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BAS assignment |
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| Parameters | The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by veterans of the Manhattan Project. It became the voice of the "Atomic Scientists' Movement" and continues publishing today under a similar title. You will examine two articles from the BAS between 1945 and 1952, then analyze them and suggest what they reveal about physicists' concerns after World War II. Write up a three-page report, with no more than 1½ pp. of summary. | ||||
| Approach | You may pick any two articles between 1945 and 1952, but
you must select them so that they make for fruitful juxtaposition. You
might choose articles on the same topic from the same issue (revealing
different points of view), on the same topic from different years (revealing
temporal evolution), on different topics (revealing the range of physicists'
concerns), etc. If you like, you may pick more than two articles. The choice
is yours, but you are responsible for it. Scan a few issues before making
your decision.
Also try to get a sense of the periodical more generally. Who publishes it, who authors its articles, what is its agenda? Frame your articles against this backdrop. |
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| Logistics | The BAS is available in several libraries. In the
Physics
Library its old issues are shelved either on the balcony or (if they
have been moved, since the library is in transit) with the more recent
BAS
issues on the main floor in the journals reading room. If you have trouble
finding it, ask the library staff. Since the volumes are being used by
a lot of people, they may be being reshelved, so ask. The Physics Library
copies circulate for only 2 hours, so consider spending a bit of time in
the library to select and photocopy your articles. Remember that the Physics
Library's hours are shorter than Moffit's or the Main Library's.
There are also copies in the Main Library (call number TK9001.B8). You may be able to order copies from NRLF, but that depends on who else has them checked out. If you do not know how to order from NRLF, ask a librarian. |
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| Documentation | At the start of your essay, you will need to introduce your articles in the text, giving author, title, month and year of publication, and page numbers. Thereafter you may give citations parenthetically in some unambiguous format. Examples: (Oppenheimer, 16), ("The bomb," 6-7), (9/1951, 17). A bibliography is not required. | ||||
| Reminders | The paper is to be typed, double-spaced in normal-sized
fonts with reasonable margins. No cover page is necessary, but put your
name and the assignment at the top of the first page. Number your pages.
Follow the format for documenting your sources. Proper writing (grammar,
organization, style) definitely counts.
Written assignments may not be submitted by e-mail or in any other electronic form. Papers are due in class, and late papers will be penalized: each day (or fraction thereof, starting at 11:00 a.m.) that a paper is late will reduce its grade by 2/3 of a mark (e.g., A to B+, B- to C). The paper is due in class on Friday, April 25. |
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| Copyright © Cathryn Carson 2003 |