 257-7777.

Acknowledgement: We respectfully acknowledge all Native American peoples who have lived on this land since time immemorial. TCU especially acknowledges and pays respect to the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, upon whose historical homeland our university is located.