HONR 300/CMSC 491 - Spring 2016Complexity in Everyday Life

Handed out Tue 1/26, due Thu 2/4

I expect that each of the three essays I have asked you to write for this assignment will be around a half-page to a page in standard single-space format, though of course you are welcome to write more if you have more to say, or less if you think you can answer the questions thoroughly and concisely in a paragraph or two. Generally speaking, I prefer more to-the-point, well organized, thoughtful commentary than rambling, space-filling, repetitive commentary. As always in this class, content is the most important factor, but correct style and grammar will also be part of the grade.

1. (70 points) Identifying and Analyzing Complex Systems

In class, we discussed three main sources of complexity:

  1. Parallelism
  2. Recursion
  3. Adaptation

For each of the three sources of complexity, identify at least one complex system in your own environment that exhibits this source of complexity. (You may choose to use the same complex system for multiple sources.) For each of the three sources of complexity, write a short essay that (1) defines the nature of this form of complexity, (2) describes the real-world complex system(s) you have chosen to illustrate this form of complexity, and (3) explains the actors and interactions (between agents, and between agents and the environment) that generate the complexity in the system.

2. (15 points) Writing Effectively

Read Dr. dJ’s Handy Writing Guide thoroughly. Write a short but cogent commentary on this document, including the following:

  • Identify and discuss at least three of Dr. dJ’s writing rules and/or editing symbols that you didn’t know about, or (for the writing rules) that you think you don’t always follow. If you always follow of these writing rules, identify the three writing rules that you have seen violated most frequently (in formal print media; in online sources; in peer writing that you’ve read…)
  • Discuss whether you plan to follow these rules, and how you will “retrain” yourself if needed.
  • What do you think you need to work on the most in your own writing?

3. (15 points) Classroom Discussions

Read “It’s Time to Raise My Hand,” by Harvard Graduate School of Education Susan Chang. Reflect on how this column relates to your own experiences in classroom-based discussion, both with respect to your own participation and that of other students. Write a short essay on your thoughts about discussion-based classes.

  • What other classes (if any) have you taken that were largely discussion-based? Was your experience positive or negative? What did you like or dislike about these classes, and what aspects of the class do you think worked or didn’t work?
  • Would you characterize yourself as highly participatory, highly non-participatory, or somewhere in the middle? What challenges have you personally experienced in classroom discussions?
  • Are you looking forward to the discussions in this class, dreading them, or somewhere in between? What are your greatest hopes and concerns, and are they primarily about your own participation, the participation of the other students, or the way that the discussions will be facilitated by the instructor?