Test 2 Version 1
Text
The engineer must have both technical and societal knowledge to be a socially responsible citizen and a professional. It is important for the engineer to be liberally educated in the humanities and social sciences. While students are obtaining technical knowledge they should realize that civil engineers of the twenty-first century must be critical thinkers who can analyze problems and produce creative solutions. They must be viewed by the public as unselfish and honest, which will maintain the positive public image that civil engineers now enjoy compared with the reputations of some other groups. Civil engineers of the twenty-first century must be good communicators in order to meet their responsibilities to clients and the public, and to efficiently interact within design teams. Knowledge of the humanities helped prepare engineers to ask the right questions, to be open-minded and creative, and to communicate well to bring about solutions to the broad-based problems that confront society. The humanities are an essential part of undergraduate curricula, yet many students have not recognized the importance of the humanities to their future as a professional. The humanities are branches of knowledge that address human culture and include disciplines such as history, language, philosophy, the fine arts, literature, and architecture. Working definitions of these are as follows:
• History: The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events.
• Language: The means of communicating thoughts, feelings, meaning, or intent, with a special emphasis on transmitting knowledge of a culture.
• Philosophy: A system of inquiry into the nature of beliefs and values based on logical reasoning rather than empirical investigation and evidence.
• Fine arts: Creative works intended to invoke contemplative delight or thought rather than for utilization.
• Literature: Communications, usually written and often imaginative, produced by learned scholars for transmitting ideas.
• Architecture: The art and science of design, usually structures, for orderly proportioning.
Knowledge of the humanities with its emphasis on creative thought complements the emphasis placed on utility in the engineering and science subjects.
Tasks for the text:
1) Read and translate the text (in the written form)
2) Answer the questions on the text in the written form:
- Why does the engineer have to study Humanities?
- What do Humanities study?
- What characteristics are necessary for engineers nowadays?
3) Make up the sentences in Indefinite (3 sentences), Continuous (3 sentences) and Perfect (3 sentences) forms, using words in bold from the text and time phrases which justify the usage of the verb form. (Total: 9 sentences)
The words: engineer, responsible, educated , analyze , produce, maintain, interact, efficiently prepare, recognize, include
4) Put the following sentences into negative (1 sentence) and interrogative (4 sentences) forms
1. Knowledge of the humanities helped prepare engineers to ask the right questions, to be open-minded and creative.
2. Knowledge of the humanities with its emphasis on creative thought complements the emphasis placed on utility in the engineering and science subjects.
3. Many students have not recognized the importance of the humanities to their future as a professional.
4. Students are obtaining technical knowledge they should realize that civil engineers of the twenty-first century must be critical thinkers.
5) Write a short essay (150 - 200 words) on the topic:
Civil Engineer of the 21st Century
Test 2 Version 2
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It is important for the engineer to be liberally educated in the humanities and social sciences, as well as in mathematics and natural sciences.
Three values that are important to the public but are often underappreciated by engineers are
• Aesthetics: Perception of excellence in craftsmanship; beauty.
• Variety: Having a broader perspective; acknowledging diversity of perceptions of excellence in appearance or form.
• Enjoyment: The sensation of experiencing pleasure or being gratified for something done well.
Communities often take pride when local infrastructure is recognized as being aesthetically pleasing and can bring notoriety to its surroundings. People also enjoy variety and history, so they take pride in bridges of the past even though these classic stone-and-steel structures lack an artsy, modern look. Communities enjoy bridges and buildings that fit in with the surroundings or complement historical structures or artifacts for which the locality is known. In addition, communities are often willing to provide additional funds for engineered facilities that add beauty to the surroundings.
The study of the humanities develops critical thinking techniques that allow engineers to interpret information; raise the right questions; and examine the assumptions, implications, and consequences of engineering decision alternatives. Philosophy is the use of reasoned argument techniques to examine the nature, scope, and limits of existence, knowledge, and morals. For example, the study of Aristotle and Plato’s philosophies focused on the importance of logical reasoning in decision making.
The Socratic method is a teaching technique in which philosophical inquiry is used to examine the implications of an idea and to bring about a solution. It centers about questioning of the basics of the problem. The use of the Socratic method forces students to examine every implication of a statement made and to think critically when making an argument. These examination and critical thinking skills are important for design engineers, as engineers should ask questions of their designs. Inquiring about risks and uncertainties, safety issues, and the sustainability of the project can lead to better decisions.