BIL 375 Seminar in Biology:
Humans, Religion and Evolution

Instructor: Dr. Dana Krempels

Course Requirements

PREREQUISITE: All students must already have successfully completed BIL 160 (Evolution and Biodiversity) or equivalent.

Required Reading:

Strongly Recommended if you need a review of evolutionary theory:

Class meets every Thursday from 5:00-6:15pm in Cox 166.

A list of weekly readings can be found below, arranged by date. All students are responsible for all readings, and must complete this Topic Form to be turned in at the beginning of seminar each week. Attendance is mandatory, and is monitored by the topic sheets. If you don't turn in a topic sheet, you'll be considered absent. One half a grade is lost for every absence, but you are allowed ONE excused absence.

  • Each student will select one week's readings from the list below, and be the moderator/presenter for that week. This will be presented (as PowerPoint) to the class as an introduction to the topic on the assigned date.

    Date

    Topic

    Text Readings

    Presenters
    1/21 Introduction and Overview

    		 A Review of Evolutionary Processes

    		 Dana Krempels
    1/28

    		 Religion and the God Hypothesis

    		 Dawkins, Ch 1 & 2

    		 Julieta DeMase
    Jessica Kirsner

    2/4

    		 Arguments for and Against God's Existence

    		 Dawkins, Ch 3 & 4

    		 Amy Muehlmatt
    Jason Wright
    2/11

    		 Roots of Religion and Morality

    		 Dawkins, Ch 5 & 6

    		 Eric Bryant
    Jeremy Kruger
    2/18

    		 Biblical Things

    		 Chapter 7

    		 Andi Oldham
    2/25

    		 Why be Hostile to Religion?

    		 Dawkins, Ch 8

    		 Shantal Alvarez
    Michele Lavorano
    3/4

    		 Childhood, Abuse, and Escape from Religion

    		 Dawkins, Ch 9 and 10

    		 Razan Alif
    Johanna Ruiz
    3/11

    		 God Delusions?

    		 McGrath & McGrath, Ch 1

    		 Ashleigh Quinn
    Timothy Whaley
    3/18

    		 Spring Break

    		 wooooo!

    		 No class
    3/25

    		 Science and Disproving God
    		 McGrath & McGrath, Ch 2

    		 Chirag Gheewala
    Ashley Ramos
    4/1

    		 Origins of Religion

    		 McGrath & McGrath, Ch 3

    		 Jessica Kirsner
    Shaggy Nowroozpour
    4/8

    		 Is Religion Evil?

    		 McGrath & McGrath, Ch 4

    		 Maxwell Kotz
    Seth McMahon
    4/15

    		 Evolutionary Biology vs. Social Sciences

    		 Wilson, Ch 1,2,3

    		 Michael Bonassar
    Garrett Wagner
    4/22

    		 The Secular Utility of Religion

    		 Wilson, Ch 4,5

    		 Eduardo Domenech
    Kelley Norcini
    4/29

    		 The Adaptiveness of Forgiveness and Bringing it all Together

    		 Wilson, Ch 6,7

    		 Michael Burman
    Javier Gusman

  • The presenter(s) for each week are responsible for leading the discussion on the week's topic, and keeping everyone involved.
  • Every student must turn in a completed topic form for each week's seminar at the beginning of class. No late topic forms will be accepted.
    Class participation:

    All students taking BIL 375 with Dr. Krempels are expected to participate in discussion of the paper topic every week. Attendance is mandatory, and an unexcused absence will result in loss of one half a grade.

    For Writing Credit (optional):

  • If you would like to receive writing credit for this course, you must request this no later than the second class meeting.

  • In order to receive writing credit, you must not only write a 4000-word (about 20 pages) about the chapters you cover in your seminar, but find at least TWO ADDITIONAL REFERENCES on the same or related topic from another scholarly source.
  • An outline of your paper is due no later than the fifth week of the semester, and should be sent to Dr. Krempels, in MS Word format, SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA EMAIL ATTACHMENT.
  • Once the outline is approved, the student may begin writing the paper itself. A first draft is due (in electronic format via email) in Dr. Krempels' email box no later than the Wednesday before Spring Break.

  • Dr. Krempels will read and edit the paper and return it to the student with comments included in color. 

  • Deadline for the finished, revised paper is the date of the last class meeting SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA EMAIL ATTACHMENT in MS Word format.

    Preparing for the paper:

  • Select your topic and note due dates for the various stages of the paper on your calendar!

  • Use textbooks and library resources to find at least two additional recent publication (preferably since 2000) on your topic from refereed journals or textbooks

  • Internet resources are acceptable ONLY if they are from a refereed journal web site, or from a reputable .edu or .gov site that is officially dedicated to the topic you have chosen. No .com, .org or .net sites are acceptable as references.

    Format for the paper:

  • Your paper should consist of a comprehensive review of the papers you have used to elucidate your topic. This may be in the form of a literature review, and should include your own impressions and analysis of the research on the topic, its repeatability, rigorousness, etc.

  • The paper should include

  • For writing credit, the paper must be at least 4000 words (approximately 20 pages, 12 point font, double-spaced).
  • The paper should be organized in logical sections that follow the outline you devise before you write it.
  • All cited sources must be listed in a Literature Cited section at the end of the paper.