INQ 300Fall 2012
Intellectual Inquiry
Powerful Medicine: How Do Drugs Affect Our Life?
The Course
How do drugs affect our life? The pharmaceutical industry projects that worldwide drug sales will exceed $1 trillion within the next few years. One touchstone of the 20th century was the explosion of the pharmaceutical industry, and the effects of this rapid growth on human health. This course will explore the pharmaceutical industry and its impact on individuals and on society. From drug discovery to clinical trials to marketing and economic implications, we will learn about this industry. Once we have covered the basics in the first half of the course, groups will choose a contemporary problem related to the pharmaceutical industry, carry out research on the problem, analyze possible approaches to the problem, and propose a solution in a final paper and oral defense.
The Approach
This course centers on your participation in a learning community. Content important to the group is constructed by the group. The course is not characterized by a professor lecturing to students who dutifully transcribe wisdom. Responsibility for preparing, presenting, reading, thinking, solving, writing, analyzing, and processing the course content is shared.
InstructorOffice Hours
Dr. Gary HollisMWF10:50 – 11:50 am
Trexler 565CTTh10:00 – 11:00 am
Phone:375-2437 (office); 265-4661 (home)
I will typically be around my office or research lab from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday (see the schedule posted on my office door for further details). Sometimes I will be available in the evenings and on weekends. Feel free to call me at home for help … but not after 10:00 pm. Feel free to drop by my office at any time for extra help, or schedule an appointment if you can anticipate your needs.
Course Materials
Drugs and the Human Body, 7th edition, Liska
Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths about Pharma R&D, 1st edition, LaMattina
Powerful Medicines: The Benefits, Risks, and Costs of Prescription Drugs, 1stedition,
Avorn
A Writer’s Reference, 7th edition, Hacker
Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1.understand, at an introductory level, the action of drugs in the human body,
2.be aware of how drugs are discovered, developed, and marketed,
3.understand how drugs are regulated,
4.be able to articulate the economics of the pharmaceutical industry, and
5.have explored the global nature of the pharmaceutical industry.
The following learning outcomes are common to all INQ 300 sections:
- Students will apply their research findings to a formal project addressing the course topic question and will successfully present this proposal in an oral defense.
- Students will write well-organized and clearly reasoned papers both individually and with a group. Papers will have clear theses, effective organization, and a minimum of sentence-level errors.
- Students will contribute to meaningful, effective discussion and collaborative work that includes expressing, listening to, and debating ideas.
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills in a meaningful way.
- Students will make explicit, meaningful connections between past course work (both in the core and in their majors) and contemporary issues.
- Students will demonstrate understanding of a contemporary issue or problem, an awareness of the types of inquiry needed to understand it, and the resources required for addressing it.
Grading
Reading quizzes, daily grades10%
Initial Group Oral Presentation 5%
Initial Individual Oral Presentation 5%
Individual Paper10%
Midterm Exam15%
Group Project
Assessment of Group Work15%
Final Oral Defense20%
Written Report20%
Final course grades are made on the following scale:
A 92.0-100.0 A- 90.0-91.9 B+ 87.0-89.9B 83.0-86.9B- 80.0-82.9
C+ 77.0-79.9C 73.0-76.9 C- 70.0-72.9
D+ 67.0-69.9 D 63.0-66.9 D- 60.0-62.9 F <60.0
Notes on Course Components
Reading quizzes and daily grades: Each day that reading is assigned for a given class meeting, a reading quiz will be given. You must be present to take the quiz. No make-up quizzes will be given. On those days where a reading quiz is not given, a participation grade will be recorded. The two lowest grades in this category will be dropped before final grades are determined.
Initial Group Oral Presentation: Your group will be responsible for presenting a summary of the day’s reading (15-20 minute oral presentation) and for leading the class discussion of this material. See Groups A-F below.
Initial Individual Oral Presentation: You will find several articles related to the topic presented by your group and present an analysis of these articles to the class in a 5-8 minute oral presentation. Your presentation must contain a quantitative reasoning component. The articles you choose should enrich the class’s understanding of your group’s topic.
IndividualPaper: This is a three to four page paper that analyzes the articles you chose for your oral presentation. Your analysis must contain a quantitative reasoning component. The emphasis here is on clarity of prose and on providing convincing support for your thesis. Careful citation is a must.
Midtem Exam: This exam will cover the basics of the pharmaceutical industry as presented in our readings and as discussed in class.
