The purpose of this project is to simulate certain elements of the actual practice of science, in order to stimulate philosophical reflection on that practice. Engaging with this project will not only familiarize you with certain aspects of scientific practice, but it will also better prepare you for the other assignments in the course.
Your goal for this project is to answer one question:
What is in the box?
This project has one rule you must follow:
Do not open the box.
This is a group project. You should form groups of 4±1 students. The project is competitive. The winning group, i.e., the group that produces the best answer to the question, will receive a prize.
This project has three graded components (each worth approximately equal weight):
- Preliminary Report 1 [Due 2/17]
- Preliminary Report 2 [Due 3/30]
- Final Presentation [Final Exam Time]
The winner will be determined based on the answer given in the final presentation.
Because of the high numbers of students registered this semester, there will be two separate boxes, each carrying a different prize (likely gift certificates to local eateries).
Grading criteria
The project will be graded on the basis of the quality and thoroughness of the reports and presentation. Determination of the winner will haven no impact on the grade for this project. Groups besides the winning group may earn high marks for the project. It is even possible that the winning group may receive a relatively low grade, if their reports and presentation are not well executed, (although this is unlikely).
Satisfactory first interim reports will:
- Be at least 750 words.
- Describe your process for investigating the box so far.
- Explain why you followed that process.
- Present your preliminary results.
- Suggest at least two hypotheses for what may be in the box.
- Make meaningful connections with the relevant course readings.
- Be substantially free of significant spelling and grammar errors.
- Be turned in on time
- Have reasonable font, size, margins so as to be readable.
- The first page must have your group members’ names, your team name, an accurate word count, and “Box Project Interim Report 1”.
Satisfactory second interim reports will:
- Be at least 1000 words.
- Describe your process for investigating the box so far, emphasizing what you have done since the previous report.
- Explain why you followed that process.
- State your current favored hypothesis (or if you do not have one, explain why).
- Provide evidence for that hypothesis (or if you do not have one, the evidence against the ones you have considered).
- Give a reasonable argument for why that evidence supports that hypothesis better than alternatives (or why the evidence does not favor any hypothesis so far considered).
- Make meaningful, new connections with the relevant course readings, different from the previous report.
- Be substantially free of significant spelling and grammar errors.
- Be turned in on time
- Have reasonable font, size, margins so as to be readable.
- The first page must have your group members’ names, your team name, an accurate word count, and “Box Project Interim Report 1”.
Satisfactory final presentations will:
- Answer the question of what is in the box.
- Provide evidence in favor of the answer
- Give a reasonable argument in favor of the answer, based on the evidence.
- Communicate the answer, evidence, and argument with reasonable effectiveness (including oral delivery and visual aids)
- Stay within the minimum / maximum time limit (TBD).
Personal Reflection Paper
Students aiming for an A in the course must write a personal reflection paper about the box project. Write a 750+ word, formal paper describing what you learned about the scientific process from the Box Project and explaining how that impacted your perception of the course readings and ideas. This should be formal in both style and structure. This is the only part of the project that should be done entirely by an individual, not as a group.
Satisfactory personal reflection papers will:
- Be at least 750 words.
- Show a nuanced reflection on the project.
- Discuss the connection between the project and the scientific process.
- Discuss the connection between the project and the course readings.
- Be substantially free of significant spelling and grammar errors.
- Be turned in on time
- Have reasonable font, size, margins so as to be readable.
- The first page must have your name, your team name, an accurate word count, and “Box Project Personal Reflection”.
Checkout procedure
There will be two check-in/check-out times per week where the box can be checked out and checked back in (during my office hours). Check-out will be first-come, first-served, though no group can check out (the same) box two periods in a row, i.e., no one can check out the box and check it back out immediately. You must check the box back in at the very beginning of the next check-in/check-out period, or during the class before that period. Failure to check the box in in a timely fashion will result in a significant penalty to your grade.
Questions and Answers
Q: What if someone opens the box?
A: There is no Plan B. If the box is opened for any reason, the project may go ungraded.
Q: I had an emergency and I cannot return the box on time. What can I do?
A: You have several other people in your group. Contact them and get them to help you get the box checked in on time. Notify me by email or phone if at all possible.
Credit and thanks to GH&MHS for developing this project idea.