Group Project: Your group will choose a contemporary problem related to the pharmaceutical industry, carry out research on the problem, analyze possible approaches to the problem, and propose a solution in a final paper and oral defense. Ongoing effort is expected. Periodic assessment of the group’s working dynamic and a final reflection on the group’s product are both part of this component, as well.
Academic Integrity
Students in INQ 300 are expected to follow the integrity policy detailed in the handbook Academic Integrity at Roanoke College. If you do not have a copy of this handbook, please see me. Additionally, if you are ever uncertain as to how the College’s policy pertains to any assignment in this course, please ask me for clarification. If you use others’ ideas in your writing, they must be acknowledged. Exact quotations require quotation marks, in-text citation, and source listing on a works cited page. Paraphrasing requires in-text citation and source listing on a works cited page.
The Writing Center
Located in the Center for Learning and Teaching in Fintel Library, Roanoke College’s Writing Center can help with writing issues in all of your courses, including this one. When you get your assignment, when you are in the drafting stage, when you are revising, and when you are proofing, the Writing Center tutors are there to assist you. Plan ahead and make an appointment!
Class Schedule
DateClassAssignment for Class
Aug. 29Introduction to the course;
formation of first groups;
issues related to group work;
organizing oral presentations;
quick and dirty resume
Aug. 31Lib-Guide: library resources
for this course; meet in the library
Sept. 3Instructor Presentation:Reading: Liska, Chapters 1 &5
How do drugs work?
Sept. 5Reading quiz; QR AssessmentReading: Liska, Chapter 10
Sept. 7Instructor Presentation:Reading: Liska, Chapters 13 & 14
How do drugs work?
Sept. 10Instructor Presentation:Reading: Liska, Chapters 1 &4
Do drugs work?
(Placebo effect; efficacies)
Sept. 12Group A Presentation:Reading: Liska, Chapter 2
How are drugs discovered LaMattina, Chapters 3 & 4
and what is the cost?
Sept. 14Individual presentations by members
of Group A
Sept. 17Group B Presentation:Reading: Avorn, Chapters 3-5
How are drugs brought to market?
(Pre-clinical trials)
Sept. 19Individual presentations by members
of Group B
Sept. 21Group C Presentation:Reading: Avorn, Chapters 6-9
How are drugs brought to market?
(Clinical trials)
Sept. 24Individual presentations by members
of Group C
Sept. 26Group D Presentation:Reading: Avorn, Chapter 23
How are drugs marketed? LaMattina, Chapter 7 & 9
Sept. 28Individual presentations by members
of Group D
Oct. 1Group E Presentation:Reading: Avorn, Chapters 12-15
How are drugs paid for?
Oct. 3Individual presentations by members
of Group E
Oct. 5Group F Presentation:Reading: Avorn, Chapters 21 & 22
What is the global impact LaMattina, Chapter 10
of the drug industry?
Oct. 8Individual presentations by members
of Group F
Oct.10Choosing six contemporary problems
related to the pharmaceutical industry;
forming groups to work on these problems
Oct. 12Midterm Exam
Oct. 22No class meeting;
groups research their problem
Oct. 24No class meeting;
groups research their problem
Oct. 26No class meeting;
groups research their problem
Oct. 29Groups 1 & 2 meet with instructorPreliminary annotated bibliography
due; group assessment due
Oct. 31Groups 3 & 4 meet with instructorPreliminary annotated bibliography
due; group assessment due
Nov. 2Groups 5 & 6 meet with instructorPreliminary annotated bibliography
due; group assessment due
Nov. 5Groups 1 & 2 meet with instructorUpdated annotated bibliography
due; group assessment due
Nov. 7Groups 3 & 4 meet with instructorUpdated annotated bibliography
due; group assessment due
Nov. 9Groups 5 & 6 meet with instructorUpdated annotated bibliography
due; group assessment due
Nov. 12Groups 1 & 2 meet with instructorDraft of paper due;
group assessment due
Nov. 14Groups 3 & 4 meet with instructorDraft of paper due;
group assessment due
Nov. 16Groups 5 & 6 meet with instructorDraft of paper due;
group assessment due
Nov. 19No class meetingPeer responses due
Nov. 26Preliminary oral defense:
Groups 1 & 2
Nov. 28Preliminary oral defense: Final paper due for
Groups 3& 4Groups 1 &2
Nov. 30Preliminary oral defense: Final paper due for
Groups 5& 6Groups 3 & 4
Dec. 3Final oral defense: Final paper due for
Groups 1 and 2Groups 5 & 6
Dec. 5Final oral defense:
Groups 3 and 4
Dec. 7Final oral defense:
Groups 5 and 6
Dec. 12Final project reflection and group assessment due by noon